Associate Professor
Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Affiliated Faculty
Harvard - MIT Division of Health Science & Technology,
Program in Speech and Hearing Biosciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA
Education:
BSc, University of Calgary
MHSc, PhD, University of Toronto
Post-Doctoral Research Affiliate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
 
Certification:
CCC- ASHA
SLP(C) - CASLPA
 
Faculty Appointments & Affiliations:
2003-present Associate Professor of Speech Language Pathology
Bouve College, Northeastern University
2005-present Adjunct Assistant Professor of Computer Science
College of Computer & Information Sciences, Northeastern University
2007-present Affiliated Faculty
Harvard / MIT, Division of Health Science and Technology, Boston, MA
2000-present Research Affiliate
MIT Research Lab of Electronics, Speech Communication Group, Cambridge, MA
2001-2003 Assistant Professor of Speech Language Pathology
Teachers College Columbia University, New York, NY
2000-2003 Visiting Assistant Professor
MIT Media Laboratory, Cambridge, MA
   
Funding & Honors:
2007-2010 National Science Foundation (NSF) - IIS (PI)
  Adapting a Text-to-Speech Synthesizer to Convey User Identity ($449,996)
.
2006-2011 National Institutes of Health, (NIDCD) - R01 (Co-PI)
  Neural Modeling and Imaging of Speech (Total award:$1,659,002, Subaward to NEU $309,060)
.
2005 National Science Foundation (NSF) - SGER (PI)
  Loudmouth: Toward Intelligible Speech Synthesis in Everyday Noise Situations ($99,917)
.
2004-2007 Department of Education (NIDRR) - F1 (Co-PI)
  Enhancing AAC Communication through Improved Access to Fringe Vocabulary Words (Total award:$449,975, Subaward to NEU $131,344)
.
2004-2006
National Institutes of Health, (NIDCD) - R03 (PI)
  Identifying Communicative Signals in Dysarthric Speech ($157,400)
.
2004-2005 Charles H. Hood Foundation Research Grant (PI)
  Harnessing Residual Vocal Abilities in Children with Severe Speech Impairment ($75,000)
.
2004-2005 Northeastern University Provost's Research and Development fund - RSDF (PI)
  The Role of Semantic Information on the Acoustics of Speech Produced in Noise: Toward Intelligible Speech Synthesis ($8,000)
.
2000-2003 National Science Foundation - ITR (Co-PI)
  Multimodal Learning for Assistive Aids (Total award:$449,995, Subcontract to NEU $78,629)
.
2002-2003 Teachers College Columbia University, Dean’s Research Grant (PI)
  Training Teachers from Arab Minorities to Provide Services for Assistive Technology ($3,000)
.
2002-2003 World Bank Foundation (Co-PI)
  Using Computers to Improve Effectiveness of Primary Education for Underprivileged Children (Total award:$250,000)
.
2001-2002 Teachers College Columbia University, Dean's Grant (PI)
  Impact of Context Sensitive Assistive Technology on Vocabulary Use and Literacy Skills ($5,000)
.
1998-2000 Natural Science & Engineering Research Council Postgraduate Fellowship (PI) ($19,500)
1998-2000 Harmonize for Speech Foundation Grant (PI) ($8,000)
1998-1999 Prentke Romich-ISAAC Research Training Award (PI) ($1,000)
1997-1999 Bloorview Children's Hospital Foundation Graduate Research Studentship (PI) ($17,500)
1997 Whipper Watson Graduate Research Studentship ($16,500)
1996-1998 MacGeachy Foundation Merit Scholarship ($55,500)
1993-1994 Ontario Graduate Scholarship ($27,000)
 
Teaching:
Speech science
Language acquisition
Phonetics
Neurogenic motor speech disorders
Augmentative and alternative communication
Human computer interaction
Neuroscience of speech production
 
Research Interests:

Acoustics of prosody
Motor speech disorders
Speech production in noise
Alternative and augmentative communication
Development and usability testing of assistive technology
Use of games for assessing and monitoring communication
 
Recent Publications: (for complete list click here)
  1. Patel, R., & *Schell, K. The Influence of Linguistic Content on the Lombard Effect. Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research. (In Press).
  2. Patel, R., *Schooley, K., & *Wilner, J. (2007). Visual Principles for Convey Meaning in Graphic Symbols: A Comparison of PCS and Artists’ Depictions. Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits, Volume 4.
  3. Patel, R. & *Radhakrishnan, R. (2007). Enhancing Access to Situational Vocabulary by Leveraging Geographic Context. Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits, Volume 4.
  4. Patel, R. & *Schroeder, B. (2007). Influence of familiarity on identifying prosodic vocalizations produced by children with severe dysarthria. Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics, 10, 1-16.
  5. Patel, R., & *Watkins, C. (2007). Stress identification in speakers with dysarthria due to cerebral palsy: An initial report. Journal of Medical Speech Language Pathology, 15(2), 149-159.
  6. Grigos, M. & Patel, R. (2007). Articulator movement associated with the development of prosodic control in children. Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research, 50, 119-130.
  7. Patel, R., *Schooley, K. & *Radhakrishnan, R. (2006). Comparison of semantic versus syntactic message formulation: A pilot study. Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits, Volume 3, 96-110.
  8. Patel, R., & *Salata, A. (2006). Using computer games to mediate caregiver-child communication for children with severe dysarthria. Journal of Medical Speech Language Pathology, 14(4), 279-284.
Contact:
Office: : 102 Forsyth Building
Voice : 617-373-5842
Fax : 617-373-2239
Email : r.patel@neu.edu