Maureen Shader, AuD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Maureen Shader is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and the director of the BRAiN Lab at Purdue University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree, and Ph.D. in Hearing and Speech Sciences. Dr. Shader completed a post-doctoral research fellowship as part of the Translational Hearing Research Group at the Bionics Institute of Australia where she developed a diagnostic test battery to address poor outcomes experienced by cochlear implant recipients. Her research investigates auditory perception and cortical processing in adults with cochlear implants. The goal of Dr. Shader’s research program is to better understand individual differences within the population of cochlear implant recipients and to improve post-implantation outcomes.

Sandy Snyder, BS

Lab Manager

Sandy Snyder has been a Research Associate in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences for the past 15 years. She joined the BRAiN lab in the summer of 2023. She schedules participants for studies being conducted within the laboratory, collects data from participants, directs and organizes the undergraduate and graduate students regarding lab tasks, and assists with data file management and analysis. Sandy studied kinesiology and agriculture economics previously at Purdue.

Eric Rodriguez, AuD

PhD Student, SLHS

Eric Rodriguez is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from Texas State University and a clinical doctorate in audiology (Au.D.) from Purdue University. He completed a clinical + research externship at Boys Town National Research Hospital where he was able to evaluate and treat a wide range of populations, including cochlear implant recipients, dizziness patients, and difficult-to-test patients across the lifespan.
Eric’s research interest is largely influenced by his experiences as a clinician. He is interested in speech perception outcomes in cochlear implant recipients, particularly the factors that affect clinical performance. He assesses these factors using objective measures, such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and behavioral measures that are commonly used in a clinical setting, such as aided speech perception testing. Beyond academia, Eric enjoys hammocking, music, and finding creative ways to avoid Midwest winters.

Abbie Mollison, BS

PhD Student, SLHS

Abbie Mollison is a PhD student in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and French/Francophone Studies from Creighton University. Abbie’s research interests include improving fNIRS testing and data processing methods for increased reliability and studying the effects of auditory signal masking on CI users. When not in the lab, Abbie likes to lift at the gym, paint, play video games, and play with her cats. 

Emily Lenz, MS CCC-SLP

PhD Student, SLHS

Emily is a PhD student and certified speech-language pathologist visiting from the Purdue Aphasia, Brain Injury, Communication, and Cognition Laboratory. She holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Midwestern University-Glendale. Her research interests include the intersection between language and cognitive recovery following acquired brain injury, and how this relates to typical aging processes. These research interests are driven by her clinical background in the acute-inpatient setting, as she has trained in multiple high acuity facilities specialized in trauma and neurosurgery. 

Taylor Teague, BS

AuD Student, SLHS

Taylor Teague is a second-year graduate student studying audiology in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. She graduated in May of 2025 with a bachelor’s in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences. Taylor joined the Lab in the fall of 2023 after learning more about cochlear implants. She has an interest in the effects of aging on hearing comprehension and completed an independent thesis project about older adults and discourse comprehension in adverse listening conditions. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going on walks, and playing with her dogs, Bentley and Bodhi!

Rachael Manning

Undergraduate Student, SLHS

Rachael Manning is a junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Rachael joined the Lab in the fall 2025 semester after shadowing an audiologist in an ENT office and has since developed an interest in the relationship between hearing and cognition in high stress environments. Outside of the lab, Rachael is an avid quilter and is often found hunched over a sewing machine.

Emma Stopperich

Undergraduate Student, SLHS

Emma Stopperich is a third-year undergraduate at Purdue. She is studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in psychology. She hopes to pursue a career in pediatric speech pathology in a clinical setting. Emma joined the lab in the fall of 2025 in hopes of gaining some hands-on experience and learning more about data collection. She is specifically interested in cochlear implants after speaking to faculty in the department and clinical audiologists. In her free time, she loves going on walks, cycling classes, talking to new people, and experimenting with new recipes. 

Siddhant Mondal

Undergraduate Student, BMHS

Siddhant Mondal is a junior undergraduate student studying biomedical health sciences in the school of health and human sciences. He joined the lab in Fall 2025, driven by his growing interest in research and his desire for more hands-on experience. He has an interest in knowing how the human body works and its intricacies and is motivated to dedicate himself to a project which improves human health. Outside of academics, he enjoys listening to music, going to the gym, and playing a variety of sports with friends. 

Wyatt Clifford

Undergraduate Student, MDE and SLHS

Wyatt Clifford is a third-year undergraduate student with a dual major in acoustical engineering and speech, language, and hearing sciences with a minor in electrical and computer engineering. He joined the lab in Fall of 2025 after reaching out to professors for permission to take graduate classes to satisfy his honors college degree requirements. He is interested in all things sound and wants to know everything he can about sound production and perception. In his free time he enjoys playing bass guitar, eating nachos, and playing Crossy Road.

Brooklyn Kerns

Undergraduate Student, SLHS

Brooklyn Kerns is a second-year undergraduate student at Purdue. She is studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a certificate in Gerontology. She hopes to pursue a career in Audiology either in a clinical or hospital setting. Brooklyn joined the lab in the fall of 2026 in hopes of expanding her knowledge in the field of auditory neuroscience and how studies done in the lab can help improve patient experiences for individuals under audiological care. She is specifically interested in working with cochlear implants after speaking with clinical audiologists through personal family experience. Outside of the lab, Brooklyn also works as a Resident Assistant at one of the residence halls on campus. In her free time, you can find Brooklyn in the kitchen baking new treats, working out at the Corec, or exploring campus with her friends.

Ria Merkle

Undergraduate Student, SLHS

Ria Merkle is a second year Speech, Language, & Hearing Science student. She joined Fall 2026 with aspirations of doing research professionally one day within her field. She has always had an inclination to health subjects so this lab caught her interest. Outside of research Ria likes to do nails, exercise, and travel.

Fred The Head

The fNIRS Model

Fred was ordered off Amazon in 2022. He then got the addition of a 3-D printed neck in 2023. Fred’s hobbies include wearing the fNIRS cap, watching fixation crosses on the TV screen, and observing daily happenings in the lab.