PhD Student in Speech & Hearing Science
Daniela is a certified bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist from Chile and a Ph.D. student in Speech and Hearing Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she also earned her Master’s degree. She serves as a Research Assistant and lab manager in Dr. Mattie’s Development in Neurogenetic Disabilities Lab. Daniela’s research focuses on early social-communication development in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, with a strong emphasis on culturally and linguistically relevant practices. She is particularly interested in multilingualism and caregiver-implemented interventions for families from diverse backgrounds. Through her work, Daniela aims to inform more inclusive and effective support strategies that enhance the quality of life for children, their families, and practitioners.