25th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
Stepp lab undergraduate Courtney Dunsmuir ’24 recently presented her summer research conducted through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) at BU’s 25th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, held at Boston University on October 21, 2022.
Courtney’s research explored the differential contributions of auditory and somatosensory feedback control mechanisms of laryngeal and articulatory speech subsystems in persons with Parkinson’s disease.
We would like to congratulate Courtney for her wonderful presentation and continued contribution to research conducted under Stepp Lab! She is also a recipient of Fall UROP 2022 funding.
Courtney Dunsmuir and her poster titled “Investigation of Auditory and Somatosensory Feedback in Vocal and Articulatory Motor Control Function for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease”.
A Smile that Controls Machines: research helps people communicate using facial movement
Stepp Lab undergraduate Carolyn Michener featured in Inside Sargent magazine.
Dr. Stepp Named Hariri Institute Junior Faculty Fellow
Dr. Cara Stepp, assistant professor in the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences and director of the Sensorimotor Rehabilitation Engineering Lab has been named a Hariri Institute 2014 Junior Faculty Fellow. Stepp is one of five professors selected for this honor by the Boston University Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering. Read more
Liz Heller Murray Beginning Clinical Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital
Congratulations to Liz Heller Murray who is starting a speech-language pathology clinical fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital in the Speech-Language Pathology Program. Liz will both evaluating and providing therapy for children with voice and resonance disorders.
The Science Behind a Simple, but Vital Pleasure
Cara Stepp featured in Inside Sargent magazine.
Expert quote:
“In upper limb rehab, there are lots of studies showing that engaging individuals in motor rehab with a video game is really effective. We’re adapting that to swallowing and velopharyngeal dysfunction.”
Cara Stepp awarded NIH R03 Grant
Dr. Cara Stepp has been awarded an NIH R03 grant entitled "Automation of Relative Fundamental Frequency Estimation". This prestigious award will be used to study Relative Fundamental Frequency (RFF), which is an acoustic measure of voice. Previous work has shown that RFF may be useful in diagnosing and assessing vocal hyperfunction (VH), a very common voice disorder that is characterized by excessive laryngeal tension. This project will involve developing algorithms and protocols to help move RFF from a research method to a clinically viable assessment tool. Read more
Cara Stepp Named Peter Paul Professor
Cara Stepp featured in BU Today.
Stepp's work has secured her a Peter Paul Professorship, which provides $40,000 in research money annually for three years.