Find Academic Supervisors

Rolf Harald BaayenView profile

Professor

• Quantitative Linguistics
• Psycholinguistics
• Corpus Linguistics
• +4 more

Rolf Harald Baayen is a Professor of Quantitative Linguistics at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany. He holds a B.A. in Theology (1983) and an M.A. in General Linguistics (1985) from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, followed by a PhD in General Linguistics (1989). His career includes roles at the Max-Planck-Institut für Psycholinguistik (1990–2003) and academic positions at Radboud University Nijmegen, the University of Alberta, and Tübingen. His research focuses on quantitative methods in linguistics, psycholinguistics, and computational models of language processing. Notable awards include two ERC Advanced Grants (WIDE and SUBLIMINAL) and the Alexander von Humboldt Research Award (2011). He leads a research group on discrimination learning in language processing and has advised students across institutions. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with empirical and statistical methodologies. Education: B.A. Theology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (1983) M.A. General Linguistics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (1985) PhD in General Linguistics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (1989) Research Interests: Baayen’s work integrates quantitative analysis with cognitive science, focusing on morphology, lexical processing, and computational models like Naive Discriminative Learning. He explores language universals, bilingualism, and the interplay between phonetics, syntax, and semantics. His ERC-funded projects investigate Mandarin Chinese lexical processing and subliminal linguistic effects. Grants & Awards: 2023: Honorary Doctorate, University of Tartu 2022: ERC Advanced Grant SUBLIMINAL (€2.5M) 2017: ERC Advanced Grant WIDE (€2.5M) 2011: Alexander von Humboldt Research Award (€5M) 2006: KNAW Muller Chair Labs & Teams: Directs a research group at Tübingen investigating discrimination learning’s role in language processing. Previously led labs at the University of Alberta and Radboud University, focusing on comparative psycholinguistics and language dynamics.

Marten LutzView profile

Professor

• Linguistics
• Bantu languages
• African languages
• +4 more

Marten Lutz is a Professor of General and African Linguistics at SOAS University of London, UK. He holds a PhD in Linguistics from SOAS (1999) and additional qualifications in education and philosophy. His academic leadership roles include Head of the SOAS Doctoral School (2020–2023), Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Cultures (2015–2018), and Director of the London Confucius Institute (2015–2019). Research focuses on Bantu languages, comparative linguistics, and morphosyntactic variation in African languages. Fieldwork spans Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia. He has received grants from Leverhulme, BA/Leverhulme, and the UK-Africa Academic Partnership. Key awards: SOAS SAAW Award (2020), Senior Fellow of HEA (2020), A.W. Mellon Fellowship (2014) Editor of Transactions of the Philological Society and Founding Chair of the International Bantu Languages Conference Teaching and academic service includes visiting fellowships at institutions like the University of Cape Town and Tokyo's ILLCA, as well as invited lectures at SWL4 (Lyon), ICHL16 (Heidelberg), and AFALA (Nairobi).

Christian LehmannView profile

Professor

• Linguistics
• General Linguistics
• Comparative Linguistics
• +5 more

Christian Lehmann is a full-time Professor of General and Comparative Linguistics at the University of Erfurt since 1999. He previously held the Chair of General Linguistics at the University of Bielefeld (1984–1999), collaborated at the University of Cologne (1981–1984), and worked in research roles at the University of Cologne (1979–1981) and Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande di Sul, Brazil (1975–1977). Current Position: Chair of General and Comparative Linguistics, University of Erfurt Previous Positions: University of Bielefeld, University of Cologne, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande di Sul His research focuses on linguistics , with emphasis on general linguistics , comparative linguistics , language universals , and typological comparison . These interests are reflected in his seminal work on typological analysis and linguistic theory. Scientific Honors: Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz Award (1983) Member, Academia Europaea (2010) Member, Humanities Division of Akademie der gemeinnützigen Wissenschaftern, Erfurt (2002) Member, Humanities Division of Nordrhein-Westfälische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Düsseldorf (1989)

