Find Academic Supervisors

Zeynep BilkiView profile

Associate Professor

• English Language Teaching
• Second Language Acquisition
• Technology-Enhanced Language Learning
• +4 more

Zeynep Bilki serves as Associate Professor and Department Head within the Department of Foreign Language Education, Department of English Language Education at TED University in Ankara, Turkey. With uninterrupted teaching engagement documented from 2016 through the 2025 Spring Semester, she instructs core courses in English Language Teaching methodologies, Second Language Acquisition, Technology-Enhanced Language Learning, and teacher practicum experiences across undergraduate and graduate programs. Her research program demonstrates concentrated expertise in virtual exchange implementation for language teacher development, AI applications in L2 writing assessment (including pioneering analysis of ChatGPT-4 capabilities), automated writing evaluation systems, and critical digital literacy frameworks. This scholarly trajectory reveals consistent international collaboration, exemplified by the Turkish-Polish virtual exchange project examining teacher wellbeing, and increasingly sophisticated integration of emerging technologies into language pedagogy. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) identifies three dominant research thrusts: (1) technology-mediated writing instruction with emphasis on automated feedback mechanisms and AI assessment tools, (2) virtual exchange programs designed to develop pre-service teachers' intercultural and digital competencies, and (3) critical pedagogy applications in language teacher education. Her work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical classroom applications, particularly in teacher training contexts. Through ongoing supervision of Master's and PhD candidates—evidenced by continuous instruction in thesis courses including Master’s Thesis I/II and PhD Qualifying Exam since 2016—Dr. Bilki maintains active mentorship of graduate researchers. Her institutional leadership as Department Head further underscores her significant role in shaping English language education programs at TED University, though specific grant funding details remain unreported in available materials.

Charles YangView profile

Professor

• Linguistics
• Cognitive Science
• Computational Linguistics
• +5 more

Charles Yang is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Linguistics, with joint appointments in Computer and Information Science and Psychology. As Chair of Linguistics and Director of the Program in Cognitive Science since 2011, he co-directs the Integrated Language Science and Technology group with John Trueswell. PhD in Computer Science, MIT AI Lab Faculty at Yale (2000-2008) Current roles: Chair of Linguistics, Director of Cognitive Science Program His research bridges linguistics, cognitive science, and computational modeling, focusing on human and machine language acquisition, phonological and morphological learning, and computational modeling of historical language change. He develops the Tolerance Principle for quantifying language acquisition thresholds and investigates neural language models as cognitive theories. Recent publications analyze language acquisition through computational models (2021-2024), with the 2025 work evaluating LLMs for low-resource languages. His 2016 book The Price of Linguistic Productivity won the Leonard Bloomfield Award and explores productivity in language systems. Guggenheim Fellowship (2018) Bloomfield Book Award (2018) NSF GRFP Fellowship Leonard Bloomfield Book Award (2016) Yang advises students in language acquisition, computational linguistics, and cognitive modeling. His lab collaborates with researchers like Bob Berwick, Johan Bolhuis, and Noam Chomsky on integrated approaches to language science.

• Multilingualism
• Dutch as a Second Language
• Psycholinguistics
• +4 more

Dr. Rianne van Lieburg is an Assistant Professor of Dutch Linguistics at Utrecht University, Faculty of Humanities, within the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication. She is affiliated with the Institute for Language Sciences and specializes in language acquisition, processing and disorders. Her work focuses on multilingualism and second language acquisition, particularly examining how knowledge of one language affects the processing of another language and how adults acquire the sounds and grammar of a second language. Her research expertise spans several key areas: Multilingualism and cross-linguistic influence Dutch as a Second Language acquisition Psycholinguistic methods in language research Second Language Acquisition processes Language processing in bilingual speakers Dr. van Lieburg's publication record shows a strong focus on structural priming, syntactic representations, and language processing in bilingual contexts. Her recent work examines lexical boost effects, production preferences in heritage speakers, abstract syntactic representations in beginning L2 learners, and the relationship between production and comprehension in language processing. Her research employs psycholinguistic methods such as structural priming and cue-distractor tasks to investigate these phenomena. She is actively involved in teaching across multiple programs: Bachelor's program in Dutch Language and Literature Master's programs in Multilingualism & Language Acquisition and Intercultural Communication Dr. van Lieburg coordinates the NVT-internship (Dutch as a Foreign Language), which allows students to complete internships at Dutch departments at universities abroad as part of their Erasmus exchange program. Her teaching portfolio includes courses such as: The Dutch Language in Cognition and Society The Dutch Language: System and Variation Didactics of Dutch as a Second Language Multilingual Education in the Netherlands Language Diagnostics

