Amber Wang, Undergraduate Volunteer
Amber Wang is a junior at Northwestern University majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Religious Studies and Data Science. Her research interests focus on cross-linguistic differences in prosody and narrative structure in children with autism spectrum disorder.
She is particularly interested in pediatric populations and values direct engagement with children and adolescents, especially those who are neurodivergent. In the lab, she hopes to explore voice- and speech-based approaches to understanding ASD and contribute to research involving language and communication.
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.
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.
Samira Soorya, Lab Volunteer
Samira is a rising high school senior at Lane Tech High School.
She plans to major in psychology or neuroscience and has an interest in research. She is so excited to continue exploring these subjects at the lab!
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.
