Own who you are and trust that you are enough.”
Murielle Standley (she/her)
PhD Candidate in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Murielle Standley is a PhD candidate in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the School of Communication. She is interested in bilingual language development, particularly in young children with an elevated likelihood of language disorders. Murielle’s goal is to conduct culturally relevant research that contributes to a greater understanding of Developmental Language Disorders in children from diverse language backgrounds.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience?
I am interested in bilingual language development across a wide range of language abilities, such as in young children with an elevated likelihood of language disorders. My ambition is to conduct studies that help others understand the underlying mechanisms of Developmental Language Disorder, in bilingual children in particular.
What have been some of the most memorable twists and turns of your career?
My career is all twists and turns! I had a non-linear trajectory to academia, one that I have learned to appreciate for its strengths and advantages above its challenges. One of the most memorable twists was that a Northwestern graduate student taught a class at my undergraduate institution (Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago). It turned out that her research and my interests overlapped a great deal, and I took her up on the offer of talking about graduate school. It was that conversation that resulted in my becoming a research coordinator for her PI, and subsequently applying to graduate school at Northwestern.
Tell us what inspired your research and/or work.
Growing up in Switzerland, multilingualism was the norm, both within my own family and within Swiss culture and society. I have two sons and we are a bilingual family. One of my sons is dyslexic and has ADHD. My fascination with multilingualism and its impact early on in development made me hyperfocus on my children’s language development. I had my very own natural experiment at home and I realized how different their language development was, and it eventually turned out that some of those differences were due to one of my children having a language disorder and ADHD. I learned that we know very little about language disorders in bilinguals, which motivated me to pursue this line of research.
What is a mistake you have learned from in your career?
For a long time, I made the mistake of thinking I needed to become a "typical graduate students" and minimize my experience as a parent and someone who has had a career in a different field. I have learned over time that there is barely anyone who is a "typical graduate student" (whatever that is supposed to be) and that I have to embrace and own my differences for better and for worse if I want to grow, learn, and make a contribution to science.
Whom do you admire in your field and otherwise, and why?
Many people come to mind, but if I must single someone out, it is my adviser, Dr. Adriana Weisleder. Her intelligence is inspiring and her ability and commitment to mentoring her students is beyond admirable. But above all, I admire her humanity within the system of the academy and its challenges. She is supportive in a way that allows me to grow at my own pace and embrace who I am as a scientist, even if—or especially if—that does not look like what may be thought of as "the norm".
What do you find both rewarding and challenging about your research and/or work?
Studying young bilingual children is challenging on many levels, from recruitment to ensuring that we ask culturally and linguistically relevant questions. The rewarding part is when I get to work with families or talk to other researchers (at a conference or across departments) and parents and see that this work is meaningful.
What is the biggest potential impact or implication of your work?
My hope is that my work will contribute to our understanding of how language disorders present in young bilingual children, which in turn I hope will have an impact on the development of more culturally and linguistically appropriate assessments so that bilingual children can get the services and interventions that they need in order to be able to communicate effectively.
Why Northwestern?
My family settled in Evanston ten years ago, so of course Northwestern was my first choice from that perspective, and it just so happens that Northwestern's Communication Sciences and Disorders Department is very highly rated. All the stars aligned.
How do you unwind after a long day?
I love boxing, walking my dog, reading (non-academic!) books, knitting, and watching movies with my family.
What books are on your bedside table?
Currently "Luegen Ueber Meine Mutter", a German novel by Daniela Droscher, and "Big Swiss" by Jen Beagin, which I clearly picked for its title but genuinely enjoy reading.
What inspires you?
My kids. It's a tough world in which to be a teenager and seeing how they navigate the world is inspiring.
How would your closest friends describe you?
I hope they would say that I am thoughtful, supportive, and funny. Humor is high on my list of coping mechanisms and I find it a highly effective stress relief.
What did you originally want to be when you grew up?
A pop star, of course.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
Own who you are and trust that you are enough.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
I was awarded the Cognitive Science Advanced Research Fellowship, and I established and continue to facilitate a peer support group for graduate students who are also parents. We receive support from the Women’s Center and are currently working with NUGW to ensure our voices are heard in the collective bargaining negotiations.
Tell us about a time when things did not go as you planned, what did you learn?
I recently presented my work and completely froze and blanked when a faculty member asked me tough but fair questions. It really knocked my confidence, but after I processed my feelings, I wrote a list of things I would have liked to have done differently and, from that, a list of skills I need to develop for this type of situation.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
To have come this far! And to have presented my Qualifying Research Project to a leading researcher in my field at a different university.
Published: June 27, 2023
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