Below are the current IRL lab members:
Jennifer Mack is an Assistant Professor of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and directs the Neuroscience of Language and Aphasia Lab at UMass-Amherst. She received a PhD in Linguistics at Yale University and completed postdoctoral fellowships in psycholinguistics at UMass-Amherst and the neurobiology of language and aphasia rehabilitation at Northwestern University. She teaches courses on neuroanatomy, language science, and acquired communication disorders.
Angela Murzin
Lab Manager & Undergraduate Research Assistant
Joined IRL Lab in Spring, 2023
amurzin@umass.edu
Angela is a senior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, minoring in Psychology, and working towards a Letter of Specialization in Developmental Disabilities and Human Services. She plans to attend graduate school to obtain a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. In her free time, Angela enjoys knitting, painting, cooking, weightlifting, and spending time with friends and family.
Miriam was born and raised in sunny San Diego, CA. She graduated from San Diego State University with a double major in Psychology and Spanish. There, she also obtained a Spanish/English translating and interpreting degree. Miriam is now a 3rd year AuD student and 6th year neuroscience PhD student. In the future, she plans to direct her own lab and help with the training of audiology student clinicians. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to places just to try new food, redecorating her house, spending time with her daughter, and taking care of her 11 plants.
Gwenyth Carter
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Joined IRL Lab in Summer, 2024
gjcarter@umass.edu
Gwenyth is a junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences while also getting a minor in Education. In the future, Gwenyth plans to attend a graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology to pursue a career as an SLP. In her free time, Gwenyth loves weight lifting, spending time with family and friends, and cooking.
Nina Blanche
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Joined IRL Lab in Spring, 2025
nblanche@umass.edu
Nina is from Crofton, Maryland. She is a junior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and is also working towards a Letter of Specialization in Developmental Disabilities and Human Services. She plans to attend graduate school to obtain a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. In her free time, she loves to run, crochet, watch her favorite shows, and spend time with friends!
Siana Dibenedetto
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Joined IRL Lab in Spring, 2025
sdibenedetto@umass.edu
Siana is currently a Junior majoring in Speech language hearing science. After undergrad she plans on attending graduate school to get her masters in either Speech Pathology or audiology. In her free time Siana likes to go to the gym, go for walks, and watch shows and movies!
Laura Gay
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Student
Joined IRL Lab in Fall, 2023
lmgay@umass.edu
Laura is a senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Laura joined the lab in the fall of 2023 as a research assistant and is now completing an honors thesis within the lab. In the future, Laura plans to attend a graduate program to become an SLP. In her free time, Laura loves to travel and spend time with friends and family.
Mahima Bhattacharjee
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Student
Joined IRL Lab in Spring, 2023
mbhattacharj@umass.edu
Mahima is a senior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Mahima joined the lab in Spring 2023 and is now completing an honors thesis in the lab. In the future, Mahima plans to attend Medical School. In her free time, Mahima loves to play her saxophone and piano, spend time with friends and family, travel, and read.
Arnold House, Room 30 (715 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002)
(413) 461-0889 | irl-lab@umass.edu