Taiel became curious about the world of research and academia towards the end of my time at Eastern Florida State College (go Titans!). She explains, “When I knew I wanted to transfer to UCF, I went through the faculty pages across the colleges I was most interested in (CCIE & CHPS) and read faculty bios to get a sense of who was working on topics that resonated with me. I made a running list of professors whose work sounded interesting and gradually narrowed it down to a small group I could see myself learning from. After that, I reached out to those faculty researchers directly. Around the same time, I connected with the McNair Scholars Program because I knew I wanted a supportive research environment rather than navigating research on my own. Through those conversations, I found mentorship and formal research training that helped me turn my initial interests into a fully realized project.”

Taiel’s research examines how structural inequities influence access to speech-language therapy for low-income Black and Hispanic children in the United States. Through her systematic review, she is mapping barriers across identification, diagnosis, and intervention to synthesize equity-focused strategies for clinicians, educators, and policymakers.

Taiel’s advice: “Start before you feel ready. You don’t need a refined research idea to start, just curiosity and the willingness to learn. Read widely, ask thoughtful questions, and don’t be afraid to email faculty whose work genuinely interests you. Treat research as a skill you build, not a talent you either have or don’t, and seek mentors who care about your personal growth and your well-being. And when feeling lost, aap@ucf.edu and our@ucf.edu will be your guiding forces!”