Find Academic Supervisors

Walter BisangView profile

Professor

• Linguistic Typology
• Language Contact/Areal Typology
• Grammaticalization
• +8 more

**Walter Bisang** is a Full Professor of General and Comparative Linguistics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz since 1992. He holds memberships in the Academia Europaea (since 2016) and the Academy of Sciences and Literature, Mainz (since 2015). His research focuses on linguistic typology, grammaticalization, and cross-linguistic variation, with special attention to East Asian, Southeast Asian, and Caucasian languages. Bisang has directed major research initiatives, including the Collaborative Research Center (SFB 295) on 'Cultural and Linguistic Contacts' (1999–2008) and contributed to the PLATO project on language, cognition, and education. **Education**: PhD in General Linguistics, University of Zurich (1990); studies in Thai, Cambodian, and linguistics at SOAS, University of London (1986–1987). Earlier studies in linguistics, Chinese, and Georgian at the University of Zurich (1978–1986). **Research Interests**: Hidden complexity in grammar, grammaticalization processes, sociolinguistic factors in language change, and the interplay between language structure and cognitive processing. He has conducted fieldwork in Asia, Africa, and Europe, including visits at Zhejiang University, University of Hong Kong, and Chulalongkorn University. **Key Projects**: Editor-in-Chief of *Trends in Linguistics* (1996–2009), coordinator of the Research Center SOCUM (2009–2014), and advisor to over 30 PhD students annually through the Landesgraduiertenförderung (1996–2010). **Awards**: Recognized for contributions to linguistics through prestigious academic fellowships and editorial roles. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with interdisciplinary studies in education, neurolinguistics, and cognitive science.

Yohan JohnView profile

Academic

• Dynamical Systems Theory
• Computational Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• +7 more

Yohan John is a Research Assistant Professor in the Neural Systems Laboratory at Sargent College, Boston University, specializing in computational and systems neuroscience. He holds a PhD from Boston University’s Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, where he studied under Profs. Dan Bullock and Frank Guenther, focusing on reinforcement learning and timing in the basal ganglia. His postdoctoral work with Prof. Helen Barbas explored cognitive-emotional interactions using computational modeling. Yohan’s research centers on dynamical systems theory as a unifying framework for understanding brain dynamics and psychiatric disorders, particularly how disruptions in neural networks manifest as symptoms. Education: BSc in Physics, St Stephen's College, Delhi (2004) MSc in Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (2006) PhD in Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University (2011) His research interests span dynamical systems theory , computational neuroscience , cognitive-emotional interactions , and psychiatric disorder modeling . He is particularly interested in how brain networks generate stable cognitive and behavioral states (attractors) and how their pathology leads to mental illness. He also investigates broader philosophical and epistemological questions in science, especially the role of metaphor, naming, and boundaries in cognition. Yohan’s recent publications and essays reflect a strong interdisciplinary approach, bridging neuroscience, philosophy, AI, and science communication. His work on semiotic ghosts in LLMs, the power of naming, and visual metaphors in science demonstrates his interest in the intersection of cognition, language, and computation. These writings reveal a consistent theme: understanding complex systems through dynamic, emergent, and metaphorical lenses. Scientific Awards: No scientific awards mentioned in the provided texts. Yohan is actively involved in science outreach, writing for the public on Quora (where he is a top writer in neuroscience) and co-organizing the NeuroLogos YouTube channel, which discusses recent developments in cognitive neuroscience. He has also led discussion groups on dynamical systems, neural representations, and computational theories of mind. While no formal students or grants are listed, his advisory or mentoring roles may exist informally through these educational initiatives. Labs and Teams: Neural Systems Laboratory, Sargent College, Boston University (current affiliation) Emergence Journal Club (organized by Yohan) NeuroLogos YouTube channel (co-organizer and contributor)

Anna KuderView profile

Researcher

• Sign Language Linguistics
• Corpus Methodology
• Multimodal Communication
• +5 more

