Our Team

Principal Investigator

Kristen Allison, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Laboratory Director

Office: Forsyth 228 B
Phone: 617-373-3697
Email: k.allison@northeastern.edu

Dr. Allison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders and the director of the SMILe Lab. She received her Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. She has extensive clinical and research experience working with children who have neurodevelopmental disabilities and is passionate about improving speech and communication outcomes for children.

View Dr. Allison Curriculum Vitae

Research Assistants

Jane Krumsiek, B.S.

Study Coordinator

Jane received a B.S. in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2023. She works in both the Speech Motor Impairment and Learning Lab and the Speech and Neurodevelopment Lab at Northeastern. Jane has aspirations to pursue a career in Speech-Language Pathology and is interested in the early development of speech and language. Outside of work, she enjoys going on walks with her dog, hiking, reading and spending time with friends.

Caroline Elarde, B.A.

Project Coordinator

Caroline received her B.A. in Psychological Science with a minor in Biology from Colgate University. She completed her thesis on the impact of metaphor on responses to autism parenting dilemmas and aims to expand her research interests and skill set as a Project Coordinator in the SMILe Lab. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, hiking, and trying new recipes.

Jamie Klag

Graduate Research Assistant

Jamie is in her second year of her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Program through Northeastern University’s Plus-One Program.

Alanna Grimm

Graduate Research Assistant

Alanna is a second year student in the Masters in Speech-Language Pathology program. She graduated from Northeastern with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice and Psychology in 2021. She took a year off and worked as an ABA Therapist, where she found her way to SLP. She hopes to work in the medical setting with adult or pediatric clients.

Emily Hartford

Graduate Research Assistant

Emily (she/her/hers) is a first year student in the Speech-Language Pathology Masters Program. She graduated with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a double minor in Healthcare Management and Speech-Language Pathology from Stonehill College in May 2023. Her primary research interest is Parkinson’s disease, and she also has research interests in swallowing disorders and motor speech disorders. She is excited to continue learning and growing as a clinician throughout her journey!

Leanna Prip

Graduate Research Assistant

Leanna is in her first year of her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Program through Northeastern University’s Plus-One Program. She hopes to work with children with disabilities.

Madison Davis

Graduate Research Assistant

Madison is a first year graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology Masters Program. She graduated with a B.S in Communication Science Disorders and minored in Human Development Family Studies from Penn State University. Her primary interests are motor speech disorders, aphasia, and dysphasia. She hopes to work in a medical setting after graduation and is excited to continue her education at Northeastern.

Allyson David

Graduate Research Assistant

Allyson Gail is a first-year student in the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology program and is pursuing the Early Intervention certificate in conjunction with her graduate studies. She graduated with a B.S. in Biology, Pre-Professional Studies with a minor in Disability Studies from Stockton University. Her primary interests are motor speech and language disorders with future hopes to work in a medical setting.

Naomi Rajput

Lab Co-op Student and Undergraduate Research Assistant

Naomi is a third year Behavioural Neuroscience major with minors American Sign Language and Spanish at Northeastern University. Naomi aspires to be a physician with a career both in healthcare and research. Outside of work she enjoys performing all around Boston with her music band as a drummer/singer, doing yoga and meditating.