Director and Principal Investigator
Laurie Thompson, PhD, CCC-SLP
Laurie Thompson, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Washington State University College of Medicine. She earned her PhD in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Florida State University and completed postdoctoral training in the Pediatric and Developmental Neuroscience Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Thompson is a licensed speech-language pathologist whose research examines communication and language development in young children at risk for or with neurodevelopmental disorders and in individuals with complex communication needs. Dr. Thompson’s program of research advances measurement and intervention approaches for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and complex communication needs. Her work bridges developmental science and clinical practice to ensure that research findings translate into tools and strategies that are meaningful for families, clinicians, and the communities they serve.
Lab Manager
Emma Vasecka
Emma Vasecka is the Research Lab Manager for the Communication Development Lab in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Washington State University College of Medicine. She earned her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Eastern Washington University and has experience in nonprofit operations, program coordination, and community-based initiatives serving youth and families. In her role, Emma supports the day-to-day operations of the lab, helping to keep research running smoothly across active studies. She is passionate about work that connects research to real-world impact and is committed to building a lab environment where science can reach the families and communities it is designed to serve.
Graduate Students
Emily Roy
Emily is a first-year graduate student in the Master of Speech-Language Pathology program at Washington State University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Washington in 2021. Emily is currently supporting research focused on the development of an advanced communication assessment for children with profound neurodevelopmental disorders. Following graduation, she plans to continue working within the pediatric population to support communication development and improve access to meaningful communication for children and their families.