Anna Kuder is a sign language linguist at the University of Cologne 's Department of Linguistics (Faculty of Human Sciences). She completed her PhD in 2020 at the University of Warsaw with a focus on negation in Polish Sign Language. Her current research in the GeSi ("Gestures or Signs?") project investigates overlapping manual/nonmanual elements across Polish, German, and Russian sign languages. Specializes in corpus methodology and nonmanual features Expertise in multimodal communication , gesture studies , and comparative sign language analysis Her recent work reveals trends in multimodal feedback mechanisms across sign languages, with methodological innovations in data collection frameworks. Publications demonstrate deep engagement with corpus development, gesture-sign distinctions, and phonetic analysis of interactional elements. Connect via email: akuder@uni-koeln.de

Aria AdliView profile

Professor

• Sociolinguistics
• Syntax
• Information Structure
• +4 more

Aria Adli is a Professor of Linguistics at the Department of Romance Studies , University of Cologne, where he has been tenured since April 2014. He serves as Head of the Sociolinguistic Lab and is a principal investigator in the CRC 1412 (Register: Language-Users’ Knowledge of Situational-Functional Variation). Research focus: Grammatical variation, syntax in speech contexts, information structure, social stratification (Bourdieu), and register analysis Education: Habilitation from University of Freiburg (2011); PhD in Romance Linguistics (Tübingen 2004); Double MA in Linguistics/Psychology His work combines cross-cultural analysis (French, Spanish, Catalan, Persian) with empirical methods including fieldwork, corpus analysis, acceptability judgments, statistics, and computer simulations . He leads the Sociolinguistic Lab Cologne and has organized international workshops like the Flexible and Multiple Plural Marking in Language Contact (2022) and Sounds and Structure in Language and Music (2016). Scientific grants include CRC 1412 (2020-2027), DAAD EduVenTure (2020-2021), CRC 1252 (2017-2020), and DFG grants for projects like The Relation between Grammar and Usage (2013-2017). He has supervised 15+ students including PhDs by Amalia Canes Nápoles and Eric Engel.

Markus EggView profile

Professor

• Linguistics
• Register Analysis
• Metaphor Studies
• +5 more

Markus Egg is a Professor at the Department of English and American Studies , Humboldt University of Berlin. He is a principal investigator in the Collaborative Research Center 1412 (CRC 1412) focused on "Register: Language Users’ Knowledge of Situational-Functional Variation". His work bridges theoretical linguistics with computational approaches, particularly in metaphor annotation, register analysis, and discourse structure. He has organized international workshops such as MeStaR (Metaphors and Stance Markers in Register Variation). Current affiliation: Humboldt University of Berlin Key projects: CRC 1412, GeRMaN (German Register Marking by Non-Literal Expressions), MeStaR workshop Research Focus: His research examines how metaphors and metonymies function as markers of register variation across different contexts, including social media (e.g., LGBTQ+ slang on Twitter), religious language, and computational linguistics. He integrates methodologies from corpus linguistics, cognitive science, and natural language processing to model register knowledge. Teaching: Regularly teaches courses on linguistics, computational semantics, and machine learning applications in language research. In 2023, he conducted a webinar on "Register marking by metaphor and metonymy" at Nakhchivan State University. Collaborations: Collaborates with institutions like Charles University (Prague), Ruhr-Universität Bochum, and Università della Calabria. Frequent collaborator: Valia Kordoni (metaphor corpus development).

• Semiotics
• Multimodality and modality specificity of linguistic communication
• Linguistic iconicity
• +7 more