Serena TalentoView profile

Assistant Professor

• Literary exchanges from and into Swahili
• Sociology of translation
• Translation history
• +6 more

Serena Talento is an Assistant Professor at the Chair of Literatures in African Languages at the University of Bayreuth . She also holds a Research Associate position at the Department of Linguistics and Language Practice at the University of the Free State and is affiliated with the Tsikinya-Chaka Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand . Her editorial work includes co-editing the Swahili Forum journal. Education Doctorate : African Studies, University of Bayreuth (2018) M.A. : Languages and Cultures of Africa, University of Naples “L’Orientale” (2011) B.A. : Languages and Cultures of Africa, University of Naples “L’Orientale” (2008) Research Interests center on literary translation into and from Swahili, with a focus on sociology of translation , translation history , Shakespearean adaptations in East Africa , and the intersection of translation with nationalism and manuscript cultures . Her work employs historical and sociological frameworks to analyze the social relevance of translated texts. Publications Trends reveal a consistent focus on Swahili literary exchanges , postcolonial translation , and sociological dimensions of cross-cultural communication . She explores comparative literature , manuscript traditions , and historical reception studies , often linking these to broader African literary theory and translation policy . Affiliated Projects include the Recalibrating Afrikanistik initiative and collaborations with institutions such as the University of Leipzig and University of the Witwatersrand .

Katrien BeulsView profile

Professor

• Artificial Intelligence
• Computational Linguistics
• Construction Grammar
• +5 more

Professor Katrien Beuls is a leading researcher at the Namur Digital Institute within the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Namur. With over 69 research outputs and an h-index of 30, her work bridges artificial intelligence, computational linguistics, and cognitive science. She actively contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through her research in human-inspired AI systems. Her research focuses on developing human-like language processing systems through computational construction grammar, neuro-symbolic approaches, and grounded language learning. Professor Beuls investigates how machines can learn language through situated interactions similar to human language acquisition, with particular emphasis on explainable AI systems that combine neural and symbolic approaches for better interpretability. Her work spans theoretical linguistics, cognitive modeling, and practical AI applications. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating symbolic and neural approaches in language processing, with increasing focus on explainability, grounded language understanding, and construction grammar formalisms. Her research demonstrates consistent progression from theoretical computational linguistics toward practical applications in visual dialogue systems, recipe understanding, and language acquisition modeling. Professor Beuls leads significant research projects including CxG-LEARN (Syntactic-Semantic Operators for Machine Learning of Usage-Based Construction Grammars, 2024-2027), ARIAC by DigitalWallonia4.AI (Applications and Research for Trusted Artificial Intelligence, 2021-2027), and Meaning and Understanding in Human-Centric AI (2020-2024). These projects demonstrate her leadership in advancing construction grammar implementations and neuro-symbolic AI approaches. She has been actively involved in academic dissemination with 12 recorded activities including invited talks, conference organization (10th European Starting AI Researchers' Symposium), and workshop participation. Her media presence includes 11 contributions where she discusses topics like human-inspired language models, kindergarten-inspired AI, and the future of intelligent systems.

• Speech and Language Therapy
• Aphasia
• Communication Disorders
• +4 more

Dr. Emma Gregory is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery , University of Sheffield. She serves as the Professional Lead for Speech and Language Therapy and works with adults with aphasia in the Aphasia Centre . Qualifications: BA, MMedSci, PhD Clinical Experience: NHS clinician (2004-2007) focusing on neurological communication and swallowing disorders Her research emphasizes: Interventions for word-finding difficulties in aphasia Accessible information design for individuals with aphasia Scholarship of teaching and learning Technology-enhanced learning in clinical education Recent publications highlight collaborative approaches to aphasia therapy, accessible communication design, and pedagogical strategies for student support. She is a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and holds a Senior Fellowship at the Higher Education Academy.

