Hello! ...From the Lab Staff

Sasha Key, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center investigator

Key earned her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (Cognitive) from the University of Louisville. Her research interests focus on cognitive processes and corresponding brain activity associated with (1) genetic and developmental disorders, (2) learning and development, and (3) environmental factors. To investigate these questions, Key utilizes human electrophysiological techniques to record and analyze event-related potentials (ERPs). To learn more about ERPs, click here.

Susan M. Williams
Research Coordinator, Core Manager

Williams joined the Lab in 2001. Having earned her degree in Psychology and Human Services from Carson-Newman College, and having worked as a counselor for Family and Children's Service and the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Services, she prides herself on ensuring the Lab collects quality data at a child-specific pace.

Nassim Vahabzadeh, M.D.
Research Analyst

Nassim joined the lab in the summer of 2007 as a volunteer. She obtained her BS degree in Biology from the University of Toronto and her MD degree from the Central America Health Sciences University. She is currently in the process of taking her Medical License examination and hopes to pursue residency in the field of psychiatry. Her long term goal is to get involved in the research of developmental disorders alongside practicing medicine.

Rachel Kaplan
Research Assistant

Kaplan joined the lab in 2007. Currently a sophomore at Vanderbilt University, she majors in Child Development. She worked for Cerebral Palsy of Westchester in New York for five years as a counselor and assistant teacher. Recently, she participated in Alternative Spring Break at Give Kids the World, a resort in central Florida for children with life threatening illnesses. She is a current volunteer at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and continues to enrich her work experience with typically developing children and children with disabilities. Kaplan hopes to pursue a career as a speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist.

A List of Our Collaborators:

Paul Yoder, Ph.D.
Wendy Stone, Ph.D.
Baxter Rogers, Ph.D.
Julia Noland, Ph.D.
Dennis Molfese, Ph.D.
Lynnette Henderson, Ph.D.
Wesley Grantham, Ph.D.
John Gore, Ph.D.
Elisabeth Dykens, Ph.D.
Donna Daily, Ph.D.
Ed Conture, Ph.D.
Stephen Camarata, Ph.D.
Doug Fuchs, Ph.D.
Beth Malow, Ph.D.
Ticia Striano, Ph.D.
Judy Aschner, M.D.
Georgene Troseth, Ph.D.
Mark Wallace, Ph.D.