Our Research Team
Kathryn Wiseman, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A
Kathryn Wiseman is a Research Scientist and Director of the Child Auditory Technology Lab in the Center for Hearing Research at Boys Town National Research Hospital. Dr. Wiseman's research interests center on clinical research in the field of pediatric audiology, with a focus on intervention in children who use hearing aids and/or cochlear implants. Dr. Wiseman completed her undergraduate degree at Brown University in Cognitive Neuroscience. She received her Au.D./Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2020, where her research and clinical training centered on improving outcomes of children with cochlear implants. Dr. Wiseman completed her postdoc at Boys Town National Research Hospital in 2022 where her training focused on developmental outcomes of children with hearing aids to better inform clinical guidelines for device candidacy and hearing aid fitting. Her current research combines her prior clinical and research experiences to examine outcomes in children with hearing loss across the continuum of auditory technologies. Her favorite thing about doing research is getting to connect with the children and families who come into our lab. When not in the lab, Kathryn enjoys reading, eating and walking her big fluffy dogs.
Amberlee Haggerty, B.S.
Amberlee Haggerty is a Research Assistant in the CAT Lab. Amberlee graduated from the University of Nebraska - Omaha with her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. She assists with project development, data collection, data analysis and general lab upkeep. Her favorite thing about doing research is knowing that her work is making an impact in others' lives. In her free time, Amberlee loves to bake breads and pastries!
Melissa R. Henry, Au.D., CCC-A
Melissa Henry is a Research Audiologist in the Child Auditory Technology Lab at Boys Town National Research Hospital. She completed her undergraduate degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at Saint Mary's College in 2018. Dr. Henry received her Au.D. from Vanderbilt University in 2022, where she specialized in early intervention and management of children with hearing loss. She was a clinical audiologist at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan providing diagnostic and intervention services across the lifespan. Dr. Henry is passionate about improving outcomes for children with hearing loss through advancements in treatment and technology. When not in the lab, Melissa enjoys reading, ice skating and hanging out with Oliver, her mini-Australian Shepherd!
Steven Gianakas, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A
Steven Gianakas is a postdoctoral research fellow in the CAT Lab. Dr. Gianakas completed his undergraduate degree at Butler University in Communication Science and Disorders. He received his Au.D. from the University of Washington-Seattle in 2019 and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota in 2023. His Ph.D. research focused on how understanding speech can be effortful for individuals with cochlear implants and hearing aids. He is interested in improving outcomes for children with hearing loss and examining aspects of listening that are not typically addressed by standard audiologic tests. His favorite thing about research is being able to make a positive impact on the participants and how they communicate with their friends, families and loved ones. Outside of the lab, Steven enjoys hanging out with his three dogs, participating in triathlons and searching for the best slice of pizza Omaha has to offer.
