Lawrence University senior takes on language development research at Waisman
By Charlene N. Rivera-Bonet | Waisman Science Writer
Giang Pham, a rising senior from Lawrence University in Appleton, is spending her second summer doing research at the Waisman Center University of Wisconsin-Madison as part of an internship program established and supported by the late John Mielke, MD, a former member of the Waisman Board of Visitors and Appleton native, and his wife Sally.
Lawrence University and the Waisman Center have been partnering since 2016 to provide summer research internships for undergraduate Lawrence students in the labs of Waisman researchers. A psychology and cognitive science major with a minor in data science, Pham is working this summer in the lab of Audra Sterling, PhD, professor of communication sciences and disorders.
“When I first came, they really got to know me and what my goals are, so that the projects that I’m working on would be suitable with the skill set I want to improve, and match my goals,” says Pham, whose focus has been on language development and communication in individuals with developmental disabilities, with projects aimed at improving both assessment methods and clinical intervention.
For one project, Pham analyzed natural speech samples – through videos of children interacting with their parents in a naturalistic environment – to evaluate the reliability, validity, or potential bias of current data analysis programs for studying this population.
In a second project, Pham uses non-generative behavioral coding, centered on examining and categorizing existing speech and language data through live videos of interactions with children. This helps identify how children with autism, fragile X syndrome, or Down syndrome use language differently and make predictions from those patterns.
“Pham has brought new ideas and perspectives into the lab. Her interest in advancing technology has helped us think prospectively about the tools we use for language analysis in lab, and how those might possibly change in the future. Overall, her eagerness to learn about our ongoing projects and research methods, as well has her ability to ask good questions and offer ideas, has created a productive collaboration for everyone involved,” says Liz Ancel, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in Sterling’s lab who mentored Pham thorough the summer.
Pham is no stranger to the Waisman Center or research in communication. Last summer, she worked in the labs of Ben Parrell, PhD, and Carrie Niziolek, PhD, both associate professors of communication sciences and disorders, with a focus on the motor aspects of speech.
“Undergraduate research is such an important part of what we do here at the Waisman Center and UW-Madison. Students aren’t just observing science—they’re contributing to it. At the same time, they’re developing the curiosity and critical thinking that will help them in their future career,” Sterling says.
The skills Pham has acquired through these experiences go beyond new laboratory techniques. “[There are] a lot of other skill sets that research brings to me. The patience in the progress, because the research requires a lot of rigorousness in the methods, carefulness in handling the data as well, and also, the problem-solving skills,” Pham says. She appreciates the real impact her work has.
“I’ve become interested in building tools that are accessible and inclusive,”
Through her work at the Waisman Center, she has developed a deep appreciation for the diversity of communication styles and the importance of careful and unbiased assessments.
After graduating next year, Pham hopes to pursue graduate studies in the intersection of artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and speech and language sciences. “I’ve become interested in building tools that are accessible and inclusive,” says Pham, who wants to develop AI-powered technologies for early identification of developmental disorders and clinical decision-making.