Find Academic Supervisors

Kateryna IefremenkoView profile

Researcher

• Multilingualism
• Heritage Languages
• Language Acquisition
• +3 more

Kateryna Iefremenko is a Researcher at Universität Potsdam, affiliated with the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1412 'Register' (Project C03) and the DFG Research Unit 'Emerging Grammars in Language-Contact Situations.' Her work focuses on multilingualism, heritage languages, and language contact, particularly in Turkish, Kurdish, Ukrainian, Russian, German, and English contexts. She holds a PhD from Universität Potsdam (2024) and has extensive experience in postdoctoral and doctoral research roles. Education: PhD in German Studies, Universität Potsdam (2018–2024), Dissertation: 'Word Order in Turkish and Kurmanji Kurdish in Language Contacts.' MA in Turkish Language and Literature, Gazi University, Ankara (2012–2016). MA and BA in English and Turkish Language Teaching, Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University (2008–2012). Research interests span multilingualism, heritage language acquisition, syntax in bilingual contexts, and discourse organization in language contact scenarios. Her recent work includes studies on narrative structures in Ukrainian-Russian bilinguals and post-verbal syntax in heritage Turkish. She co-organized the DGfS-Workshop on heritage speakers' language learning and contributes to academic events like the International Congress of Linguists. She teaches courses on multilingualism and second language acquisition at Humboldt University of Berlin. Labs/Teams: Active in CRC 1412 and the Research Unit P9 on discourse dynamics in language contact. Editorial Board member of Register Aspects of Language in Situation (REALIS) .

Pocholo UmbalView profile

Assistant Professor

• Sociolinguistics
• Language variation and change
• Sociophonetics
• +5 more

Overview Pocholo Umbal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Toronto, located on the Downtown Toronto (St. George) campus. His research focuses on sociolinguistics, particularly language variation and change in heritage language communities and multilingual contexts. He specializes in sociophonetic analysis of Tagalog and Canadian English, with additional interests in linguistics pedagogy and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives in academia. Education PhD in Linguistics, University of Toronto MA in Linguistics, Simon Fraser University BSc in Cell Biology and Linguistics, Simon Fraser University Research Interests Dr. Umbal investigates bilingual language contact phenomena, focusing on phonetic variation in Heritage Tagalog and Canadian English ethnolects. His work explores how sociocultural factors influence linguistic behavior, particularly among Asian North American communities. He collaborates with scholars like Dr. Andrew Cheng and Dr. Nathan Sanders on projects addressing EDI in linguistics education, developing tools like the Diverse Names Database to promote inclusive teaching practices. Collaborations He participates in interdisciplinary teams studying Asian North American English variation and co-leads efforts to reform linguistics teaching through equity-centered frameworks. His research also addresses gender and language norms, challenging traditional linguistic prescriptivism.

Jordan SmithView profile

Assistant Professor

• Editing and Publishing
• English Grammar and Usage
• Corpus Linguistics
• +3 more

Jordan Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Previously, they held an Assistant Professor position at the Department of Technical Communication, University of North Texas (2019–2024). Their academic background includes a Ph.D. in English from Iowa State University, an M.P.C. in Communication from Weber State University, and a B.A. in Linguistics from Brigham Young University. Smith’s research focuses on editing, English grammar, corpus linguistics, and formality in writing. They explore how linguistic analysis can inform technical communication practices and pedagogies, particularly through corpus-based methods. Notable work includes studies on prescriptivism in usage guides, stylistic features of scientific writing, and the role of captions in academic communication. Publications span peer-reviewed journals like Technical Communication and IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication , with a focus on bridging empirical research with practical editing and teaching strategies. Their work often addresses interdisciplinary challenges in professional writing, such as aligning organizational expectations with writer identity. Smith’s contributions include conference presentations at the IEEE International Professional Communication Conference and collaborative research on multilingual genre analysis. Their research emphasizes the intersection of language structure, disciplinary norms, and effective communication in both academic and professional settings.

