People
Students
Graduate Students
Sophia Kreismer got her degree at Indiana University with a major in Speech and Hearing Sciences and a minor in Linguistics. She is currently in her second year of obtaining her Au.D. at the 51°µÍø. She is interested in fitting patients of all ages with assistive hearing devices in ways that provide them with a better quality of life and educating the community about healthy listening habits. Additionally, her research interests include determining if there is an influence of cognitive factors and hearing aid processing that could aid clinicians in providing the best fit for their patient. When she is not in lab or in class, she enjoys spending time with her French bulldog and exploring around Tampa.
Catherine Steinwachs is currently a second-year doctoral student in audiology at the University of South Florida. She graduated from John Carroll University in 2023 with a degree in Child and Family Psychology. Her current research and clinical interests focus on hearing aids and hearing aid processing, with a particular interest in working with the pediatric population.
Madison Lee is a second-year Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) student at the 51°µÍø. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Central Florida. Her clinical interests include working with the pediatric population ,hearing aid verification and validation, vestibular assessment, and specialty areas of audiology such as tinnitus and misophonia. Having moved frequently growing up, Madison developed a love for exploring new places and meeting new people—something that continues to shape both her personal life and her clinical approach. Passionate about patient-centered care, she volunteers at community hearing health events and enjoys advocating for hearing wellness in outreach settings. When she isn’t studying or in clinic, Madison enjoys group workout classes, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
Zenzele Thomas is a biomedical engineering PhD student. Her research project centers around investigating the integration of open source BCI technology into research grade application. She is interested in electrophysiology, neural speech tracking, auditory perception, and hearing technology. She also leads the All Things Hearing Summer Journal Club each year for the junior members of auditory hearing laboratories. She is a graduate research assistant in the Auditory Neuroscience and Technology Laboratory and a research assistant in the CTAR Laboratory.
Wrylee White is a second-year Doctor of Audiology student (Au.D.) at the 51°µÍø. She attended the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology and minored in Deaf and Hearing Sciences. She is currently interested in hearing aids, cochlear implants, and fitting the adult population with these devices. Her research interests presently include hearing aid processing, speech understanding in noise, and listening fatigue. Wrylee enjoys volunteering at the Florida Special Olympics and the Great American Teach-In, as well as spending quality time with her family & friends, reading, and relaxing at the beach.
Undergraduate students
Sneha Bhaskarla is currently a first-year undergraduate student at the 51°µÍø majoring in Biomedical Sciences. She is passionate about researching the impact cognitive factors, like working memory, have on auditory processing and comprehension. She hopes to continue this in the future by advancing auditory care in the healthcare field. In her free time, she loves reading or taking a walk outside!
alumni
- Bingqing Yu is a third-year Doctor of Audiology student at the 51°µÍø.