Elizabeth Heller Murray

Elizabeth Heller Murray, PhD, CCC-SLP (she/her), serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Temple University's College of Public Health. Her research integrates acoustic, aerodynamic, and perceptual methodologies to investigate vocal development and disorders in pediatric populations, with direct clinical applications for therapeutic interventions.

Education:

• PhD in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from Boston University
• MS in Speech-Language Pathology (concentration: Voice Disorders) from MGH Institute of Health Professions
• BA in Psychology and Linguistics from Emory University

Research Focus: Dr. Murray's work centers on vocal motor control development and pediatric voice disorders, employing acoustic analysis to examine vocal fold function in children with conditions like vocal fold nodules. Her research bridges basic science of vocal development with clinical practice, specifically targeting improvements in voice disorder treatments for children through evidence-based methodologies.

Publication Trends: Her 2020-2025 publications reveal a strong focus on pediatric voice assessment tools (particularly cepstral metrics), longitudinal vocal development, and clinical translation of acoustic findings. Notable patterns include development of standardized protocols for voice analysis, investigation of vocal-articulatory coordination in childhood disorders, and collaborative mega-analyses of speech motor control mechanisms.

Laboratory: She directs the Vocal Development Lab at Temple University, which specializes in pediatric voice research through advanced acoustic and perceptual methodologies to inform clinical practice.