Oğuzhan DurmuşView profile

Professor

• Old Turkish Language (Orkhon, Uyghur, Karakhanid)
• Historical North Eastern Turkish Language (Khorezm, Kipchak, Chagatai)
• New Turkish Language (Old Anatolian, Ottoman, Türkiye Turkish)

Prof. Dr. Oğuzhan Durmuş is a full-time Professor at the Department of Turkish Language and Literature, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ankara Social Sciences University. He previously served at Thrace University (2002-2021) in the same department, holding roles from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and Head of Department. His research focuses on Old Turkish (Orkhon, Uyghur, Karakhanid), Historical Northeastern Turkish (Khorezm, Kipchak, Chagatai), and New Turkish (Old Anatolian, Ottoman, Türkiye Turkish). Education: Doctorate and MA in Turkish Language from Thrace University (2009, 2003), BA in Contemporary Turkish Dialects and Literatures from Dicle University (2000). Specializing in proverb studies, dialectology, and Turkic-Uralic language relations, Durmuş has published 58 works including books on 18th-century Chuvash vocabulary and Ottoman-Turkish proverbs. His editorial roles include Türk Dili Araştırmaları Yıllığı - Belleten (2024) and Türkbilig (2015-2017). Supervised four postgraduate theses on Chuvash, Turkish dialects, and lexicography.

Christopher ShankView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Language Variation and Change
• Bilingualism and Multilingualism
• Corpus Linguistics
• +3 more

Christopher Shank is a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics (Language Variation and Change) at Bangor University's School of Arts, Culture and Language. He holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of New Mexico, with additional degrees in TESOL and Bilingual Education. His research focuses on language variation, bilingualism, corpus linguistics, and critical discourse analysis, particularly in healthcare contexts for Deaf communities. He has supervised numerous MA and PhD students, exploring topics like sociolinguistic variation, political discourse, and EFL methodology. Education: Ph.D. in Linguistics, University of New Mexico MA in TESOL, SIT Graduate Institute BA in International Relations, Political Science, and History, University of Wisconsin–Madison Research Interests: Language variation/change, bilingual/multilingual identity, corpus linguistics, critical discourse analysis, healthcare accessibility for Deaf communities. Recent work includes studies on Deaf healthcare experiences in Wales and parenting programs in British Sign Language. Grants & Projects: Public Health Wales Scoping Study on Deaf health (2018) Wales School for Social Care Research Grant on Deaf parenting materials (2018) Santander Mobility Grant for research in Brazil (2020) Publications: Recent articles address Deaf healthcare access, grammaticalization patterns, and corpus-based analyses of cognitive verbs. His work bridges linguistic theory and applied contexts like public health. Teaching: Teaches courses on semantics, syntax, language history, and corpus linguistics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Marc OlivierView profile

Lecturer

• Formal Syntax
• Historical Linguistics
• Romance Languages
• +3 more

Dr. Marc Olivier is a Departmental Lecturer in French Linguistics at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Faculty of Linguistics, Philology, and Phonetics. He holds a MSc in Formal Linguistics and a PhD in Historical Syntax. His research focuses on formal syntax, historical syntax, and language change in Romance languages, particularly Old French, Old Occitan, and modern Romance varieties. Key topics include clitic placement, auxiliary selection, clause size, and restructuring, approached through the Minimalist framework. Affiliations: Chercheur invité at the Maison Française d'Oxford. Member of the CLESTHIA research team at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris. Executive Board member of Societas Linguistica Europaea and former member of the Linguistics Association of Great Britain. Education: MSc and PhD in Linguistics. Teaching: Courses on General Linguistics, Syntax, Historical Linguistics, and Modern French Linguistics at the University of Oxford. Recognition: 2023 Seal of Excellence from the European Commission. His research monograph, Clitic Placement in the History of French , is forthcoming from Oxford University Press. He actively organizes academic events, including DiGS26 (June 2025) and a workshop at the 58th Societas Linguistica Europaea conference (August 2025).

Daniel Van OlmenView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Linguistics
• Areal Linguistics
• Contrastive Linguistics
• +9 more

Dr. Daniel Van Olmen is a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Lancaster's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), specifically within the Linguistics and English Language department. He holds editorial roles as Editor-in-Chief of the *Trends in Linguistics - Studies and Monographs* series and former editor of *Ampersand: An International Journal of General and Applied Linguistics*. His research focuses on tense, mood, modality, pragmatic markers, negation, and language change in West Germanic languages, with broader interests in areal linguistics, contrastive linguistics, and corpus-driven approaches. Education: PhD in Linguistics from the University of Antwerp, Belgium; MA in Advanced Studies in Cognitive and Functional Linguistics (University of Leuven); and dual MA/BA degrees in Germanic linguistics and literature (University of Antwerp). Research interests include Standard Average European typology, imperative negation asymmetries, and cross-linguistic studies of impoliteness and impersonalization strategies. Current projects involve corpus analyses of directive strategies in English/Dutch, World Englishes modality, and West Germanic language contact phenomena. Teaching responsibilities include courses on linguistics fundamentals, global language structures, historical language change, and cognitive linguistics. His publications span over two decades, with recent emphasis on impoliteness markers, imperative syntax, and language contact effects. He actively contributes to academic communities through editorial work and conference organization, such as the 2023 workshop on imperatives and directive strategies at the Societas Linguistica Europaea.