Heinz DoblerView profile

Professor

• Software Development
• Compiler Design
• Static Program Analysis
• +3 more

Heinz Dobler serves as a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Hagenberg Campus, affiliated with the Research Center Hagenberg. With an h-index of 28 and 43 research outputs spanning 1986-2024, his career demonstrates sustained contributions to software engineering and programming languages. His research focuses on software development methodologies, compiler construction (particularly parsing techniques and semantic evaluation), static program analysis, and genetic programming. Significant work includes innovations in software testing for class libraries and educational approaches for programming novices, reflecting both theoretical depth and practical application. Recent publications (2010-2024) reveal consistent advancement in compiler technologies and software engineering. Key trends include hybrid parsing techniques (BoB), framework-independent genetic programming (GPDL), and testable task design for programming education. His work bridges formal language theory with real-world software development challenges. Scientific awards: No major awards are documented in available records, though his h-index of 28 indicates substantial scholarly impact. Dobler has supervised at least two students, as noted in institutional records. While specific grant details are absent, his leadership in organizing the annual DACHS symposium series (2020-2024) demonstrates active involvement in collaborative research initiatives and academic community building. As a core member of the Research Center Hagenberg, he contributes to software engineering research teams and drives the DACHS symposium series, which fosters interdisciplinary collaboration in compiler design, genetic programming, and software testing. His ongoing 2024 activities confirm active research leadership within the institution.

Basboll HansView profile

Professor

• General Linguistics
• Scandinavian Linguistics
• Phonology
• +8 more

Hans Basbøll is a Professor of Scandinavian Linguistics at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, where he has served since 1975. He previously held administrative roles as Dean and Prorector of the university. His research focuses on sound structure, syllable models (e.g., the Sonority Syllable Model), and the interplay between phonology/phonetics and syntax/morphology. He has authored seminal works like The Phonology of Danish (OUP 2005) and contributed to language acquisition studies through large-scale projects. He collaborates internationally, particularly in neuroscience and computational linguistics. Notable honors include membership in the Royal Danish Academy (1991) and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (2009). His work on Danish stød and phonotactics has advanced understanding of grammatical and prosodic phenomena. Though no specific grants or student advisees are listed, his research emphasizes empirical methods and interdisciplinary teamwork, including collaborations with Nina Grønnum in phonetic experiments.

Emanuele BanfiView profile

Professor

• Historical Linguistics
• General Linguistics
• Indo-European Linguistics
• +7 more

Emanuele Banfi is a Full Professor of General Linguistics at the University of Milan-Bicocca's Faculty of Education, where he founded the Degree Course in Intercultural Communication (2001-2005). His career includes roles as a researcher and professor at the University of Trento (1970-1999) and leadership as Dean (1995-1998). He specializes in Indo-European, Greek, Latin, Chinese, and Japanese linguistics. Education: Classics degree (University of Milan, 1970); diplomas in Arabic, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese linguistics Research: Comparative historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, and typological analysis of European, Ural-Altaic, and Sino-Tibetan languages His work spans diglossia, bilingualism, and the evolution of linguistic systems, with a focus on Italian, Greek, and Balkan languages. He has collaborated with institutions in Berlin, Paris, New York, and Tokyo. Notable awards include election to the Academia Ambrosiana (2011) and leadership roles in the Italian Linguistic Society and CIPL.