Debra AaronsView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Linguistic Analysis of Humor
• Pragmatics
• Signed Language Linguistics
• +5 more

Dr. Debra Aarons is a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics within the School of Humanities & Languages at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), specializing in the linguistic analysis of humor and signed language linguistics. With a distinguished academic career spanning decades, she has established herself as a leading researcher at the intersection of language structure, cultural expression, and comedic performance. Her educational background includes: BA (Majors English and Philosophy) from Witwatersrand University (1976) BA Honours (English Literature) from Witwatersrand University (1977) Higher Dip. Ed PG from Witwatersrand University (1979) BA Honours (Applied Linguistics) from Witwatersrand University (1986) PhD (Applied Linguistics) from Boston University (1994) Dr. Aarons' research centers on the linguistic structures of humor , examining both formal grammatical properties and pragmatic dimensions of jokes and comedic performance. She investigates how linguistic play reveals tacit knowledge of language systems and how cultural contexts shape humorous expression. Her work spans multiple domains including standup comedy analysis, Jewish comedy traditions, and language play in both spoken and signed modalities. Earlier in her career, she made significant contributions to South African Sign Language linguistics , examining syntactic structures, sociolinguistic variation, and educational inclusion for deaf communities. Analysis of her publication record reveals a clear evolution from foundational work in sign language linguistics to her current specialization in humor studies, while maintaining connections between these fields through her interest in language structure. Recent publications demonstrate particular focus on socially critical standup comedy, with detailed analyses of performers like Sarah Silverman and examinations of Jewish comedy traditions across historical contexts. Her work consistently bridges theoretical linguistics with cultural analysis, revealing how language structures underpin comedic expression across diverse media and social settings. Her scholarly recognition includes: British Council Scholarship (Lancaster UK, 1986) Fulbright Scholarship (Boston University, 1987) University of Bologna, Senior Visiting Fellowship (2017) Dr. Aarons maintains an active research program with ongoing collaborative projects, particularly with Marc Mierowsky. She is currently co-authoring a monograph titled 'Playing with Food and Language: Eating, Joking and Disgust' with Delia Chiaro for Taylor and Francis. Her research methodology combines rigorous linguistic analysis with cultural context, examining how language structures facilitate humor across different communicative settings. Though specific laboratory structures aren't detailed, her collaborative publication pattern suggests active research partnerships across disciplines. Her work bridges linguistics with cultural studies, performance studies, and cognitive science, creating a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the complex relationship between language structure and humorous expression.

• Second Language Acquisition
• Spanish Language Teaching
• Corpus Linguistics
• +3 more

Joseph Collentine serves as Professor in the Department of Global Languages and Cultures at Northern Arizona University, where his research centers on second language acquisition with specialized focus on Spanish linguistics. His scholarly contributions span corpus-based methodologies, pragmatic competence development, and comparative analysis of language learning contexts including study-abroad versus traditional classroom environments. Collentine's research portfolio demonstrates deep engagement with structural and functional aspects of Spanish as a second language, particularly examining subjunctive mood acquisition, syntactic complexity, and discourse functions. His work integrates corpus linguistics with pedagogical applications, investigating how technological tools like virtual environments and corpus resources enhance language instruction. Recent publications highlight evolving trends toward technology-mediated language learning and teacher training in corpus utilization. His publication record shows consistent scholarly output from 2004 through 2024, with significant contributions to major reference works including The Handbook of Spanish Second Language Acquisition and The Routledge Encyclopedia of Second Language Acquisition. While no scientific awards are documented in the source material, his h-index of 4 and 502 Scopus citations reflect substantial academic impact within applied linguistics. No information regarding student advising, research grants, or laboratory affiliations appears in the provided texts.

• Dependency Syntax
• Treebanking
• Tectogrammatical Representation
• +10 more

Markéta Lopatková , Associate Professor at the Institute of Formal and Applied Linguistics (Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University), is a leading Czech computational linguist specializing in dependency syntax, valency theory, and formal language modeling. Her work focuses on the Prague Dependency Treebank and VALLEX valency lexicon, incorporating tectogrammatical representations and dependency analysis by reduction. She has coordinated major EU projects like LCT and CLARA, and served on editorial/review boards for journals and conferences. Ph.D. in Computational Linguistics (2001), Charles University M.Sc. in Mathematics (1992), Charles University Research spans Czech sentence ambiguity, non-projectivity, light verb constructions, and reflexive/reciprocal modeling using restarting automata. Her 15 most recent articles address topics like Uniform Meaning Representation conversion, cross-lingual dependency analysis, and reflexive construction detection in Czech. As principal investigator for projects such as VALLEX (2018-2020) and Delving Deeper (2012-2015), she advanced valency lexicon methodologies and linguistic theory feedback loops for NLP systems. Awards include Charles University's Silver Medal (2021), Monographs of Distinction (2016), and Slovník roku 3rd Place (2009). She has supervised 5 PhD students and 6 Master’s students, contributing to European Masters programs (LCT) and international conference committees (ACL, COLING, EURALEX). Scientific Leadership : Deputy Head of Institute (2021), Former Head (2012-2020) Teaching : Courses in Dependency Grammars, Mathematical Methods in Linguistics, and Mathematical Analysis (Czech)

