Jessica Hay

Professor of Psychology

Ph.D. 2005, University of Texas at Austin
My research interests focus primarily on early language acquisition and speech perception. I am specifically interested in how human infants learn elements of language during early development and particularly in how their experience with statistical regularities in the world (and in the laboratory) interacts with their perceptual sensitivities to facilitate learning.

Contact: (865) 974-0514 | jhay@tennessee.edu

Taylor Shackelford

Graduate Student

I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Alabama in 2023 and an M.S. in Experimental Psychology from the same institution in 2024. My master’s thesis investigated how phonological information in written and spoken words impacts adult language processing using event-related potentials (ERPs) and behavioral measures. As a PhD student in the Infant Language & Perceptual Learning lab, I plan to investigate how early sensory experiences impact language acquisition in infants and toddlers, with a specific interest in identifying physiological measures for indexing language learning and processing. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, birdwatching, and being on the water.

Email: tshacke4@vols.utk.edu

Sarah Marks

Graduate Student

I graduated with a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Studio Art from Centre College in May of 2025. My past research projects focused on emotional perception and decision-making, with an emphasis on their relationship to socioeconomic status. As a PhD student in the Infant Language & Perceptual Learning Lab, I aim to explore relationships between language learning and individual factors that are especially prevalent in the Appalachian Region. When not in the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors, gardening, and creating art.

Email: smarks4@vols.utk.edu

Mia Zhang

Lab Manager

I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine in 2022 and an M.A. in Psychology from the University of Chicago in 2024. My research interests focus on early language learning and development through interactive contexts. 

Email: yzhan278@utk.edu