Dr. Colleen Le Prell is the Emilie and Phil Schepps Distinguished Professor in Hearing Science at The University of Texas at Dallas, where she also serves as Chair of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing and Program Head for the PhD program in Speech, Language, and Hearing Science. Clinical, translational, and applied research in her laboratory advances understanding and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. She has received programmatic research funding from government, industry, and philanthropic sources. Dr. Le Prell serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America and the International Journal of Audiology and she serves on the editorial board for Hearing Research. She recently became a member of the Auditory System (AUD) Study Section for National Institutes of Health Center for Scientific Review.

Aaron Cochran is a non-traditional student who after high school joined the army and served two tours in Afghanistan. Between tours and after leaving the army he also worked as a sound engineer doing work with recording studios as well as AV work. He eventually completed an AA degree at a Houston Community College and then a BS in communication sciences and disorders at the University of Houston. He joined the UT Dallas AuD program in 2019 and then rejoined as an AuD/PhD student in 2020. Aaron’s research interests include anatomy and physiology of the ear, electrophysiology, and cochlear synaptopathy.

Conner Jansen is a student in the dual AuD/PhD doctorate program at The University of Texas at Dallas. He joined the AuD program in 2019, was bitten by the research bug, and decided to join the PhD program in 2020. He received a bachelor of science at The University of Texas at Austin in communication sciences and disorders with a specialization in audiology, and a minor in American Sign Language prior to joining The University of Texas at Dallas. Since beginning his graduate education, Conner has worked on several projects in the Hearing Conservation lab. His research interests include hearing protection device (HPD) habits and beliefs, musician’s HPDs, and sub-clinical hearing loss. He also loves running, playing board games, rock climbing, and playing with his dog, Lando.

Allison Woodford’s research interest in the early detection and prevention of hearing disorders led her to join the NOISE Lab in 2021 as the principal investigator on the Use of In-Ear Dosimetry to Understand Musician’s Unique Sound Exposure (MUSE) study with funding from the American Academy of Audiology Foundation’s Music and Hearing Research Grant. She began her doctor of audiology coursework in 2019 and transitioned to the AuD/PhD track in the Fall of 2021. As a non-traditional student and mother of three school-aged children, she brings the combined perspective and compassion born of life experience to her clinical, academic, and research endeavors at The University of Texas at Dallas.

Shamine Alves is an alumna of Hampton University, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) located in Hampton, Virginia where she graduated with her bachelor of arts in communicative sciences and disorders and a minor in psychology. During her senior year, she merged her interests of hearing conservation and music into a study seeking to explore the attitudes and knowledge on the healthy hearing habits and protective measures of musicians in the university’s marching band. After entering the AuD program in Fall 2022, she hopes to participate in research and conduct her own studies centered on hearing conservation and noise exposure with musicians.

Breanna majored in communication science and disorders with a minor in biology at the University of Northern Iowa. She then joined the doctor of audiology program at UT Dallas in 2023. Always eager to add more expertise to better serve her patients, Breanna joined the NOISE lab to better understand noise-induced hearing loss and how to prevent it. Outside of audiology, she enjoys being outdoors and walking her dog, Winston.

Azalea Coste entered the doctor of audiology program at The University of Texas at Dallas in 2022. She received a bachelor of arts in 2019 from George Mason University in communication and public relations, and a minor in public health promotion. Prior to joining the AuD program she was working as a public relations associate for an international light science and technology organization. Her favorite part of this job was getting to read newly published research papers and translating them for a broader audience. Her research interests include hearing protection device (HPD) habits, speech-in-noise understanding for neurodivergent listeners, and hearing health advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, movie nights, and painting.

Amanda completed her undergraduate studies at San Diego State University, where she majored in speech, language, and hearing sciences. She entered the doctor of audiology program here at UT Dallas in 2020. She is most interested in studying recreational noise exposure in young adults, and hearing protection that can be used to prevent noise induced hearing loss. Outside of the lab and audiology program, Amanda spends her time trying out new recipes and snuggling up with her cuddly kitty, Baloo.

Joanna graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2023, where she double majored in cello performance and child development. She has performed with dozens of orchestras, chamber groups, and solo performances; in addition, she enjoys producing music on the side. Joanna hopes to merge her passions and experience in the musical field into conducting research on hearing conservation and musical perception in musicians with hearing loss. Joanna joined the doctor of audiology program at UT Dallas in 2023.

Ashley joined the UT Dallas AuD program in the fall of 2023 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a bachelor of education in communication sciences and disorders and bachelor of science in psychology. She participated in psychology research while attending UGA, and is excited to dip her toes into audiology research. She comes from a background of people who love to hunt and engage in shooting sports, which is what drew her to research in noise-induced hearing loss. She’s looking forward to joining the NOISE lab to expand research in new and interesting directions.

Emily Myers entered the UT Dallas AuD program in 2021, having graduated from the University of Arkansas earlier that same year with a bachelor of science degree majoring in communication sciences and disorders. As a lifelong musician, playing the trumpet for the last 12 years, Emily has an interest in working with musicians, noise exposure, and hearing protection. Because of this interest, she conducted research in her undergraduate studies on Noise Exposure and Hearing Protection in Marching Band Students. She looks forward to continuing research work with musicians both in this program and in future endeavors.

Yuli Olivares joined the doctor of audiology program at UT Dallas in 2023 after graduating from the University of North Texas with a bachelor of science degree in speech pathology and audiology. She is interested in noise exposure and prevention awareness among different demographics. She is eager to begin learning and in her free time she enjoys crocheting.

Amber finished her undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in communication science disorders with a minor in educational psychology. She joined the doctor of audiology program at UT Dallas in 2023. She hopes to delve into research related to noise induced hearing loss, music perception with hearing loss, and hearing protection. She is an avid enjoyer of both listening and producing music in her free time.