Hi! I’m Halie. I’m a developmental cognitive neuroscientist, a fiction reader, an endurance sport enthusiast, and that person who brings her dog into lab.
I am currently a postdoc at MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research, working with Ev Fedorenko and Rebecca Saxe. I defended my PhD in Spring 2023 in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences program at MIT, where I studied the development of language in the minds and brains of children. I was lucky enough to have two fantastic advisors, John Gabrieli and Rebecca Saxe.
I study language as a way of exploring the interplay between experience and endogenous constraints on brain development. What are the neural underpinnings of language across development, and how do experiences with language shape the functional architecture of the brain’s language system? What happens when language does not develop under typical circumstances, due to either internal or external factors? And how do social, interactive contexts impact language learning? To approach these questions, I use neuroimaging tools like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), computational tools like large language models (LLMs), and behavioral measures.
I know that I wouldn’t be a scientist if not for the mentorship I’ve had along the way. I am committed to being the best mentor I can be for students of all backgrounds. I’m also committed to making my science accessible, both to the research community and to those outside it.
Thanks for stopping by, and don’t hesitate to reach out!
You can find my CV here.