Chizora Okolo, Undergraduate Volunteer
Chizora Okolo is a third year undergraduate student at Northwestern University, pursuing a double major in Biology and Psychology. She plans to attend medical school and is interested in working with children, with a potential focus on pediatric psychiatry or neurology.
Her academic interests center on developmental disorders and how genetic factors influence communication. Through her work in the lab, she explores the biological and psychological mechanisms underlying differences in communication.
Delaney Caudill, Undergraduate Volunteer
Delaney Caudill is a senior majoring in psychology and global health studies at Northwestern University. She is particularly interested in psychopathology and the accessibility of mental health care in rural and underserved communities.
Delaney is eager to learn more about ASD and fragile X syndrome, and how these interact with environmental influences to shape development.
Israa Eisa, Undergraduate Volunteer
Israa is a student at Northwestern University majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Data Science. Her primary research interests focus on neurodevelopmental disorders in women and children, with an emphasis on understanding how these disorders affect both biological and social aspects of life.
In the NDL Lab, she looks forward to exploring the role of environmental influences on individuals with these conditions.
Joey Hsieh, Undergraduate Volunteer
Joey Hsieh is a junior majoring in cello performance and biology at Northwestern University. He hopes to attend medical school to study neurology and neurodevelopmental disorders.
In the NDL, he is interested in exploring how Autism Spectrum Disorder can affect the brain’s production of vocal expression and speech.
Leanna Brown, Undergraduate Volunteer
Leanna is a junior at Northwestern University, majoring in psychology and journalism. Her academic interests center on language and communication.
In the Neurodevelopmental Diversity Lab, she hopes to contribute to ongoing autism research and explore how communication differs in various social settings.
Mariia Machalina, Lab Volunteer
Mariia Machalina is a senior at Lake Forest College majoring in Psychology. She is an aspiring undergraduate researcher with a strong interest in language, developmental processes, and psychopathology. Through her work as a Registered Behavior Technician, she has gained extensive experience working with neurodivergent and vulnerable populations of children and adolescents.
Her career goal is to become a psychology doctoral student specializing in communication and mood disorders in adolescence and young adulthood. She is dedicated to advancing psychoeducation and reducing stigma surrounding mental health. In the lab, she hopes to further develop her research skills while contributing to a deeper understanding of the biological and environmental factors influencing ASD and Fragile X syndrome.
Melanie Galindo, Undergraduate Volunteer
Melanie Galindo is a third-year student at Northwestern University, majoring in Communication Sciences & Disorders and Global Health Studies.
She is interested in the language aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the connection between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Fragile X syndrome. In the lab, she is interested in exploring the aspects of high-functioning autism and its effects on language.
Natalia Boron, Undergraduate Volunteer
Natalia Boron is a senior at Northwestern University, double majoring in Cognitive Science and Global Health with a minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Her academic interests center on bilingualism and speech-language disorders, particularly how bilingual language exposure shapes communication, and language development. After undergrad she plans to pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
In the lab, she currently assists with transcription and hopes to deepen her understanding of speech and language differences in autistic and multilingual populations.
Nicole Nedyalkova, Undergraduate Volunteer
Nicole Nedyalkova is a sophomore at Northwestern University majoring in Biology and Psychology on the pre-medical track.
She is interested in pursuing a career in neurology or psychiatry and hopes to work with children with developmental disorders. In the lab, she hopes to learn more about speech differences in individuals with Fragile X syndrome and ASD and the genetic component of these differences.
Nisma Malik, Undergraduate Volunteer
Nisma is a fourth year undergraduate student at Northwestern University pursuing a double major in Psychology and Biological Sciences with a concentration in Human, Health, and Disease. She hopes to attend medical school and is interested in working with children who have neurodevelopmental conditions, focusing on developmental-behavioral pediatrics or psychopathology.
In the NDL, she hopes to explore how cultural differences shape interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder, as well as the role that theory of mind plays in social and cognitive development in ASD individuals.
Wendy Jiang, Undergraduate Volunteer
Wendy Jiang is a junior at Northwestern University majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. She is a research assistant in Northwestern’s Neurodevelopmental Diversity Lab, where she supports projects on phenotypic variation in autism.
With a background working with autistic children through community programs, her interests center on variability in autism expression, particularly across cultures and genders, and how this shapes diagnosis and care. Wendy looks forward to continuing to build her experience in autism research at the NDL.