• Computational Linguistics
• Morphology
• Grammar
• +7 more

Jiří Hana is a researcher at the Institute of Formal and Applied Linguistics (UFAL), Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague. His work focuses on computational linguistics, particularly resource-light morphological analysis, learner corpora, and grammar modeling for morphologically complex languages like Czech and Russian. Key Research Areas : Computational morphology, learner corpus annotation, grammar models for fusional languages, tagset design, and natural language processing. Grants & Support : Funded by the U.S. NSF (award #0916280) and the Czech Republic Grant Agency (P406/10/P328). Publication Trends : His recent work (2017–2020) emphasizes syntactic annotation of non-native Czech within Universal Dependencies frameworks, leveraging learner corpora for language acquisition research, and developing tools like feat and law for morphological disambiguation. Advising Roles : Supervised 9 students (2011–2024) on projects spanning text classification, error detection, quote attribution, and multilingual learning through audiovisual input. Tools & Contributions : Developed the Russian positional tagset (2010), feat (layered error annotation), and law (manual morphological disambiguation).

• Dependency Syntax
• Morphological Analysis
• Computational Linguistics
• +7 more

Daniel Zeman is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Formal and Applied Linguistics (ÚFAL), Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague. His work focuses on computational linguistics, particularly morphological analysis and dependency syntax of natural languages. He co-leads the Universal Dependencies project, a major international effort to create cross-linguistically consistent treebank annotation that has become a de-facto standard in the field, currently covering 148 languages with biannual releases. Dr. Zeman's research interests include: Computational models of morphology and syntax Multilingual approaches working across typologically different languages Cross-lingual techniques supporting disadvantaged languages with limited resources Harmonized data resources for multilingual processing Deep syntactic relations, semantic roles, and coreference His publication record shows a consistent focus on universal frameworks for linguistic annotation. The Universal Dependencies project, which he co-leads, represents a paradigm shift in how linguistic resources are created and shared across languages. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical language technology applications, with particular emphasis on making NLP accessible for resource-poor languages through cross-lingual transfer techniques. Scientific recognition includes: Fulbright-Masaryk Fellowship (2006-2007) at University of Maryland Dean's award for best monograph at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (2018) Senior area chair for LREC-COLING 2024 (CORE B conference) Area chair for ACL 2020 (CORE A* conference) Dr. Zeman has supervised 19 graduate students to completion (1 PhD, 13 Master's, 5 Bachelor's) as of March 2024. He leads several major research initiatives including Universal Dependencies (since 2014), CorefUD (since 2021), and is Vice-Chair of COST Action UniDive (2022-2026). His current projects span historical linguistics (HiČKoK, 2023-2026) to language understanding from syntax to discourse (LUSyD, 2020-2024). He has developed key linguistic resources including Interset (tagset conversion framework), HamleDT (harmonized treebanks), and Universal Dependencies. With over 5,468 citations and an h-index of 28, his work has significantly shaped modern computational linguistics methodology.

• Syntax
• Semantics/Pragmatics
• Psycholinguistics
• +4 more

Petra Schulz serves as Professor and Deputy Managing Director at the Institute for Psycholinguistics and Didactics of the German Language within Department 10 - Modern Philologies at Goethe University Frankfurt. Her academic leadership includes roles in academic advising and teaching Master's degree programs in linguistics. She maintains an active teaching schedule with courses planned for Winter semester 2025/26 on language acquisition topics. Her research focuses on core areas of linguistics including syntax, semantics/pragmatics, psycholinguistics, and language acquisition (both first and second language). Specialized expertise covers German as a second language, language disorders (particularly specific language development disorder), language diagnostics, and language support methodologies. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with clinical applications and educational practice. Current research trends evident in her recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on cross-linguistic acquisition patterns, neural correlates of language processing, and diagnostic methodologies for language disorders. Her work integrates experimental psycholinguistic approaches with clinical applications, particularly in German language contexts. As Deputy Managing Director of her institute, she oversees academic operations and contributes to faculty governance as Department Council Member. Her leadership extends to developing language support frameworks and diagnostic tools used in both research and clinical settings.

