Lab Members
Dr. Eileen Haebig
Eileen Haebig is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Louisiana State University and the director of the Language and Neurodevelopmental Trajectories Lab (Language NeT Lab). Prior to coming to LSU, she attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where she competed her clinical degree in speech-language pathology and her Ph.D. in child language disorders in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Haebig then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Purdue University. Dr. Haebig’s research focuses on language learning in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Her research has highlighted areas of overlap and distinction in language phenotypes across populations with neurodevelopmental disorders. Moreover, her primary research aims are to identify strategies to support language learning and to share novel insight into how neurodiverse individuals learn.
Fatema Akhter Mitu, Graduate Research Assistant (fmitu1@lsu.edu)
Fatema Akhter Mitu is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at LSU. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech & Language Therapy from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Before starting her Masters’ she has been working as a clinical Speech & Language Therapist for four and half years in a spinal cord rehabilitation hospital in her country. Additionally, she has worked as a trainer for the parents, special school teachers’ and caregivers dealing with children and adults with communication and swallowing difficulties. Fatema later traveled to the US and completed her Masters’ degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences majoring in Communicative Disorders and Sciences from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Now she is under the mentorship of Dr. Eileen Haebig. Fatema is interested in language development, parent-child interactions, and the word learning process in children on the autism spectrum.
Tao Kang, Graduate Research Assistant (Tao.Kang@lsu.edu)
Tao Kang is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at LSU. He earned his Master of Arts degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Before beginning his doctoral studies, Tao worked as a university lecturer and English language instructor, gaining extensive experience in language teaching and working with learners from diverse backgrounds. Tao is currently under the mentorship of Dr. Eileen Haebig. His research interests broadly focus on language and learning in autistic individuals. He is particularly interested in metacognition, word learning and memory, and individual differences in language and communication among autistic populations. He is also interested in exploring behavioural and neurocognitive methods, including EEG/ERP and eye-tracking, to investigate language and cognitive processes in autism.
Libby Welborn, Graduate Research Assistant and master's thesis student
Libby Welborn is a graduate student studying Communication Sciences and Disorders at LSU. Libby's interests include early language acquisition in autistic children. Libby also is a part of the National Speech Language Hearing Association and as experience working with autistic children. After graduation, she she would like to work with young children in a children's hospital or clinic setting.
Jala Lindsey, Graduate Research Assistant
Jala is a graduate student working towards a master's in speech-language pathology in the Communication Studies and Disorders at LSU. During her bachelor's career, she majored in Communication Sciences and Disorders and in English and she minored in Linguistics. Jala’s interests include language development in autistic children and Alternate Assistive Communication device application. Outside of lab, Jala works as a Line Therapist at Grace Therapy Center. After graduation, she would like to work as a speech-langauge pathologist in a hospital or clinic setting.
Brigette Benigno, Graduate Research Assistant
Brigette is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at LSU. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Communication Disorders from LSU. She is currently completing a master's thesis project in the lab. Her master's thesis seeks to explore the role of retrieval practice in novel verb learning in minimally speaking children on the autism spectrum who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). This project seeks to further expand the existing aided symbol and word learning literature as well as the very limited research on retrieval practice in the autism literature. After graduation, she plans to work as a speech-language-pathologist in an outpatient setting.
Elizabeth Fontenont, Undergraduate Research Assistant and Honors Student
Elizabeth is a second-year graduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at LSU. She completed her undergraduate degree at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, majoring in COMD and minoring in English. Her master's thesis project is focusing on the role of receptive retrieval practice in novel verb learning in children with Down syndrome.
Jack Delmain, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jack is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Microbiology on a pre-med track. Outside of the NeT Lab, Jack also spends time working at the Baton Rouge General Hospital. Jack is specifically interested in communication disorders and developmental challenges related to autism.
Samantha Mahler, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Samantha is currently a senior studying Communication Sciences and Disorders in her undergraduate program at LSU! She is from St. Bernard, Louisiana and has 6 siblings. After graduation, Samantha plans on attending graduate school for Speech Language Pathology so she can work in a school to work with children. When Samantha is not in class or working in the lab, she enjoys tanning, going on walks, or getting a sweet treat all with friends!
Dominic Mumphery, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Dominic Mumphery is a senior Communication Disorders Major with a minor in music. Dominic is interested in utilizing music to help children with speech disorders learn to find their voice. In early 2025, Dominic spent a semester at the Southdowns School and developed lesson plans to interact with children with various special needs. His future plans are to open his own speech therapy clinic. Outside of the NeT Lab, Dominic is freelance trumpet player.
Lab Alumni
- Tengwen Fan, PhD
- Tengwen is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington
- Stan West, PhD
- Ayva Rose, CF-SLP
- graduate thesis conducted in the lab
- Madison Strother, CF-SLP
- Ahmari Metoyer, BA
- Courtney Barrett, BA
- Naomi Tomiyama, MA, CCC-SLP
- Blake Alley, MA, CCC-SLP
- Ezra Moore, BS
- Brianna Cairney, Ph.D.
- Brianna is now a Hilibrand Postdoctoral Fellow in Autism Research at Yale's Child Study Center
- Caprielle Priola, MA, CCC-SLP
- Graduate thesis conducted in the lab (scheduled to be presented at the ASHA 2024 Convention)
- Alyssa Schell, MA, CCC-SLP
- Jesica Sykes, MS, CCC-SLP
- Alex Hill, MA, CF-SLP
- Taylor Hale, MA, CCC-SLP
- graduate thesis conducted in the lab
- Caitlyn Karns, MA, CCC-SLP
- graduate thesis conducted in the lab
- Claire Bourgeois, MA, CCC-SLP
- graduate thesis conducted in the lab
- Nana Ama Agyeman, BS
- Bailey Parent- Bordere, BS
- Camille Daigle, MA
- Lexi Wirth, MA, CCC-SLP
- Emily Ruli, MA, CCC-SLP
- Angelle Plauche', MA, CCC-SLP
- Katelyn Honore, MA, CCC-SLP
- Jena Vizzini, MA, CCC-SLP
- undergraduate research project conducted in the lab
- Allison (Herring) Blackwell, MA, CCC-SLP
- graduate thesis conducted in the lab
- Allison Menting, MA, CCC-SLP
- graduate thesis conducted in the lab