Elma BlomView profile

Professor

• Multilingualism
• Language Development
• Language Disorders
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Elma Blom is a Professor of Language Development and Multilingualism in Family and Educational Contexts at Utrecht University's Department of Development & Education of Youth in Diverse Societies. She leads major research initiatives such as the NWO-Vici funded CALM project (Children and Language Mixing) and the Multi-STEM consortium addressing multilingual STEM education challenges. Her work focuses on multilingual children’s language acquisition, developmental language disorders (DLD), and the interplay between language environments and cognitive development. Blom holds a Vici grant from NWO and has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Amsterdam and the University of Alberta. She is affiliated with the UiT AcqVA Aurora Center in Norway. Key research themes include language mixing in bilingual children, diagnostic tools for DLD in multilingual populations, and the role of home language in education. She advocates for translanguaging practices in STEM and science museums to support multilingual learners. Her research has been published in over 50 peer-reviewed articles across linguistics, education, and developmental psychology. She actively communicates findings through public lectures, podcasts (e.g., Kletsheads), and collaborations with media outlets like Kennislink.

• Phonetics
• Phonology
• Ultrasound Imaging of Speech
• +4 more

Suzy Ahn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Ottawa, serving as Co-Director of the Sound Patterns Lab. Her research focuses on the correlation between articulation and acoustics, with a strong emphasis on ultrasound tongue imaging and laryngeal contrasts in speech production. She collaborates extensively with scholars like Marc Brunelle, Beth MacLeod, and Daniel Schweizer on projects involving Korean, French, and Austronesian/Austroasiatic languages. Current research includes studies on laryngeal contrasts in Korean, tongue position in Laurentian French vowels, and articulatory aspects of Javanese and Raglai languages. Ahn has secured funding through SSHRC grants, including a 2023-2025 grant on phonetic imitation and a 2022-2025 grant investigating sound change in Austronesian languages. Her work bridges phonetics, phonology, and bilingualism, with a focus on experimental methods and fieldwork. Her recent publications explore topics from Seoul Korean obstruents to vowel laxing in Laurentian French, demonstrating a commitment to both theoretical and applied linguistic research. Ahn's lab, the Sound Patterns Lab, facilitates cutting-edge investigations into speech production using advanced imaging and acoustic technologies.

Francis KatambaView profile

Professor

• English Phonology
• Morphological Theory
• Bantu Languages
• +3 more

Francis Katamba is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at Lancaster University specializing in English phonology, morphological theory, and Bantu languages. His research combines theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of African languages and English variation. Key research areas: Phonological and morphological interfaces in word formation Structure of Luganda and other Bantu languages Historical development of English morphology Corpus-based approaches to linguistic variation He co-authored the comprehensive textbook 'English Language: Description, Variation and Context' used in linguistics programs worldwide. Other publications examine backformation processes and phonetically motivated word-creation across languages. He has developed pedagogical resources for morphology education and contributed to language documentation projects in Uganda. His work on Luganda phonology established foundational models for Bantu syllable structure analysis.

• Romani Dialects
• Papuan Languages
• Linguistic Typology
• +3 more

Wilco van den Heuvel is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He specializes in linguistic studies focusing on minority and endangered languages, particularly Romani dialects in Transylvania and Papuan languages in Papua New Guinea. His research interests include historical linguistics, language contact, sociolinguistics, and descriptive grammar compilation. Education: Not explicitly stated in the text. His research explores topics such as dialect variation in Romani communities, classification of Papuan language families, and the impact of migration and contact on language structure. He has contributed to edited volumes and serves as an editor for specialized linguistic journals. Recent work includes annotated texts of Papuan languages like Aghu and Yonggom Wambon, as well as studies on Romani Bible translations and sociolinguistic aspects of Romani group names in Transylvania. He actively engages in academic activities such as organizing conferences and presenting at international forums. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned. He teaches courses on morphosyntax, linguistic research methods, phonological analysis, and typological linguistics. No student advising or grant information is provided in the text. He is affiliated with the Network Institute and has organized academic events such as the 2012 conference on Papuan languages.

