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Dr. Taffeta Elliott's teaching and research interests span Neuroethology, Systems Neuroscience, Psychology of Language, Music Cognition, Auditory Psychophysics, Sensory Ecology of Animal Communication, and Educational Assessment.

Neuroscience
Complex vocal sounds are crucial for social interactions. Our neuroscience research focuses on how the auditory system makes sense of the acoustic structure in vocal communications, in order to release responses and mediate behavior. Using wildlife in the field and invertebrates as model systems, we combine approaches of neurophysiological recording, passive automated sound monitoring, and behavior. Behavioral psychophysics projects in humans aim at understanding how perception integrates complex sound features to recognize speaker identity and meaning in speech, as well as timbre in musical instruments.

Assessment and student success in higher education
We are extending research on evidence-based study skills to students in STEM programs at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) public university. Supportive training for these college students has worked well regardless of whether the messaging about studying appealed to research by scientist authorities or whether it rather appealed to their own social group identity.

Taffeta received her Ph.D. in Neurobiology & Behavior from Columbia University in the City of New York.