Ian RobertsView profile

Professor

• Generative syntax
• Comparative syntax
• Germanic languages
• +4 more

Ian Roberts is a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Cambridge and a Professorial Fellow at Downing College, Cambridge since 2000. Previously, he held professorial roles at Universität Stuttgart (1996-2000) and the University of Wales, Bangor (1991-1996), and academic positions at the University of Geneva (1985-1991). Education DLitt, University of Cambridge (2006) Ph.D., Department of Linguistics, University of Southern California (1985) Visiting Scholar, Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, MIT (1983-1984) MA Candidate, Department of Modern Languages, University of Salford (1979-1980) B.A., Linguistics/French, University of Wales, Bangor (1975-1979) Auditeur Libre, Université de Provence (1977-1978) Roberts specializes in generative and comparative syntax across Germanic, Romance, English, and Celtic languages. His research focuses on historical/diachronic syntax , exploring syntactic structures and their evolution over time. His grants include major AHRC-funded projects such as "Structure and Linearisation in Disharmonic Word Orders" (£875,000) and "The Null Subject Parameter and the Theory of Parameters" (£375,000). He has also received smaller grants for collaborative research in syntactic theory. Scientific Awards & Honors Latsis Prize, University of Geneva (SFr 25,000) - 1989 Ordinary Fellow of the British Academy - 2007 Member of the Academia Europaea - 2008 Roberts has served on editorial boards for journals like Linguistic Inquiry , The Linguistic Review , and Probus . He co-organized conferences on comparative Celtic syntax and participated in EUROTYP projects on subordination and complementation.

• Machine Learning
• Data Mining
• Recommendation Systems
• +5 more

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Günther Specht is a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at Universität Innsbruck. His research focuses on machine learning, data mining, and their applications in recommendation systems, music information retrieval, and authorship attribution. He has contributed to projects such as HPT4Rec (a hyperparameter optimization framework for recommenders) and Cloudgene (a cloud computing tool for biomedical pipelines). His work spans database systems, text analysis, and social media analytics. Notable tools include HaploGrep 2 (for mitochondrial DNA analysis) and StyleExplorer (for textual style visualization). Key research areas include: (1) Developing algorithms for music popularity prediction and playlist analysis; (2) Enhancing authorship attribution techniques using grammar profiling and syntax tree analysis; (3) Designing efficient database index structures like Height Optimized Tries; and (4) Investigating ethical aspects of recommendation systems and plagiarism detection. Publications from 2020-2024 highlight advancements in cross-domain text classification, social media behavior analysis, and automated music genre recognition. His work bridges traditional statistical methods with modern machine learning, emphasizing practical applications in both academic and industry contexts.

Rizzi LuigiView profile

Professor

• Generative Syntax
• Language Acquisition

Luigi Rizzi is a distinguished academic holding the position of Professor of General Linguistics at the University of Siena. He has held significant roles including Full Professor at the University of Geneva and Adjunct Professor at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. His expertise spans Generative Syntax and Language Acquisition, with contributions to syntactic theory frameworks like Relativized Minimality and the Fine Structure of the Left Periphery. Current Affiliation: University of Siena (Professor) Past Roles: Full Professor at University of Geneva, Adjunct Professor at ENS Paris Research Interests: Rizzi’s work explores syntactic structures through generative approaches, focusing on null elements, movement constraints, and the interface between syntax and semantics. He has advanced theories on the Left Periphery hierarchy and relativized minimality principles. Publications Trends: His articles consistently address core syntax questions, with seminal works on null subjects (1986, 1994), locality conditions (2004), and syntactic cartography (1997, 2004). Themes include parameter setting, acquisition evidence, and formal syntactic representations. Awards: Honorary membership in Linguistic Society of America, British Academy fellowship, Academia Europaea membership Advising & Grants: While specific advisees are not listed, his influential publications suggest extensive mentorship in syntax research. No grant details provided in sources.

