BABEL LAB
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
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THE BABEL LAB TEAM
Our research team is composed of highly motivated and committed undergraduate and graduate students across the fields of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Neuroscience, and Cognitive Science. These students, as the Lab Research Assistants, help move our research projects forward and also learn to put together resources for the community about a variety of topics related to bilingual learning and development. Each member of our team brings a unique perspective and skill set to our research projects, working collaboratively to achieve our goals.
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Melissa Romero
Spring 2024 - Present
Melissa Romero (elle/ella, they/she) completed their B.S. in Neuroscience & Cognitive Science with an emphasis in language and communication sciences and a minor in Linguistics at the UofA in 2024. She is currently a second-year Master's student. As a Spanish-English bilingual, Melissa has goals of attending graduate school to apply herself as a culturally diverse, bilingual speech pathologist and later involve herself in bilingual pathology research. Through the BABEL lab, Melissa aims to understand the internal mechanisms involved in bilingualism and its intersectional aspects that contribute to education, cognition, and community. Off campus, Melissa works for Kids Up Reading Coaches as a reading tutor. On weekends, you can find them indulging in music shows from local artists, gallery exhibits, film events, and local flea markets.
Melanie Ramirez
Fall 2024 - Present
Melanie Ramirez is a second-year Master's student. Born and raised in Tucson to Mexican immigrant parents, her first language was Spanish and was able to acquire English during elementary school. She aspires to become a bilingual speech-language pathologist, with plans to assist people of all ages throughout her career. Melanie’s primary focus is on understanding the relationship between bilingualism, language acquisition, disorders, and education.
Gabriela Navarro
Spring 2026 - Present
Gabriela Navarro (she/they/ella) completed their B.S. in Learning, Leadership, and Literacy as well as her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from the UofA in 2026 while concurrently working on her master’s. She is currently a second-year master’s student in Educational Psychology at the UofA. As a Mexican-American, Gabriela has always been driven by her passion for exploring the ways that bilingualism and language accessibility affects brain development, motivation, and performance in young children. During her time in the lab, Gabriela hopes to find better ways to bring support and aid bilingual learners as they traverse through two different worlds. Outside of school, Gabriela likes to spend time with her family watching movies and shows, spending time with pets, and expressing herself creatively through crocheting, playing music, and creating art in any way possible.
Brillana Temaat
Fall 2026 - Present
Brillana Temaat is a second‑year Ph.D. student in Second Language Acquisition & Teaching, with minors in Cognitive Science and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. She completed a B.S. in Psychology (Integrative Neuroscience emphasis) and the B.A. equivalent in Music and Honors Humanities at Indiana Wesleyan University, and later earned an A.M. in Lingüística from the University of Puerto Rico.
Her research examines how language disabilities both differ from and overlap with second language acquisition, with particular focus on how communication strategies—such as code‑switching, prosody, and music—can scaffold language learning across diverse populations. She is committed to improving educational access for multilingual learners and students with language‑based disabilities by helping schools better distinguish between second language learners and learners with language disorders.
Brillana is proficient in academic Spanish and has introductory training in German, Latin, and Esperanto. Outside of research, she enjoys spending time outdoors—especially hiking, biking, and swimming—and remains actively involved in music through dance and performance with the UA Symphonic Band.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Ava Haga
Spring 2025 - Present
Ava (she/her/ella) is a Junior at the University of Arizona’s W.A. Franke Honors College pursuing a Dual major with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science & a B.A. in French, as well as a minor in Psychology. She grew up in an English-speaking home and learned Spanish very young, which later helped her learn French. She hopes to learn more about how bilingualism affects the brain, especially during adolescence, and to better understand disorders. Besides academics, Ava likes to bake, go to the gym, and spend time with family, friends, and animals.
