Martine Robbeets

Prof. Dr. Martine Robbeets serves as Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Jena, Germany, heading the "Language and the Anthropocene Research Group." Previously known as the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History until its recent reorganization, this institution focuses on interdisciplinary research connecting linguistic evolution with archaeological and genetic evidence.

Her academic background includes:

• Habilitation in Language Typology from University of Mainz (2015)
• Ph.D. in Comparative Linguistics from Leiden University (2003)
• M.A. in Korean Studies from Leiden University (1998)
• M.A. in Japanese Studies from Catholic University Leuven (1996)

Dr. Robbeets specializes in Comparative and Historical Linguistics with particular focus on the Transeurasian language family (including Turkic, Mongolic, Tungusic, Korean, and Japanese languages). Her research integrates linguistic analysis with archaeological findings and genetic data to investigate language evolution and dispersal patterns. She examines how agricultural expansions, particularly millet farming, correlate with language spread across Eurasia, employing innovative triangulation methods that combine evidence from multiple disciplines.

Her recent publications reveal significant connections between climate change, agricultural practices, and language dispersal across East Asia. Through interdisciplinary approaches, she has resolved longstanding debates in historical linguistics regarding the origins of the Transeurasian languages. Her work demonstrates how computational linguistics, phylogenetic analysis, and cross-disciplinary collaboration can provide new insights into human prehistory.

Dr. Robbeets has established herself as a leading figure in interdisciplinary linguistics through her editorial work on "The Oxford Guide to the Transeurasian Languages" (2020) and numerous high-impact publications in journals including Nature, Science Advances, and Nature Communications. Her research continues to bridge the gap between traditional linguistic methods and modern scientific approaches to understanding language history.