Bjarke FrellesvigView profile

Professor

• Japanese Linguistics
• Historical Linguistics
• General Linguistics
• +7 more

Professor Bjarke Frellesvig holds the position of Professor of Japanese Linguistics at the University of Oxford and is an Official Fellow at Hertford College. His academic career spans institutions including the University of Copenhagen, University of Oslo, and multiple visiting roles at Japanese institutions. He served as Director of the Research Centre for Japanese Language and Linguistics in Oxford and leads the Oxford-NINJAL Corpus of Old Japanese project. Professor of Japanese Linguistics, Oriental Studies, University of Oxford (2008–present) Director, Research Centre for Japanese Language and Linguistics, Oxford (2009–present) Official Fellow, Hertford College, Oxford (1999–present) His research focuses on the historical development of the Japanese language, particularly phonology, morphology, and syntax. He has published extensively on proto-Japanese reconstruction, Old Japanese corpus analysis, and transitivity alternations. Notable works include A History of the Japanese Language (2010) and the Oxford-NINJAL Corpus of Old Japanese (2018–ongoing). Scientific awards include the largest Arts and Humanities Research Council grant (£990,000) for Pre-Modern Japanese studies and the University of Copenhagen Gold Medal for his dissertation. His research projects involve international collaboration with institutions like NINJAL (Tokyo) and British Academy partnerships, producing annotated digital corpora and dictionaries for Old Japanese studies.

• General linguistics
• Romanian linguistics
• Formal syntax
• +2 more

Cornilescu Alexandra is a Professor of Linguistics at the Department of English, University of Bucharest. She has held leadership roles including Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures (2004-2012) and Head of the English Department (1990-2004). Her research focuses on formal syntax, semantics, and Romanian/English linguistics. She has conducted postdoctoral work at Duke University, Ca'Foscari University of Venice, and University of California, Berkeley. PhD graduate since 1980 Recipient of the Timotei Cipariu Prize (2015) for co-authoring The Reference Grammar of Romanian Her scholarship includes over 10 authored books on syntax, semantics, and English grammar. She has held visiting professorships at universities in Paris, Tilburg, and Cluj-Napoca. Academic service roles include editorial positions for linguistics journals and national accreditation committees.

Norbert CorverView profile

Professor

• Dutch linguistics
• Grammatical theory
• Generative grammar
• +3 more

Norbert Corver is a Professor of Dutch Linguistics at the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University. He has held visiting professorships at the Department of Linguistics, University of Connecticut (2018-2019) and previously served as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Arts, Tilburg University (1990-2000). His research focuses on syntactic theory, cross-linguistic variation, and the structural encoding of affective information in human language. Education: PhD in Linguistics (1990) and MA/BA in Linguistics (1985) from Tilburg University. Corver’s work examines the invariant core of natural language syntax, dialectal diversity in Dutch, and the modular properties of adverbials. He is currently leading the NWO-funded project "Mind your Manner Adverbials!" (2021-2025). His research also explores idioms, adjective phrases, and curse expressions as structured linguistic units. Scientific Awards: Fellow, Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies (1996-1997) Visiting Scholar, MIT Linguistics and Philosophy Department (1988, 2009, 2016) He has held leadership roles including Head of the Dutch Department at Utrecht University (2005-2009, 2017-2021), Director of the national MA program Masterlanguage (2013-2018), and Chairperson of the Van Riemsdijk Foundation (2021-present). His editorial contributions include co-editing the Studies in Generative Grammar series (2014-present) and Comprehensive Grammar Resources (2020-present).

• Linguistic Typology
• Historical Linguistics
• Areal Linguistics
• +6 more

Bickel Balthasar is a Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Comparative Linguistics at the University of Zurich since 2011. Previously, he held professorial roles at the University of Leipzig (2002–2011) and was a Senior Researcher at UC Berkeley (1998–2001). His research focuses on linguistic typology, historical linguistics, and language evolution, with extensive fieldwork on Himalayan languages like Chintang. He earned his Dr. habil. in General Linguistics from the University of Zurich in 2001, following earlier degrees (Dr. phil., lic. phil.) in the same field. Key research interests include the interplay between language processing and grammatical evolution, linguistic diversity in Eurasia, and the documentation of endangered languages. He leads collaborative projects such as the SNSF Sinergia-funded LiMiTS (2016–2019) and has published extensively on topics like case alignment, clause linkage, and polysynthetic languages. His work bridges typology, neurobiology, and evolutionary studies, as seen in papers on the neurophysiological foundations of grammar evolution. Awards: Förderungsprofessur, Swiss National Science Foundation (2001) Editorial Roles: Studies in Language (2009–2015), Journal of South Asian Languages and Linguistics (2013–present), and others. His research integrates fieldwork, experimental methods, and computational modeling, exemplified by the Chintang corpus (1.2M words) and the AUTOTYP typological database. Current projects explore the role of environmental and migratory factors in linguistic diversification, with collaborations extending to genetics and behavioral biology.

