Yan Cong

Yan Cong is an Assistant Professor at Purdue University, focusing on Chinese linguistics and computational linguistics. Their work bridges natural language processing (NLP), semantics, and pragmatics, with applications in artificial intelligence (AI), language education, and healthcare.

• Research Focus: Developing text analysis models to quantify and improve language learning, assessing semantic/pragmatic competence in language models, and applying computational methods to speech and language fluency.
• Background: Former NLP researcher at the Feinstein Institutes, with a PhD in Linguistics from Michigan State University.

Research Themes: Yan Cong integrates linguistic theory with AI to explore language understanding in humans and machines. Key areas include

• Computational modeling of semantics and pragmatics
• Application of NLP to second language acquisition
• Development of interpretable AI systems for education and healthcare
• Analysis of speech disturbances in clinical contexts (e.g., schizophrenia, aphasia)

Awards: No specific honors mentioned in the provided text.