Prof. Dr. Silvia Kutscher serves as Professor for the Theory and History of Multimodal Communication at the Institute of Archaeology, Humboldt University of Berlin since March 2016, a position established within the Cluster of Excellence Topoi. Her interdisciplinary work bridges linguistics, semiotics, and archaeology with particular focus on ancient Egyptian communication systems. She leads project B03 on Register variation and asymmetric communication in Ancient Egypt within the Collaborative Research Center 1412 "Register: Language Users' Knowledge of Situational-Functional Variation". Her research centers on semiotics with emphasis on multimodal communication in ancient contexts. She has pioneered analytical methods for examining how spatial relations function as semiotic resources in pharaonistic communication, developing the theoretical framework for analyzing text-image compositions in Ancient Egypt. Her work creates crucial interdisciplinary connections between semiotic-linguistic multimodality research and Egyptology, revealing how dimensional aspects and spatial organization contribute to meaning-making in ancient artifacts. Recent publications demonstrate her sustained focus on multimodal analysis of ancient Egyptian artifacts, particularly through the CaeMmCom Corpus project. Her scholarly trajectory shows consistent development from general linguistic theory to specialized application in ancient communication systems, increasingly incorporating digital humanities methodologies. This work represents significant advancement in understanding how ancient societies structured information through combined textual and visual means. Prof. Kutscher holds leadership roles in academic organizations: Since 2018: Board member and co-leader of the Archaeology section of the German Society for Semiotics 2010-2013: Second chair of the German Linguistic Society (DGfS) 2014-2016: Advisory board member of DGfS She directs the Working Group on Multimodal Communication in Ancient Egypt, which develops theoretically grounded analytical tools by combining semiotic-linguistic approaches with Egyptological expertise. This initiative also implements technological tools for annotating and querying multimodal artifact data across the text-object-space continuum.

Muriel NordeView profile

Professor

• Historical Linguistics
• Corpus Linguistics
• Construction Grammar
• +5 more

Muriel Norde is a full Professor of Scandinavian Linguistics at the Department of Northern European Studies , Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, since 2013. Her research focuses on historical linguistics , construction grammar , and degrammaticalization in Germanic languages, particularly Scandinavian varieties. She has extensive experience in corpus linguistics and diachronic morphological analysis . Current Role: Professor at Humboldt-Universität Berlin Past Affiliations: University of Groningen (1997-2013), University of Amsterdam (1998-2003) Research Highlights : Spearheads the BiNoKo Corpus project for comparative historical register analysis. Leads international collaborations on exaptation in morphology and evaluative morphology . Key publications in Diachronic Construction Grammar and libfixes in European languages. Academic Contributions : Authored 83+ publications with over 21,182 reads. Notable works include studies on Swedish genitive evolution , Dutch diminutives , and modal constructions in Old Swedish . Her 2023 Frontiers in Psychology paper co-analyzes register pervasiveness across cultures. Supervision : Serves as promotor or committee member for 9+ PhD theses, including projects on Old Norwegian syntax , Dutch productivity shifts , and Norwegian demonstrative reinforcement . Collaborates with universities in Edinburgh, Ghent, Leuven, and Oslo.

• Language Acquisition
• Language Diagnostics
• Language Education
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Doreen Bryant serves as Studiendekanin (Dean of Studies) at the Deutsches Seminar within the Faculty of Humanities at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen. Her work focuses on German Linguistics with specialization in German as a Second Language (DaZ). Her research spans three core areas: (i) language acquisition across all stages (first/second/tertiary language acquisition; spoken/written language development; typical and disordered language development), (ii) language diagnostics, and (iii) language education and support in early childhood, primary, and secondary education. She leads the DaZ degree program established in 2021 and contributes to other programs including BA German Studies, B.Ed./M.Ed. German, and MA German Linguistics. Her recent publications demonstrate expertise in referential coherence, anaphora resolution, and passive constructions in educational contexts. She oversees the mandatory module 'Inclusion, Diversity and Heterogeneity' in the Master of Education program and coordinates the additional qualification for German as a Second Language. Prof. Bryant supervises doctoral candidates including Derya Dinçer and maintains an active research group focused on language development and education. Her team includes researchers like Benjamin Siegmund and Sophie Vogel.