Fernanda Delgado
Summer 2025 - Present
Fernanda Delgado (she/her/ella) is a Fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, with minors in Spanish and Human Development and Family Sciences. She realized from a very young age the beauty and value of being bilingual, which inspired her passion for language and communication. Fernanda plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology with the goal of serving underserved communities. Outside of the lab, she enjoys expressing her creativity through jewelry-making, crocheting, baking, and attending live music events.
Marianna Martinez
Spring 2026 - Present
Marianna Martinez (She/Her/Ella) is a second-year student at the University of Arizona’s W.A. Franke Honors College, double-majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and Spanish with an emphasis in Translation and Interpretation, also minoring in Special Education and Rehabilitation. As a native Tucsonan, Marianna has been involved in her community from a young age, volunteering in a speech therapy summer program, the Metropolitan Education Commission, and the TRiO Upward Bound in partnership with the University of Arizona’s College of Education. Marianna growing up in a Hispanic household and receiving early and late education in South Tucson meant being connected with her culture and native language, Spanish. Marianna being bilingual and bicultural, she was inspired in authoring and illustrating “La Muñeca Lele,” a bilingual children’s book. In Marianna's free time, she likes to hike, paint, play tennis, and be around family
Katherine Berntsen
Spring 2026 - Present
Katherine Berntsen (she/her/ella) is a junior at the University of Arizona, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Spanish and Emergency Medical Services, and is a part of the W.A. Franke Honors College. Growing up as a multilingual student, she has always been interested in how bilingualism and different cultures can act as assets to our communities. Katherine is passionate about providing culturally responsive clinical and community-based care to marginalized communities, and this is something she hopes to pursue in clinical settings in the future. Outside of the lab, Katherine is involved in clinical research in the emergency department at Banner University Medical Center, among other extracurriculars. She also enjoys spending time with friends, staying active, traveling, and scrapbooking.
Minh Thu Nguyen
Spring 2026 - Present
Minh Thu Nguyen (she/they/ella) is a sophomore at the University of Arizona College of Science, majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, and is also a part of the W.A. Franke Honors College. As a Vietnamese-American, who grew up in a family where most members speak two or more languages, she has always been interested in the neuroscience and psychology behind language acquisition, language anxiety, and other related topics. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, reading, singing, acting, and playing video games.
Alberto Bolanos
Summer 2026 - Present
Alberto Bolanos (he/him/él) is a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with minors in Spanish and Statistics & Data Science. His parents immigrated to the US from Mexico and Guatemala, where they raised him in the Foothills of Yuma County. Alberto is currently working on his Honors Thesis with the hopes of better understanding Autistic experiences and inclusive research practices in the US-Mexico Borderlands. He’s also interested in learning more about bilingualism, sociopolitical climate in relation to autism-service provision, and the Neurodiversity Movement. Outside of school, Alberto enjoys listening to Pete Seeger, João Gilberto, and whatever other artists he may come across.
Jorge Martinez Peralta
Fall 2026 - Present
Jorge Martinez Peralta (he/him/él) is a sophomore at the University of Arizona’s College of Fine Arts and W.A. Franke Honors College, majoring in Studio Art with an emphasis in Illustration, Design, and Animation. Growing up in Nogales, a small town along the Mexican-American Border, Jorge has experienced the importance of bilingualism and how it serves as an essential tool for engaging with and creating new opportunities for underrepresented communities. When not designing for BABEL, Jorge enjoys studying theater, film, anthropology, history, architecture, and working on personal projects.
Catalina Rosas
Fall 2026 - Present
Catalina Rosas (she/her/ella) is a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with an emphasis in Development and Aging, with minors in French and Consciousness Studies. As a native Spanish speaker who later learned English and French, Catalina is interested in how bilingualism shapes cognition, learning, and the way we perceive and interact with the world. She is particularly interested in understanding how bilingualism influences learning and cognitive development in children. Through her involvement in research, Catalina hopes to explore questions about language and development while contributing to research that is meaningful and accessible to the broader community. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking, watching horror films, and listening to Bad Bunny