Our People

Hello! I am a second year M.Sc SLP Student at the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, and am a proud member of the CSD900 CLDSLP research group at the (virtual) BiRBy lab. I come from a small town near Lethbridge, Alberta, Treaty 7 Territory, and have a background in Psychology and Linguistics. My current research interests include diversity in the SLP field, multilingualism and Indigenous language revitalization. Outside of academics, I work part-time as a portrait photographer. I also enjoy hiking, skiing or reading a good book.

Hi! My name is Michelle Balzer. I am from Regina, Saskatchewan where I obtained my BA in Linguistics from the University of Regina in 2024. With an interest in all things brains, language, and working with preschoolers, pursuing a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Alberta was an easy decision (and I am loving every minute of it!) I am excited to be working on the L2Lip project as I am interested in learning about differences between languages and how they are considered in bilingual language intervention as an SLP. Outside of school and research, I enjoy music, spending time outside, and visiting my friends & family back home.

With a strong passion for language, anatomy, education, and service to others, I am thrilled to be a second year student in the Speech Language Pathology Master's program here at the UofA. Having come from an education background, I have deeply enjoyed getting to explore language development (among so many other areas!) in greater depth through a clinical lens. I have also loved getting to engage in research! Being relatively new to research, I did not come into this experience with set ideas of what I wanted to explore-- only that I hoped to engage in work that was practical and meaningful to real people within this field. My experience thus far has been so enriching as I have learned more about language differences and how our experiences shape the way we communicate. I look forward to continuing to learn about the practical implications this area has for our field. Outside of school, I love going on walks, baking, reading, dancing, and spending time with my family and friends.

Hi. My name is Janelle, and I am a first-year M.Sc. SLP student at the University of Alberta, Edmonton campus. I am very excited to be a part of the CLDSLP research group. I am from Ontario and completed my undergraduate degree in Applied Linguistics, Speech and Language Science at Brock University. I have a strong interest in diversity in the field of SLP and have previously completed a research practicum focusing on cultural competency and ensuring that intervention is culturally supportive and representative. Outside of school, I enjoy hiking, reading and being with friends and family.

Hi everyone! I am a first-year M.Sc. SLP Thesis student at the University of Alberta, Edmonton Campus, and a new member of the BiRBy lab! Drawing on my undergraduate background in linguistics and the knowledge I’m gaining through my SLP graduate training, I'm very excited to explore L2 speech learning, explicit teaching, and barriers to intercultural communication. Outside of my academic work, you'll probably find me doing the most random things ever. Those moments are what make my days a little bit more memorable (oh and I also love spending time with my family :)

Hello! My name is Jacqueline, and I am a first-year MSc SLP student. I previously completed my BA in Psychology at the University of Alberta as well as a Level B Assessment Certification at City University. I have worked as a psychometrist and psychological assistant, supporting assessment clinicians through case management, standardized test administration, scoring, report preparation, and client communication as well as a behavioural interventionist at the Centre for Autism Services Alberta, implementing treatment plans, tracking client progress, and program facilitation. My academic and professional experiences have fostered in me a love for language development, bilingualism, and supporting families. I am excited to explore these areas further within the BiRBy lab, particularly in the area of home language maintenance and the influence of cultural values. Outside of classes, I enjoy cafe hopping, crafting, maintaining my aquariums, and spending time with friends. 

I am a first-year Master’s student in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Alberta. I’m from Saskatoon, where I completed my undergraduate degree in Education through the Language Teacher Education Program at the University of Saskatchewan. My research interests focus on bilingualism and language development, particularly how bilingual children acquire, manage, and use multiple languages in different contexts. I am passionate about exploring how linguistic and cultural diversity shape communication and learning. Outside of academics, I enjoy spending time in the mountains hiking or skiing, learning how to sew, and going for walks to spot new bird species (I’m an avid birder!).

Hello! My name is Prakriti [pɹʌkɹəθi], and I am a first-year MSc SLP student at the University of Alberta. I completed my undergraduate degree in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies at the University of Calgary, where I developed a passion for applying disability advocacy perspectives to healthcare models and support services. My research interests are in exploring the complexities of bilingualism, its intersections with social and cultural identities, and how these relationships shape language experiences and access to care. I am super excited to be part of the BIRBy team and look forward to exploring these ideas within the lab’s community! Outside of my academic life, I enjoy scrapbooking and writing movie reviews on Letterboxd!

Hi! I’m Soobin, a recent graduate from the University of Alberta with a passion for developmental neuroscience, language learning, and trauma-informed care. My hands-on experience working with children with disabilities has inspired me to explore how we can better support communication and learning in neurodiverse populations. I’m especially interested in research that bridges psychological theory and real-world care. Outside the lab, I love volunteering with DISCOVER PREP and tutoring students, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and unwinding by watching Korean YouTube videos that analyze criminal psychology and unsolved cases—yes, I’m a bit of a true crime nerd!

I am a passionate psychology and linguistics student in my third year at the University of Alberta. I am very excited to be a part of the birby lab, as I am interested in language acquisition and language perception. In my free time you can find me at the local used book store, curled up on the couch knitting or crocheting, or practicing basketball tricks (that I have yet to use in a game). If you see me in the lab be sure to say hello, I am very excited to meet you! 

I am an associate professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. My research focuses on the oral sensorimotor system, with a particular interest in speech production. Using advanced computational modeling, my work explores speech, swallowing, chewing, and breathing, and applies these models to virtual surgical planning. My interdisciplinary expertise in mathematics, physics, and engineering supports the development of assistive technologies and enhances the predictability of surgical outcomes for individuals with head and neck cancer, stuttering, and other motor speech disorders.I am affiliated with the Sound Studies Initiative, the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, and the Head and Neck Research Network, and am an active member of the Acoustical Society of America.

I have been a professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Alberta since 2000. I received my B.A. and M.A. in Linguistics from the University of British Columbia and my PhD in Psychology from McGill University (1998). My research is concerned with bi/multilingualism in children with typical development and in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, in particular children learning English-as-an-additional language from immigrant and refugee families. I study children’s lexical, morphosyntactic and narrative abilities. My research topics include how to conduct appropriate language assessments with bi/multilingual children, determining the sources of individual differences in the bi/multilingual development of children with and without disorders, and exploring the role of wellbeing and adversity in the bi/multilingual development of refugee children and youth. Outside of my academic work, I enjoy hiking, gardening and going to the movies. 

I'm a Ph.D. candidate with a passion for clinical research and all things speech—like speech sounds, prosody, speech development, speech sound disorders, and assessment. I also enjoy drawing and playwriting in my spare time! Combining these interests, I created the Apple Mandarin Speech Test as its author and illustrator.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Alberta. I received my M.A. in Linguistics and Cognitive Science from the University of Delaware and my PhD in Linguistics and Cognitive Science from University of California San Diego. My interest lies in the intersection of linguistic phonetics and cognitive science. On the one hand, I study the physical and physiological aspects of speech: acoustics and articulation of speech sounds. On the other hand, I study the mental construct for which speech is generated and processed: perception and the relationship between perception and production. Most of my work has been focused on linguistic voice quality: how the timbre of people’s voices manifests linguistic contrasts (e.g., lexical tones), besides its use in talker characteristics and paralinguistic information. Currently I explore how people learn to use voice quality in daily life and language. I love music and enjoy singing and playing the piano.