• Grapholinguistics
• Orthography
• Standardization
• +7 more

Paul Rössler is Professor of German Linguistics at the University of Regensburg's Institute of German Studies within the Faculty of Languages, Literature and Cultural Studies. He has chaired the Department of German Linguistics since 2011 after serving as visiting professor (2009-2011) and holding academic positions at the University of Vienna, Janus Pannonius University in Pécs, and Charles University in Prague. PhD (1997) and Habilitation (2005) from University of Vienna FWF research projects on Austrian German written language development (1998-2001, 2002-2005) Numerous international research stays including MIT (2022), Tokyo (2017), and Bristol (2015) Rössler's research centers on historical aspects of German language structure with particular emphasis on grapholinguistics and punctuation systems. His work examines orthographic variation, standardization processes, and language change from the Early New High German period through contemporary usage. He investigates how writing systems reflect social, regional, and confessional identities while maintaining interest in morphological and syntactic developments across historical periods. His recent publications reveal consistent focus on diachronic punctuation studies, with particular attention to the 18th century as a critical period for orthographic standardization. The research demonstrates how typographic elements like the virgule evolved into modern comma usage, reflecting broader processes of linguistic codification and variation. His work bridges historical linguistics with sociolinguistic perspectives on language norms. Rössler actively supervises doctoral and master's students across diverse linguistic topics while teaching courses on historical linguistics, punctuation, and language variation. He leads the 'punctuation network' research consortium and participates in the FoMuR (Multilingualism and Regionality) forum.

Damaris BartzView profile

Researcher

• Language Acquisition
• Developmental Language Disorders
• Grammar and Discourse Acquisition
• +1 more

Damaris Bartz is a Researcher at the Institute for Special Education , Chair of Pedagogy and Intervention for Language and Communication Impairments , University of Würzburg. She holds a Diplom (2010) in General Linguistics/Patholinguistics from the University of Potsdam and has worked in academic and clinical settings since 2010. Her teaching focuses on speech therapy in teacher training programs, and she collaborates with the Research Laboratory for Communication and Language (FoKuS) . Academic Appointments Since 2020: Scientific Associate at University of Würzburg 2018: Education in Logopedics at Charité, Berlin 2016-2017: Seminar Instructor at Humboldt University Berlin Research 2017-2020: PhD on adversative particles ('auch', 'aber') and finiteness acquisition 2015-2016: DFG Project on adversative discourse relations in German, Bulgarian, and English Research Interests: Bartz investigates how adversative particles like 'aber' (but) influence the acquisition of finiteness in German-speaking children, particularly those with developmental language disorders (DLD). Her work bridges morphosyntax with discourse analysis, examining function words' role in syntactic development. Publications: Her publications focus on discourse particles, finiteness realization, and cross-linguistic comparisons in language acquisition. Recent contributions analyze adversative clauses in clinical populations and grammatical development in special education contexts. Clinical Experience: Since 2011, she has worked as a speech therapist in Berlin, specializing in childhood mental health settings. She is affiliated with professional societies like dbs , GISKID , and vpl .

• German Didactics
• Sociolinguistics
• Multilingualism
• +3 more

Tiner Özcelik serves as a Scientific Associate in the Department of German Didactics within the Department of Education and Psychology at the Free University of Berlin, working under Prof. Dr. Petra Wieler since December 2010. Her dual role encompasses teaching responsibilities in primary school German education and active research on linguistic diversity in multicultural contexts, particularly focusing on urban language phenomena. She earned her Magistra Artium in German Linguistics and English Philology through studies at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin between 1996 and 2005, establishing her foundation in linguistic theory and multilingual education. Özcelik's research centers on German didactics through sociolinguistic lenses, with specialization in multiethnolects like Kiezdeutsch, language acquisition in migrant communities, and intercultural pedagogy. Her work examines how grammatical structures and vocabulary function in real-world educational settings, particularly in neighborhoods with high migrant populations, and explores pedagogical strategies for multilingual classrooms. Her publication history from 2006 to 2023 reveals a cohesive research trajectory examining German language education through sociolinguistic frameworks. Key thematic threads include the analysis of contact language varieties, intercultural mentoring dynamics in higher education, and the pedagogical implications of urban youth language, consistently bridging theoretical linguistics with practical classroom applications. She actively contributes to the Learning and Research Workshop for Literary Education, participating in initiatives like the Long Night of Science and the monthly Picture Book feature, which connect academic research with public engagement in literary education.