• Phonetics/Phonology
• Language Variation and Change
• Second Language Acquisition
• +1 more

Dr. Janine Berns is an Associate Professor at the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, Radboud University, affiliated with the Centre for Language Studies. She teaches language skills and linguistics in the BA Romance Languages & Cultures, MA Language Variation and Multilingualism, and the Educational Master's programme. Research focuses on phonological language variation/change and second/foreign language acquisition (French specialization) Active in educational innovation as a Teacher Ambassador at the Radboud Teaching and Learning Centre Member of the Representative Council of the Faculty of Arts

Jaimie DickView profile

Professor

• Invasive Alien Species
• Climate Change
• Ecological Impacts
• +4 more

Professor Jaimie Dick is a globally recognized expert in invasive alien species and their ecological, environmental, and economic impacts, particularly in the context of climate change. Affiliated with Queen's University Belfast's School of Biological Sciences, his research focuses on understanding how invasive species interact with native ecosystems, amplify climate change effects, and influence sustainability. He is associated with the Institute for Global Food Security and Queen's Marine Laboratory, contributing to multidisciplinary approaches to biological invasions. His expertise spans freshwater, marine, and terrestrial systems, addressing topics such as microplastic pollution effects on invasive species, coral bleaching mitigation, and functional response modeling for predicting invasion impacts. He has advised on global biosecurity strategies and contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed articles. Media engagement includes frequent interviews and features in outlets like 10 Things to Know About . Research trends in his publications highlight themes like synergistic effects of climate change and invasions, microplastic toxicity to aquatic life, and standardized terminology in invasion science. His work emphasizes policy-relevant solutions for managing invasive species in rapidly changing environments. Key Collaborations: Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's Marine Laboratory Media Highlights: Extensive print, broadcast, and online coverage Teaching: Advocates for multi-ecosystem field courses to enhance student learning He actively engages in global discussions on biological security, emphasizing the need for integrated strategies to prevent and manage invasive species across ecosystems.

Jorik GroenView profile

Researcher

• Linguistics
• Semitic Languages
• Biblical Studies
• +3 more

Jorik Groen is a PhD Candidate at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Network Institute . His research focuses on Linguistics , particularly Semitic Languages and Biblical Studies , with a specialization in Historical Linguistics and Morphology . Education : Cum laude Master's in Linguistics (ResMA) from Leiden University (2015) His work explores Proto-Semitic language patterns, including suppletion mechanisms , verbal morphology , and broken plural formations . Recent publications analyze irregular verb forms in Semitic languages and phonological developments in ancient Northwest Semitic dialects. Key research areas include: Biblical Hebrew Historical Philology Language Reconstruction Corpus Linguistics Semitic Verb Systems Textual Analysis Scientific distinction: cum laude Master's thesis at Leiden University. Currently active in the Ge’ez project morphological encoding , contributing to computational linguistics and digital humanities initiatives.

• Bilingualism
• Second Language Acquisition
• Phonetics
• +5 more

Lorenzo García-Amaya is an Associate Professor of Spanish & Linguistics and Associate Chair at the University of Michigan. He holds affiliations with the Department of Linguistics and the Department of Romance Languages & Literatures. His research focuses on bilingualism, second language acquisition, phonetics, and sociolinguistic aspects of language contact and identity. Notably, he investigates language dynamics in Patagonian communities, study-abroad contexts, and the interplay between language use and fluency development. His work examines cross-linguistic influences in bilingual speech, such as phonetic lenition in Afrikaans-Spanish interactions, and explores how study-abroad immersion impacts L2 learners' pause patterns and syntactic complexity. He also studies regional variation in Spanish, including perceptions of dialectal origins and social attributes tied to phonetic variants. Recent studies highlight his interest in textual enhancement techniques for L2 grammar learning and the role of language dominance in code-switching behaviors. His research underscores connections between phonetic phenomena, sociocultural factors, and historical settlement patterns in expatriate communities like Patagonian Afrikaans speakers. Key themes in his scholarship include language contact dynamics, fluency metrics in multilingual contexts, and the sociolinguistic dimensions of language variation and shift.