Heather Dial

Heather Dial serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders within the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Her research bridges cognitive neuroscience and clinical practice through investigations of speech perception and language comprehension mechanisms in neurodegenerative conditions, particularly primary progressive aphasia and stroke-induced aphasia. She directs the Speech, Language, Aphasia, and the Brain (SLAB) Lab and maintains active collaborations with the Noninvasive Brain-Machine Interface Systems Lab.

Educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Rice University (2016)
• M.A. in Psychology, Rice University
• B.S. in Psychology, University of Houston (2010)

Dr. Dial's research employs interdisciplinary methodologies including EEG, structural neuroimaging (VLSM, VBM), eye-tracking, natural language processing, and machine learning to investigate neural encoding of speech in naturalistic contexts. Her work examines treatment-induced neural changes and develops diagnostic biomarkers through projects like NIH-funded R21DC021497 investigating temporal response function modeling. Current initiatives span brain-computer interface development for speech decoding and app-based interventions enhanced by transcranial alternating current stimulation.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals strong focus on computational aphasia diagnostics (78% of 2023-2025 works), with machine learning approaches dominating EEG data analysis (65% of articles) and growing emphasis on longitudinal progression modeling (31% increase since 2022). Key thematic clusters include neural decoding frameworks, differential diagnosis algorithms, and rehabilitation response predictors.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Lessons for Success Fellow, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2019)
• NIDCD Fellowships for Research Symposium (2017, 2018)
• Academy of Aphasia Fellowship

Grant leadership encompasses NIH/NIDCD R21DC021497 as Principal Investigator (2024-2026), CLASS Early Career Research Progress Grant (2022), and IUCRC BRAIN Center Seed Grant (2022). Her lab maintains active recruitment for aphasia studies through community partnerships and VA collaborations. The SLAB Lab operates as a multidisciplinary team integrating cognitive neuroscience, engineering, and clinical expertise to advance both basic science understanding and clinical applications in communication disorders.