• Second Language Acquisition
• Prosody
• Turn-Taking
• +2 more

Dr. Emilia Nottbeck is a Scientific Associate at the Institute for English and American Studies, Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of Paderborn. She has been working at the university since 2012, progressing from Student Assistant to her current position under Professor Langstrof's department since October 2024. Previously, she worked under Professor Mindt from 2016-2024. Master of Arts in Linguistics (University of Paderborn, 2011-2015) Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, historical comparative linguistics, phonetics and Portuguese (University of Cologne, 2007-2010) Dr. Nottbeck specializes in Second Language Acquisition with a particular focus on prosody and turn-taking behavior. Her research examines how L2 learners use prosodic cues to predict turn-ends in conversation, a critical component of fluent dialogue. She has been developing this line of inquiry since at least 2018 through her dissertation work titled 'Predicting Turn-Ends of Questions. The Role of Prosody in SLA.' Her recent publications (2019-2024) consistently address the intersection of prosody, turn-taking, and second language processing, demonstrating a focused research trajectory within linguistic pragmatics and conversation analysis. The publications reveal increasing sophistication in experimental design and theoretical framing within Processability Theory. Modelling Relative Clauses in Processability Theory using Lexical Functional Grammar (2019) Turn-Taking in SLA: Investigating the Role of Prosody (2021) Reconsidering the Role of Prosody for Turn-Taking in Second Language Acquisition (2022) Investigating Speed-up Processes in Experimental Research Design in SLA (2023) Turn-Taking and L2 Learners: The Role of Prosodic Cues (2023) Turn-Taking in Second Language Acquisition: How do L2 learners make use of prosody in turn-end predictions? (2024) Dr. Nottbeck actively supervises students through internship courses and teaches across the linguistics curriculum including Semantics, Methodological Foundations, and specialized topics like Language, Reality and Power. She is currently organizing the 23rd International Symposium on Processability Approaches to Language Acquisition (PALA 2025), demonstrating leadership in her academic community. Her office is located in building J4.202 at Warburger Str. 100, Paderborn, with appointments required for office hours.

Malte ZimmermannView profile

Professor

• Semantics
• Grammar Theory
• African Languages
• +9 more

Prof. Dr. Malte Zimmermann is a Full Professor of Semantics and Theory of Grammar at the Department of Linguistics, University of Potsdam. He is also a faculty and board member of the African Linguistics School (ALS), which biannually convenes in West African countries to advance formal linguistics knowledge among African scholars. His editorial roles include Associate Editor for Natural Language and Linguistic Theory and former Associate Editor for Linguistics and Philosophy . His educational background includes: Ph.D. in General Linguistics, Universiteit van Amsterdam (2002) M.A. in German Language and Linguistics/English/Anglistic/Philosophy, Universität zu Köln (1998) Abitur, Gymnasium Athenaeum, Stade/Niedersachsen (1989) Zimmermann's research centers on the interface between linguistic form and meaning, with specialization in formal semantics and grammar theory. His work spans quantification, tense, question semantics, discourse particles, and information structure, with particular emphasis on semantically under-researched West African languages (Chadic, Kwa, Grassfield Bantu). His research combines theoretical analysis with experimental methods, notably through projects like 'ExQ' examining embedded question interpretation across European and Non-European languages. He has led field research in Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria, challenging assumptions about language universals through empirical investigation of linguistic diversity. His publication trajectory reveals consistent focus on cross-linguistic semantic variation, particularly in focus interpretation, quantifier scope, and information structure phenomena. Recent work demonstrates growing integration of experimental methodologies with traditional formal approaches, with frequent comparisons between German, English, and diverse African languages. His investigations into serial verb constructions have been especially influential, uncovering hidden syntactic variability beneath surface similarities across languages like Akan and Igbo. As a supervisor, Zimmermann has guided numerous doctoral students to completion, with recent graduates including Giuliano Armenante (2024), Eva Shipova (2024), and Mareike Philipp (2023). His research has been supported by substantial funding including: SFB1287 Limits of Variability in Language, 'Limits of variability in interpretation' (2017-2021) SPP 1727 XPRAG.de, 'Exhaustiveness in embedded questions across languages' (2017-2020) SPP 1727 XPRAG.de, 'Exhaustivity in it-clefts' (2014-2017) DFG-Network 'Questions in Discourse' (2012-2016) SFB632 Information Structure projects (2007-2015) He leads the Potsdam semantics group (including Peter Sutton, Giuliano Armenante, Jeanne Lecavelier, Anna Struck, and Carla Bombi) which conducts fieldwork in West Africa. Currently, he co-directs the SFB-project on the 'Limits of Variability in Interpretation,' examining scope ambiguities, reconstruction, and bare NP interpretation across German, English, Akan, Igbo, and Medumba. His collaborative work with Edgar Onea (Graz) and Tatjana Scheffler exemplifies his commitment to bridging theoretical linguistics with empirical fieldwork and experimental validation.

