Mandy J Maguire, PhD

Dr. Maguire’s research interests include studying children’s typical language development through behavioral and electrophysiological responses. Her primary goal is to study the neurological underpinnings of typical language development as a foundation for better understanding of language disorders and delays. To learn more about the current research in the lab, see our “Studies” page. For a list of Dr. Maguire’s publications, see “Publications.”

Dr. Maguire received her undergraduate degree in psychology at Penn State University where she focused on cognition and development. Following a year as a research assistant in Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging, she began the Developmental Psychology PhD program at Temple University. There she worked with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek studying semantic development in children, focusing primarily on verb learning. In her dissertation she identified various cues that children use to learn new verbs, and then extended that work with English speaking children to those learning Japanese and Spanish. Dr. Maguire then returned to her work in cognitive neuroscience during a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Louisville in the Developmental Neuroscience Lab where her primary work included collecting data for a longitudinal study of early EEG markers of later reading disabilities. Since starting at The University of Texas at Dallas her work has worked to combine behavioral and neurolinguistic techniques to better understand typical language development.

Rowan Levick completed their bachelor’s in linguistics from William & Mary in December 2023. There they worked as a research assistant and honors thesis fellow in Dr. Kate Harrigan’s Child Language lab to study children’s ability to differentiate sub-phonemic vowel length as well as novel phonological vowel length. They plan to pursue a PhD in linguistics to continue doing research on phonology and child language acquisition. Outside of the lab, Rowan enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, language learning, and spending time with friends and family.

Kathleen Denicola-Prechtl is a doctoral candidate in the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program. She completed her bachelor of science in speech and hearing sciences at The State University of New York at Cortland and her master of science in communication disorders from The University of Texas at Dallas. As a licensed speech language pathologist, Kathleen has years of clinical experience working in both school-based and in-patient medical settings. Her dissertation research investigates maternal well-being and the protective factors of language development in young children.

Mohammad Hossein Behboudi is a doctoral student in cognition and neuroscience. He earned his master’s degree in applied cognition and neuroscience from The University of Texas at Dallas in 2024, following his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from K. N. Toosi University of Technology in Tehran, Iran, in 2020. Prior to joining our lab, he worked on EEG signal processing and the application of Machine Learning in brain studies and diagnostics. His primary research interest lies in understanding brain function and connectivity through high-level analysis during cognitive tasks, such as language learning. In addition to his academic pursuits, he enjoys running and spending time with friends.

Manuel Cruz is a master’s student in speech language pathology. He is especially interested in bilingual language development and swallowing disorders. He likes to spend time with his family, read, and write stories.

Yalda Ghorbani is a master’s student currently working towards her MS in applied cognition and neuroscience. After graduating, Yalda plans to continue her education to further explore the neural bases of multilingualism. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, gardening, hiking, and reading.

Janett Gomez is a master’s student in speech language pathology. She is interested in bilingual language development, swallowing disorders, and aphasia in adults. She is a fan of TV shows and enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys participating in any Mexican culture and enjoys traveling to Mexico.

Sanjonaa Rudraraju Venkata is a master’s student currently working towards a MS in human development and early childhood disorders. After graduating, she plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology with an emphasis in children & family. In her free time, she loves to read fantasy novels, watch tv shows, and spend time with family & friends.

Rebecca Glick graduated from Rhodes College in 2024 with a BS in neuroscience and a dual minor in psychology and music. She plans to pursue a PhD in counseling psychology before working as a researcher and therapist with an emphasis on treating women with Postpartum Depression. In her free time, she enjoys playing the viola, baking, and going on walks.

Meghana Kalavagunta completed her bachelor of science in neuroscience from UT Dallas in December 2024. She plans to attend medical school in the future and focus on medically underrepresented communities. She was the president of Period Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending period poverty. Outside the lab, Meghana enjoys watching movies, reading, and dancing.

Emily Leung is majoring in neuroscience with a minor in Spanish. She hopes to go on to medical school after graduation. In her free time, she loves playing guitar, trying different crafts, and finding ways to be active with friends.

Shriya Angara is a junior in biology who aspires to go to medical school in the near future. She aspires to become a doctor so that she can offer her time to service those with impeded access to medical care. She is a big fan of singing, rewatching sitcoms, playing violin, and hanging out with friends and family.

Yadira Beltran is a double major in psychology and child learning and development. With a passion for understanding human behavior and development, she plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. Yadira’s long-term goal is to open a private practice specializing in working with veteran families, providing them support and resources. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending quality time with her family, and exploring new restaurants.

Nadya Carias-Harris is a senior majoring in psychology and plans to attend graduate school. She hopes to later become a therapist in order to help people navigate emotional and psychological difficulties. Her interests include visiting coffee shops, reading, working out, and traveling.

Abdullah Farhat is a pre-med student majoring in neuroscience. He aspires to become a physician, leveraging foundational and empirical knowledge of behavioral sciences to further enhance healthcare. He enjoys hanging out with friends and family, reading, playing chess, sketching comic book characters, and drinking lots of coffee.

Amy Fowler is a senior healthcare studies major with plans to go to medical school in the future. She hopes to work in rural medicine to provide healthcare to those in low access areas. In her free time, she enjoys drinking coffee, reading everything she can get her hands on, and spending time with her best friend (her cat).

Maira Kashif is a psychology major. She hopes to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology and become a neuropsychologist. She is particularly interested in neurodevelopmental disorders, especially Autism Spectrum Disorders, and hopes to work with this diverse population in her future career. In her free time, she enjoys trying new coffee shops, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Raina Kinneer s a double major in psychology and child learning and development. Her passion for child development and neuroscience has inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in counseling psychology after graduation, with the goal of becoming a therapist for children and adolescents. She hopes to one day open a private practice focused on making mental health care more accessible for at-risk families. In her free time, Raina enjoys spending time with loved ones, hanging out with her cat, and taking on creative projects.

Varsha Manellore is a healthcare studies major with a minor in healthcare management. Aspiring to become a physician, she is passionate about improving healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations in her community. She scribes in an emergency department while also volunteering as a tutor for underprivileged youth. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and discovering new cafes.

Stefanie Martinez is a pre-med student majoring in neuroscience. She aspires to become a physician and make a positive impact on her community through medicine. She is a hospice volunteer and also helps teach the ESL classes for UTD staff. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, playing guitar, thrifting, and spending time with family and friends.

Beatrice Angelique Orosa is a psychology major at The University of Texas at Dallas. She is deeply fascinated by cognitive development and neuroscience and plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology. In her free time, she enjoys films, going on food trips, drinking matcha, and spending time with her loved ones.

Anunaya Pathak is a pre-med student majoring in neuroscience. He is a self-published author on Amazon, a medical scribe, and a tutor at his local temple. He enjoys working out, playing basketball, rapping, and spending time with his little brother.

Melanie Vega is a psychology and child learning and development double major. She plans on pursuing a career in clinical psychology. She is interested in how early childhood experiences affect later life development. In her free time, she enjoys reading, live music, and hanging out with friends and family.

Sofia Velazquez is a double major in psychology and child development. She is interested in how language, decision-making, and social-emotional skills develop in early childhood. She is passionate about research that promotes equity and helps all children feel seen, safe, and supported. Sofia plans to pursue graduate studies in pediatric occupational therapy and hopes to work closely with kids and families. Outside of academics, she enjoys crafting, thrifting, spending time with her cats, and in coffee shops with people she loves.