Dyvik Helge Julius JakhellnView profile

Professor

• Linguistics
• Syntax
• Machine Translation
• +7 more

Helge Julius Jakhelln Dyvik is a Professor of General Linguistics at the University of Bergen, Norway. He has held this position since 1983, following roles as Researcher (1981–1983) and Research Assistant (1976–1981) at the same institution. His academic journey includes a Dr. philos. in Theoretical Linguistics (1981) from the University of Bergen, alongside advanced studies in Vietnamese, Old and Middle English, and Scandinavian languages. His research focuses on syntax, computational linguistics, machine translation, corpus linguistics, and Old Norse studies. Notable projects include pioneering work on the PONS machine translation system, leadership in the ParGram and LOGON projects, and contributions to semantic analysis via translation-based methods. He has also been involved in standardization efforts for Norwegian language through roles in national committees like Fagråd for normering og språkobservasjon and the Norwegian Academy’s dictionary project. His awards include membership in Norway’s leading scientific academies (1995–1998) and the Fridtjof Nansen Award for Research Excellence (1987). His publications span theoretical linguistics, computational frameworks, and language policy, emphasizing collaborative approaches in computational linguistics. Key contributions include the development of treebanking infrastructure, semantic analysis techniques, and methodologies for language variation studies. He remains active in academic governance, including roles at Nansenfondet and advisory boards for language standardization initiatives.

Terje LohndalView profile

Professor

• Semantics
• Comparative Grammar
• Language Change
• +4 more

Terje Lohndal is Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) since April 2025. He holds a Professorship in English Linguistics at the Department of Language and Literature, NTNU (2013–present), and an Adjunct Professorship in Linguistics at UiT The Arctic University of Norway (2015–present). His work bridges formal grammar, heritage languages, and the syntax-semantics interface. Education : PhD in Linguistics (University of Maryland, 2012); BA in Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies (University of Oslo, 2008). Research Interests focus on grammatical structures across languages, multilingualism (especially heritage languages and language mixing), and language change. He investigates grammatical gender in Norwegian dialects, its acquisition, attrition, and variation, with projects like GenVAC (€1.2M funded by the Research Council of Norway, 2020–2024) and MultiGender (€350k, CAS, 2019–2020). He co-leads the AcqVA research group (NTNU-UiT, 60 members). Trends in recent publications highlight his work on grammatical gender, heritage Norwegian syntax, and cross-linguistic influence. Collaborative studies with scholars like Marit Westergaard and Dave Kush explore dialectal variation, V2 word order, and morphosyntactic complexity in multilingual contexts. Scientific Awards : Research Council of Norway's Award for Young Outstanding Researchers (2018) Fridtjof Nansen Award for Younger Researchers (2018) Nils Klim Prize (2014) Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters' Humanities Award (2014) Grants and Leadership : Principal Investigator for GenVAC and MultiGender projects. He serves on editorial boards for Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism , Glossa , and Heritage Language Journal , and reviews for agencies like the National Science Foundation and British Academy. Labs and Teams : Co-leader of the AcqVA research group (60 scholars) and affiliate of the Center for Language, Brain & Learning (C-LaBL) at UiT. His work integrates empirical studies with theoretical frameworks like generative grammar and feature reassembly.