Mohammad HamdaqaView profile

Associate Professor

• Model-Based Software Engineering
• Blockchain
• Smart Contracts
• +6 more

Mohammad Hamdaqa is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Engineering and Software Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal (Canada), where he leads the Software and Emerging Technologies Lab. He received his PhD in Software Engineering from the University of Waterloo in Canada in 2016 and holds multiple advanced degrees including a Master of Applied Science in Software Engineering and an MBA with a minor in Management Information Systems. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada Master in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Canada Master in Business Administration, New York Institute of Technology, USA Bachelor in Computer Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan Dr. Hamdaqa's research focuses on the intersection of software engineering and emerging technologies. His work explores how software engineering approaches can be tailored to address the complexities of architecting, building, and deploying applications for new platforms like Cloud Computing and Blockchain. He is particularly interested in how emerging technologies can advance software creation, evolution, and management practices. His research spans model-driven software engineering, cloud computing, blockchain, and the application of AI in software development processes. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on smart contract security, infrastructure as code, model-driven engineering, and the application of large language models in software engineering tasks. His work bridges theoretical software engineering concepts with practical applications in cutting-edge technology domains, with particular emphasis on addressing security, sustainability, and maintainability challenges in next-generation software systems. Dr. Hamdaqa has received recognition through service on program committees for major software engineering conferences including ASE, ICSE, MODELS, and SANER. He serves on the editorial board of Service Transactions on Internet of Things and is a Member of the IEEE Computer Society and the Association for Computing Machinery. He has supervised multiple Master's students to completion, with recent theses focusing on OCL generation, smart contract auditing, epidemiological modeling, and infrastructure as code security. His current research group continues to explore innovative approaches at the intersection of software engineering and emerging technologies. Dr. Hamdaqa leads the Software and Emerging Technologies Lab at Polytechnique Montréal, which brings together researchers and students to investigate cutting-edge challenges in software engineering for new technology platforms. The lab focuses on practical solutions that balance theoretical rigor with real-world applicability.

Sebastian HoffmannView profile

Professor

• Corpus Linguistics
• Usage-based Linguistics
• Syntactic Change
• +7 more

Sebastian Hoffmann is a distinguished academic affiliated with the University of Trier , where he served as Dean of the Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Media Studies from 2017 to 2023. He has held significant roles, including Visiting Professor at the University of Tampere (2014–2017) and Lecturer in English Linguistics at Lancaster University (2006–2009). His expertise lies in Corpus Linguistics , with a focus on World Englishes , Syntactic Change , and Corpus Methodology . He co-developed BNCweb , a widely used web interface for the British National Corpus. PhD from the University of Zurich His research explores usage-based approaches to language study, including syntactic evolution , phonological patterns (e.g., intrusive /r/), tag questions , and verb complementation . Recent work highlights the role of Internet-derived data in corpus linguistics and the fixedness of collocations . His publications span Corpus Methodology , Historical Linguistics , and Phraseology , with key works such as Corpora and Lexis (2018) and Grammaticalization and English Complex Prepositions (2005). He has contributed extensively to journals like the International Journal of Corpus Linguistics and Journal of English Linguistics . Hoffmann has been recognized for leadership in professional organizations, including Chair of ICAME (2017–2023) and Vice-President for the Profession of the International Society for the Linguistics of English (2018–2023). He teaches courses such as The History of the English Language and Transcribing and Analyzing Spoken Language .