Audiological Research Staff
Harvey Abrams, Ph.D.
Director of Audiology Research
Harvey Abrams is the Director of Audiology Research at Starkey Laboratories. Prior to joining Starkey, Harvey served in a number of clinical, research and administrative capacities with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. He received his undergraduate degree from the George Washington University and his masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Florida. Harvey serves on the faculty of the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at the University of South Florida and instructs distance learning courses for the University of Florida. His research has focused on treatment efficacy and improved quality of life associated with audiologic intervention. He has authored and co-authored several recent papers and book chapters and is a frequent lecturer on the topics of outcome measures, health-related quality of life, and evidence-based audiologic practice.
Michelle Hicks, Ph.D.
Manager of Clinical Product Research
Michelle Hicks joined Starkey in April 2010 as the manager of Clinical Product Research. She obtained a Ph.D. in Audiology/Hearing Science from Arizona State University in 1997, and worked as a professor at the University of Maryland and University of Utah teaching Psychoacoustics, Amplification, and Pediatric Audiology. Prior to joining Starkey, Michelle worked as a research audiologist at Sonic Innovations in Salt Lake City, UT.
Jason A. Galster, Ph.D., FAAA, CCC-A
Manager of Clinical Comparative Research
Jason Galster, Ph.D., is Manager of Clinical Comparative Research with Starkey Laboratories. He investigates the clinical outcomes of modern hearing aid features while ensuring that product claims are accurate and backed by supporting evidence. Dr. Galster has held a clinical position as a pediatric audiologist and worked as a research audiologist on topics that include digital signal processing, physical room acoustics, and amplification in hearing-impaired pediatric populations.
Karrie Recker, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA
Research Audiologist, Audiology Research
Karrie Recker is a Research Audiologist at Starkey Laboratories. She joined the company in 2000. Over the years Dr. Recker has been involved in a variety of research projects ranging from basic hearing science studies to algorithm testing to mechanical design verification. In 2005, she received her doctoral degree in Audiology from the University of Florida.
Shilpi Banerjee, Ph.D., FAAA
Senior Research Audiologist, Audiology Research
Shilpi Banerjee joined Starkey in 2003. She is responsible for coordinating and conducting clinical research activities as well as presenting research findings at professional conferences. Her research interests include advanced digital signal processing algorithms, loudness perception, hearing aid-related plasticity, and computer-aided enhancement of the hearing aid experience. Shilpi obtained her Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University, IL.
Sharon Kaare, B.A.
Research Coordinator, Clinical Product Research
Sharon Kaare joined Starkey in May 2006. Since this time, she has been involved in a variety of administrative tasks with a focus on recruitment of research participants. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems at Augustana College, SD. Prior to her position with Starkey, Sharon was an applications analyst.
Beth Thomas, M.S., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist, Clinical Product Research/Audiology Research
Beth Thomas joined Starkey in 2006. She is responsible for the audiological evaluation of potential research participants and for supervising graduate students of audiology. Beth's past work experience includes five years as a staff audiologist for the University of Illinois at Chicago Eye and Ear Infirmary. Her previous affiliations also include the Cleveland Clinic, Henry Ford Hospital and the Ann Arbor Veterans Hospital.
Matthew Burk, Ph.D., CCC-A, FAAA
Senior Research Audiologist, Clinical Product Research
Matthew Burk joined Starkey in 2008. His research interests include auditory training, outcome measures, and binaural hearing-aid processing. Prior to joining Starkey, Matthew was a research scientist at Indiana University with an emphasis on auditory training and rehabilitation. He obtained his Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Elizabeth Galster, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA
Research Audiologist, Clinical Product Research
Liz Galster joined the Clinical Product Research team at Starkey in 2008. She conducts Alpha and Beta clinical trials on emerging technology and fitting processes. Previous research experience focused on evaluation of signal processing algorithms, directional microphones, and speech understanding in reverberation. Prior to joining Starkey, Liz worked at the Nashville VA Medical Center. She obtained her Au.D. at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she worked as a research assistant in the Dan Maddox Hearing Aid Research Laboratory.
Susie Valentine, Ph.D., CCC-A, FAAA
Research Audiologist, Audiology Research
Susie Valentine, Ph.D., is a Research Audiologist at the Starkey Hearing Research Center. She holds a certificate of clinical competence in audiology from the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association and is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. Since coming to Starkey she has worked in multiple aspects of hearing aid research including, algorithm research and software research. Additionally she has continued to conduct research designed to better understand hearing loss . Her main interest lies in understanding the sound segregation abilities of hearing-impaired listeners and how amplification influences sound segregation for those listeners. Valentine holds a bachelor's from Lenoir-Rhyne University, a master's in audiology from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. in Hearing Science from Indiana University.
Drew Dundas, Ph.D., FAAA, CCC-A
Research Audiologist, Audiology Research
J. Andrew (Drew) Dundas, Ph.D., is a research audiologist specializing in the development of advanced hearing aid technologies. His current research interests include the development of prescriptive algorithms and the investigation of the effects of hearing aid processing on music perception. Prior to joining Starkey, Drew worked and studied at Vanderbilt University medical center and at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where his research included investigations of vestibular assessment tools, hearing aid outcome measure development and tests for the detection of cochlear dead regions.