PAN HaihuaView profile

Professor

• Chinese Linguistics
• Formal Semantics
• Syntax
• +4 more

Prof. PAN Haihua is a Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he has served since December 2015. Previously, he held academic positions at City University of Hong Kong (1995-2015), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (1986-1988), and was a Research Associate at CUHK in 1995. He earned his BA from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, MA from Wuhan University, and PhD from the University of Texas, USA. His educational background includes: BA, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China MA, Wuhan University, China PhD, University of Texas, USA Prof. PAN's research centers on theoretical Chinese linguistics with emphases on formal semantics and syntax. His work systematically investigates reflexives, quantification, focus phenomena, and information structure in Mandarin Chinese. He has made foundational contributions to understanding donkey anaphora, negative polarity items, and the syntax-semantics interface, often bridging empirical Chinese data with universal linguistic theory. His methodological approach combines formal analysis with psycholinguistic insights, particularly in sentence processing and comprehension constraints. Analysis of his recent publications (2022-2025) reveals sustained focus on syntactic structures and semantic interpretation in Chinese, with recurring themes in quantification (especially the dou operator), anaphora resolution, and information-structural phenomena like cleft constructions and focus marking. His work consistently addresses theoretical puzzles at the syntax-semantics-pragmatics interface, demonstrating how Chinese data challenges and refines broader linguistic frameworks. His distinguished honors include: Changjiang Scholar-Chair Professor by China's Ministry of Education (2012) KC Wong Foundation Scholar (2010) Prof. PAN has held significant academic leadership roles including Associate Dean for Postgraduate Education and Research at City University of Hong Kong (2005-2010), President of the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (2010-2011), and Executive Committee member of the International Association of Chinese Linguistics (2004-2006). He serves as a reviewer for premier journals including Language , Linguistic Inquiry , and Natural Language and Linguistic Theory , and has published two research monographs on Chinese reflexives and formal semantics while editing two volumes on Chinese linguistics and focus phenomena.

• Sign Linguistics
• Corpus Linguistics
• Non-Manual Elements in Communication
• +3 more

Dr. Marloes Oomen is a researcher at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Humanities, affiliated with the Linguistics Department (Capaciteitsgroep Taalwetenschap). She specializes in sign language research with a focus on non-manual elements in visual communication, including facial expressions, head movements, and torso gestures. Primary affiliation: University of Amsterdam Department: Linguistics Research focus: Non-manual marker annotation, sign language corpora, machine learning applications Her research explores the intersection of human categorical judgments and continuous measurement techniques in facial expression analysis. She advocates for standardized annotation practices through the ANM (Annotation standard for Non-Manual elements) framework, aiming to create reusable datasets for machine learning training in automated annotation systems. Marloes Oomen's work addresses fundamental questions about the role of human annotations versus quantitative measurements in linguistic research. She investigates how categorical human judgments about non-manual elements relate to continuous measurements from depth sensing cameras, focusing on their complementary roles in understanding visual communication. The 15 most recent publications demonstrate expertise in sign language corpus development, annotation reliability, and facial expression measurement. Key research areas include negation patterns, polar question analysis, hesitation markers, and computational methods for standardizing visual communication data. Current projects focus on establishing standardized annotation guidelines, developing machine learning models for automated analysis, and creating international collaborative frameworks for visual communication research. She emphasizes inter-rater agreement assessment and the development of computational tools to support annotation reliability.

Phong LeView profile

Associate Professor

• Natural Language Processing
• Machine Learning
• Automated Algorithm Configuration
• +7 more

Phong Le is a Reader in Machine Learning at the School of Computer Science, University of St Andrews, UK. His research bridges academia and industry, focusing on natural language processing, machine learning, and automated algorithm configuration. He explores fundamental scientific questions, particularly the emergence of human language. Research Interests: Natural Language Processing: large language models, syntactic/semantic parsing, information extraction, language emergence Machine Learning: deep learning, reinforcement learning, weakly supervised learning Automated Algorithm Configuration Publication Trends: Recent work focuses on deep reinforcement learning applications in parameter control for genetic algorithms and reward design in dynamic algorithm configuration. Collaborations span evolutionary computation and computational optimization.