Elise Gregoire, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA
Research Audiologist, Clinical Product Research
Elise Gregoire, Au.D., joined Starkey's Clinical Product Research Team in the summer of 2010 as a Research Audiologist where she is involved in clinical research studies evaluating Starkey's newest technological advancements. Elise completed her Doctorate of Audiology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. During her time at Vanderbilt, Elise worked in the Dan Maddox Hearing Aid Research Laboratory under the direction of Todd Ricketts, Ph.D. and Benjamin Hornsby, Ph.D. Prior to beginning work with Starkey, Elise was employed as a Clinical Audiologist for Bay Audiology in Dunedin, New Zealand.
John Ellison, M.S., CCC-A, FAAA
Research Audiologist, Audiology Research
John Ellison is a Research Audiologist at Starkey Laboratories. He joined the company in 2010. Since then he has been involved in a variety of projects involving the use of output phase modulation to improve feedback cancellation, psychoacoustics, binaural / wireless directional microphone processing, and the influence of noise reduction on ANL. He has earned a B.S. degree in Anthropology from the University of Colorado, an M,S. degree in Audiology from the University of Arizona, and an M.S. degree in Architectural Acoustics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Laura Dundas, Au.D., CCC-A
Clinical Audiologist, Clinical Product Research/Audiology Research
Laura Dundas joined Starkey in 2010, and is responsible for the audiologic evaluation of potential research participants. Prior to joining the Research team at Starkey, Laura worked in a variety of settings, including private practice, several Ear, Nose, & Throat clinics, and the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. She graduated with her Au.D. from the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium (NOAC) at the University of Akron.
Jumana Harianawala, Au.D., CCC-A
Research Audiologist, Audiology Research
Jumana Harianawala joined Starkey Laboratories Inc. as a Research Audiologist in 2011. Prior to joining Starkey, Jumana worked as a clinical Audiologist at an Ear, Nose & Throat practice in Queens, New York. She received her Clinical Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where she also worked as a research assistant in the Auditory Perception Lab.
Andrea Pociecha, Au.D.
Competitive Information Specialist, Clinical Comparative Research
Andrea Pociecha joined Starkey in 2004. She manages archives of competitive information and a competitive device library. She also supports competitive benchmarking efforts throughout the entire company. Andrea has held clinical positions within hospitals and private clinics working with a wide variety of different hearing aid manufacturers. Andrea obtained her Au.D. from Central Michigan University.
Krishna S. Rodemerk, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA
Research Audiologist, Clinical Comparative Research
Krishna S. Rodemerk, Au.D., is a research audiologist in the Clinical Comparative Research group at Starkey Laboratories. She joined the company in February 2011. Prior to joining Starkey, Krishna worked in a private practice as a clinical audiologist in Rochester, NY. She earned her clinical doctorate from the University at Buffalo where she also served as a research assistant in the Center for Hearing and Deafness. Her primary research focuses are modern hearing aid technology and tinnitus.
Sandy Jobes
Research Administrator, Audiology Research/Clinical Comparative Research
Sandy Jobes joined Starkey in October, 2009. At Starkey, Sandy currently supports the research team as a Research Administrator, providing project management support, administrative support, and research study recruitment to five research departments. Before joining the research team, Sandy supported Starkey's Audiology and Education department as an Administrative Coordinator. Prior to joining Starkey, Sandy managed retail operations and marketing programs at several Fortune 500 corporations in the Twin Cities.
Amanda Wolfe, Au.D., CCC-A
Research Audiologist, Clinical Product Research
Amanda Wolfe joined Starkey in 2011. As part of the Clinical Product Research team, Amanda conducts Alpha and Beta testing on emerging technologies and fitting processes. She obtained her Au.D at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research interests are varied, with work most recently completed in the areas of diabetes and hearing loss and cervical osteophytes and vertigo.
Jen Repovsch, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA
Research Audiologist, Clinical Product Research
Jen Repovsch joined Starkey in 2011. As part of the Clinical Product Research team, she conducts trials on innovative technologies, devices, and fitting methods. Jen's previous experience includes pediatrics, educational audiology, as well as design and testing of audiological diagnostic equipment. Jen earned her B.S. degree in Speech and Hearing Science and M.S. degree in Communication Disorders from Arizona State University , and her Au.D. from Salus University.
Kirsten Bock
Research Assistant, Clinical Product Research/Audiology Research
Kirsten Bock began interning with Starkey in 2008 in the Product Management group. She currently holds the position as the Starkey Research Scholar and assists in Clinical Product Research and Audiology Research. She is pursuing her Au.D. at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, MN.
Ryan Irey, B.A.
Research Intern, Audiology Research
Ryan Irey is a second-year Au.D. student at the University of Minnesota, and works as an Audiology Research Intern at Starkey Laboratories. He has been involved in several projects overseen by Shilpi Banerjee, Ph.D. and Drew Dundas, Ph.D. Ryan's research interests include music appraisal and recognition in hearing aids, environmental classification, reverberation effects, and cochlear anatomy/physiology. Ryan holds a B.A. in Music Theory from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN.