Find Academic Supervisors

John GrinsteadView profile

Professor

• Developmental Linguistics
• Atypical Language Development
• Child Language Acquisition
• +4 more

John Grinstead serves as Department Chair in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at The Ohio State University, within the College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from UCLA (1998), following a B.A. (1989) and M.A. (1994) in Linguistics and Spanish-related fields. His research focuses on developmental linguistics and atypical language development, particularly in Spanish-speaking children, including studies on syntax, semantics-pragmatics, and specific language impairment (SLI). He co-directs the Spanish & Portuguese Department Language Acquisition Lab with Professor Holly Nibert and actively contributes to OSU's Language Acquisition Discussion Group ('Lacqueys'). Education: Ph.D., Applied Linguistics, UCLA, 1998 M.A., Teaching English as a Second Language, UCLA, 1994 B.A., Linguistics and Spanish, UCLA, 1989 Research Interests: His work explores child Spanish syntax, tense marking in SLI, pragmatic implicatures, prosody, and collective/distributive expressions. He investigates how bilingualism and developmental disorders influence language acquisition, employing experimental and corpus-based methodologies. Lab & Collaborations: Co-leads the Language Acquisition Lab, advancing interdisciplinary research on language development. His collaborations include studies in Latin America and cross-linguistic comparisons (e.g., Spanish/Italian syntax). Teaching & Service: Teaches courses in linguistics, language development, and syntax at both departments. Previously served as Associate Editor of Language Acquisition: A Journal of Developmental Linguistics (2008–2015).

• Phonology
• Linguistics
• Language Documentation
• +5 more

Michael Obiri-Yeboah is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Georgetown University's Department of Linguistics, part of the College. He holds a PhD from the University of California San Diego (2021), and MA and BA degrees from the University of Ghana in Linguistics and the Study of Religions. His research focuses on phonological patterns using fieldwork and experimental methods, with special attention to Gua and Akan languages. He teaches courses such as Introduction to Language, Sounds of Language, and Field Methods. Education: PhD in Linguistics, University of California-San Diego (2021) M.Phil in Linguistics, University of Ghana B.A. in Linguistics and the Study of Religions, University of Ghana Research interests encompass phonological phrasing, vowel harmony, tone encoding in music, and language endangerment documentation. His work bridges formal phonological analysis with empirical fieldwork, particularly in understudied languages like Gua. Recent studies investigate Akan tone systems' cross-modal representation and perceptual near-merger in ATR contrasts. Publications explore topics ranging from Gua's syntactic-melodic marking to cross-linguistic numeral systems. His teaching and research emphasize practical methodologies, including field methods and language documentation strategies. No scientific awards are listed, and no grants or advising details are provided. He speaks Gua, Akan, English, and Ghanaian Pidgin English.

James MorganView profile

Professor

• Early Language Development
• Spoken Word Recognition
• Phonetics
• +3 more

James L. Morgan is a Professor of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences and Linguistics at Brown University. He holds dual appointments in the Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences and the Linguistics Program. His research focuses on early language development, particularly spoken word recognition in infants and young children, and how auditory/visual speech input interacts with infants' perceptual capacities to facilitate language acquisition. Educated at Washington University (AB 1974), UC San Diego (MA Linguistics 1976, MA Psychology 1979), and UIUC (PhD Developmental Psychology 1983), Morgan previously taught at the University of Minnesota and held visiting positions at CNRS-EHESS (Paris) and the University of Potsdam. His work is funded by NIH/NICHD grants and recognized by Fulbright and Fogarty fellowships. Research highlights include discovering infants' sensitivity to prosodic patterns in speech segmentation, demonstrating how lexical categories influence phonetic learning, and analyzing infant-directed speech properties. He directs the Metcalf Infant Research Lab and serves on editorial boards for Infancy and Language Learning and Development . Teaching focuses on language acquisition, psycholinguistics, and cognitive development. Recent studies explore how infants categorize grammatical vs. lexical words using acoustic correlates, the role of visual prosody in speech perception, and developmental trajectories of phonetic detail processing. Collaborators include Sheila Blumstein, Bertram Malle, and David Sobel in interdisciplinary projects linking linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience.

Pranava MadhyasthaView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Multimodal Machine Learning
• Natural Language Understanding
• Natural Language Generation
• +7 more

Dr. Pranava Madhyastha is a Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence at the Department of Computer Science, City, University of London, and a Principal Investigator at The Alan Turing Institute. He holds a PhD from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain, and has held research positions at Imperial College London and the University of Sheffield. His primary research interests lie in multimodal machine learning, grounded representation learning, natural language understanding and generation, and their applications in machine translation, syntactic parsing, and language interaction. He explores how models can integrate signals from text, vision, and speech to improve language comprehension and production. The most recent publications highlight a strong focus on multimodal AI, visual analytics with large language models, prosody prediction, toxicity detection, and formal analysis of neural network capabilities in language tasks. His work bridges theoretical and applied aspects of AI, with contributions in top venues like ACL, EMNLP, ICML, and IEEE journals. Scientific Awards: No specific awards listed in the provided text. He advises several PhD students, including Maeve Hutchinson, Chenxi Whitehouse, Nadine El Naggar, Hadeel Al-Negheimish, and Chiraag Lala. His research is supported through academic collaborations and institutional affiliations, with no specific grants mentioned. He leads research activities at City and maintains a strong presence through publications and open research.

Vadim KimmelmanView profile

Professor

• Sign Language Linguistics
• Syntax of Sign Languages
• Nonmanual Markers
• +5 more

Professor Vadim Kimmelman is affiliated with the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies at the University of Bergen. His primary research interests lie in sign language linguistics, with a focus on syntax, nonmanual markers, classifier predicates, and computational methods in linguistic analysis. He has contributed to foundational studies on Russian Sign Language (RSL), Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT), and other signed languages. Key research areas include the formal analysis of argument structure, transitivity, metaphorical extensions, and the role of nonmanual components in grammatical and pragmatic functions. His work combines corpus linguistics with computational tools, such as computer vision techniques for analyzing nonmanual behaviors in sign language interactions. Published in high-impact journals like Annual Review of Linguistics , Open Linguistics , and Sign Language Studies . Recipient of ERC funding for projects on nonmanual properties and sign language processing. Co-authored a textbook on sign language linguistics with Svetlana Burkova ( Vvedenie v lingvistiku zhestovyh jazykov ). Recent projects involve developing benchmark datasets (e.g., FluentSigners-50) and tools for sign language recognition, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to bridging linguistics and computational science.

Magda OiryView profile

Senior Lecturer

• First and Second Language Acquisition
• French Syntax
• Acquisition of Factivity
• +5 more

Magda Oiry is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, serving as Undergraduate Advisor and Director of Linguistics Certificate Programs. She holds a PhD from the University of Nantes (2008) and has taught at UMass since 2008, focusing on syntax, first/second language acquisition, and French linguistics. Her research explores child language acquisition of complex question structures, embedded clefts, and factivity in French. Oiry coordinates interdisciplinary initiatives like the Romance Liaison for SLA and leads professional development workshops. She has received fellowships including STRIDE and ADVANCE, and her work appears in journals like Linguistic Analysis . She advises graduate students and teaches courses on syntax, language acquisition, and French linguistics. Education: PhD in Linguistics, University of Nantes (2008), MA Merit Scholarship (2002-2003). Research Interests: Bidirectional focus on syntax and acquisition, emphasizing French grammar and its intersections with literature. Key areas include long-distance questions, wh-scope marking, and embedded clefts in child French. Recent Work: Recent publications analyze scope marking distinctions in child syntax and cleft sentence structures. Her 2019 paper explores typological differences in question production, while earlier work established foundational insights into French L1 syntax-semantics interfaces. Awards: Honors include French Ministry grants (€61,200 total), UMass fellowships, and distinguished dissertation recognition. Active in equity initiatives, co-founding Gender Equity in Linguistics (2017).

• Systemic Functional Linguistics
• Discourse Semantics
• Register and Genre Analysis
• +5 more

Professor James Martin is a distinguished academic in Linguistics at the University of Sydney, holding a Personal Chair. Elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 1998 and awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003, his work spans systemic functional linguistics, discourse semantics, and educational applications. BA(Hons) (York, Canada) MA (Toronto) PhD (Essex) His research focuses on functional grammar, genre analysis, and multimodal discourse, with applications in clinical, educational, and forensic contexts. He has pioneered work in paralanguage modeling and transdisciplinary approaches to language studies. Recent publications include works on historical discourse, Korean grammar, infographics in education, and Filipino language analysis. His edited volumes and series with Bloomsbury highlight his leadership in systemic functional linguistics. Co-authored book on youth justice conferencing (2018) Editor of "Studies in Systemic Functional Linguistics" series Contributions to language description across English, Korean, Spanish, and Filipino Professor Martin supervises PhD students exploring topics like Indonesian language education, physiotherapy communication, and crime discourse analysis. His collaborative projects with institutions in China, Chile, and Indonesia reflect his global academic engagement.

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Brain Stimulation
• +6 more

Ole Numssen is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Research Group Cognition and Plasticity at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences. His work focuses on non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS) combined with neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG) to study neural networks related to language, cognition, and motor function. Institution : Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Group Affiliation : Methods and Development Group Brain Networks His research emphasizes: Electric field modeling for precise TMS dosing State-dependent network adaptations Motor cortex mapping using multichannel TMS Neuro-cardiac interactions during brain stimulation Causal connectivity in language networks Recent publications highlight methodological advancements in TMS, including coil positioning accuracy and field distortion modeling, alongside applications in cognitive domains like memory suppression and sentence processing. He actively develops open-source tools for TMS optimization, such as magicPy and pyNIBS.

Béla AdamikView profile

Associate Professor

• Latin Linguistics
• Historical Linguistics
• Vulgar Latin
• +5 more

Béla Adamik is a Habilitated Associate Professor at the Institute of Ancient and Classical Studies of Eötvös Loránd University, holding a position in the Department of Latin since 2010. He leads the MTA Lendület (Momentum) Computational Latin Dialectology Research Group and serves on the editorial board of Antique Studies . His career includes roles as Assistant Professor (2001-2010) and Teaching Assistant (1995-2001), with habilitation in Linguistics (2009) and PhD in Literary Studies (2000). Adamik's research focuses on Latin linguistics , particularly vulgar Latin dialectology and language policy in the Roman Empire . He has developed the Computerized Historical Linguistic Database of Latin Inscriptions of the Imperial Age (LLDB) to analyze vowel/consonant mergers, case system transformations, and syncope patterns across provinces like Africa, Gaul, and the Danubian regions. His work bridges computational methods with traditional epigraphic analysis. Recent publications track Latin vowel mergers (2024) and Gallic/Germanic Latin transformations (2023), using LLDB to reveal regional diversification and phonological trends. He challenges assumptions about Danubian and Dalmatian Latin, showing non-unified developments and their implications for Romance language origins. Scientific awards include the MTA János Bolyai Research Scholarship (2001-2004), Zoltán Magyary Postdoctoral Scholarship (2004-2005), and leadership of the Lendület Research Group (2015-2020). He participates in international colloquia on Latin linguistics and organized workshops on computational dialectology (2016-2019).

Mark SicoliView profile

Associate Professor

• Indigenous Languages of the Americas
• Multimodality
• Embodied Interaction
• +10 more

Mark Sicoli is an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia , where he serves as Director of the Interdepartmental Program in Linguistics and Associate Editor of Language Documentation and Description . His work spans Zapotec-speaking communities in Mexico (since 1997) and Virginia Tribal Nations like the Nottoway (since 2020). As a Fellow of the UVA Institute for Advanced Technologies in the Humanities (IATH), he leads the Data Back! project (2025-2027) , focusing on digital infrastructure for community-driven language documentation. Specialties: Multimodality, Embodied Interaction, Community-Engaged Research, Video Analysis, Ethnography, Semiotic Theory Research Themes: Language in Human Evolution, Human Social Organization, Anarchist Theory, Language Contact, Documentary Linguistics His scholarship critiques evolutionary progress narratives through anarchist theory and interactional analysis , arguing that language evolved via mutual aid rather than self-interest. He has conducted NSF-funded projects on Zapotec and Chatino language surveys and whistled speech documentation, co-directing initiatives that trained 23 native speakers. His teaching includes collaborative courses like Language Revival in the Eastern Tribes with Nottoway citizens. Key publications include Saying and Doing in Zapotec (2020), exploring how language emerges through joint action, and a 2025 chapter on Zapotec perception categories in the Oxford Handbook of the Languages of Perception . His work emphasizes decolonizing linguistics and empowering Indigenous communities in language preservation. Scientific Awards: Fellow, UVA Institute for Advanced Technologies in the Humanities (IATH)

• Formal Semantics
• Syntax-Semantics Interface
• Pragmatics
• +2 more

Maribel Romero is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Konstanz, Germany, where she has held a faculty position since 2007. Previously, she was an Associate Professor (2004-2007) and Assistant Professor (1998-2004) at the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her PhD in Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1998, following earlier degrees in Latin Linguistics ('Tesi de Llicenciatura') and Classical Philology from the University of Barcelona. Her research program focuses on the architecture of linguistic meaning through multiple interfaces: Formal semantics and pragmatics core mechanisms Syntax-semantics mapping operations Experimental validation of theoretical models Cross-linguistic patterns in quantification and question formation She investigates phenomena including quantifier interpretation, focus effects, negation, superlatives, and epistemic bias. Analyses of her recent publications reveal consistent research trajectories in: Quantifier semantics and scope phenomena Experimental pragmatics of questions and bias marking Formal approaches to comparatives and superlatives Cross-linguistic prosody-syntax interactions Her work integrates theoretical modeling with experimental validation across languages. Honors include: Elected Member, Academy of Europe (Linguistic Studies Section, 2022) LUKS Teaching Excellence Award (University of Konstanz, 2015) Multiple teaching award nominations at University of Pennsylvania Administrative service includes: Equal Opportunity Officer, School of Humanities (2020-2021) Dean of Studies, Linguistics Department (2018-2019) Head of Linguistics Department (2010-2012)

MARIA DE LOS ANGELES GOMEZ GONZALEZView profile

Professor

• English Philology
• Discourse Analysis
• Language Acquisition
• +4 more

Maria de los Angeles Gomez Gonzalez is a Professor of English Philology at the University of Santiago de Compostela, affiliated with the Faculty of Philology and Department of English and German Philology. She is a member of the Humanities Research Institute (iHUS) and leads the research group 'Discourse and identity' (DI-1924). Her academic journey includes a Doctorate from the University of Santiago de Compostela (1996) with the thesis 'A corpus-based approach to theme in present-day British English', earning the European Doctor and Extraordinary Doctoral Award. She became a National Qualification Competition-recognized Professor in 2006. Her research focuses on discourse analysis, functional grammar, and applied linguistics with special attention to English-Spanish/Portuguese contrasts. Key areas include tag questions, pronunciation pedagogy, lexical cohesion, and multimedia language teaching tools. She has pioneered serious games for pronunciation training and developed award-winning pedagogical materials like the EPSS Multimedia Lab and 'English Pronunciation for Speakers of Spanish' toolkit. Her recent publications (2023-2025) emphasize digital education innovations, such as e-SoundWay serious games and app-based pronunciation tools, alongside theoretical discourse studies. She has received multiple accolades including the National Experienced Researchers Award (2018) and Teaching Innovation Award (2025). Her work bridges theory and practice, integrating corpus linguistics with pedagogical application. She collaborates internationally on contrastive linguistics and functional discourse grammar frameworks, contributing to both academic discourse analysis and practical language education solutions.

• Reading Comprehension
• Linguistics
• Educational Psychology
• +3 more

Julie Van Dyke is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Child Study Center, Yale University. Her research focuses on reading comprehension mechanisms, linguistics, and educational interventions, employing eye-tracking technology and computational methods. She explores how text formatting, acoustic features, and linguistic structures influence comprehension across populations including ELL students and adolescents. Notable contributions include databases like DerLex and CompLex, analyzing word reading behavior through eye-movement studies. Her work bridges cognitive science with practical educational applications, addressing both theoretical and applied challenges in literacy development. Her academic contributions extend to special issue curation and peer-reviewed publication processes, reflecting her role in advancing scholarly discourse in reading research. While no explicit awards or student advisement are noted in the text, her prolific output since 2019 demonstrates sustained engagement with language processing, phonological awareness, and syntactic-semantic interactions in comprehension.

• Accessible Computing
• Accessibility Law
• Sign Language Technology
• +4 more

Raja Kushalnagar is a Professor in the School of Science, Technology, Accessibility, Mathematics, and Public Health at Gallaudet University, Washington, DC. He serves as Director of the BS Information Technology program and Co-Director of the Accessible Human-Centered Computing Program. His research focuses on accessible computing, particularly improving information access for deaf individuals through technologies like real-time captioning and sign language recognition. He advocates for updates to accessibility and intellectual property laws to integrate advancements in automatic captioning and subtitling. Dr. Kushalnagar teaches courses in human-centered computing, accessible design, cybersecurity, and application development. His work spans over 100 peer-reviewed publications and grants from NSF, NIH, and industry partners. Notable projects include developing the Legion Scribe real-time captioning system, optimizing classroom accessibility through the Classroom Accessibility Analysis App, and designing AI-driven sign language avatars. He has advised over 150 students across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, emphasizing mentorship and research collaboration. Key contributions include co-chairing ACM ASSETS conferences since 2011, serving on the CRA-WP committee, and advising organizations like the Global Alliance for Speech-to-Text Captioning. Research Interests: Accessible computing, sign language technology, disability law, inclusive AI, STEM education equity Leadership Roles: ACM ASSETS Program Chair (2011–present), Teach Access Member, MITRE TRS Collaboration Lead Community Impact: Co-developed the Accessibility Standards I/II courses, led Gallaudet GenCyber camps for deaf students, and contributed to NASA's AstroAccess disability space exploration initiative His work bridges technology and policy, addressing gaps in deaf accessibility across education, healthcare, and workplace communication. Recent trends in his publications emphasize ethical AI frameworks, LLM applications for deaf learners, and inclusive design for mixed-hearing environments.

• Educational Neuroscience
• Sign Language Acquisition
• Neurobiology of Action
• +3 more

Lorna Quandt is an Associate Professor in the PhD in Educational Neuroscience (PEN) program at Gallaudet University, focusing on the neural substrates of action perception in signed languages. She directs the Motion Light Lab and the Action & Brain Lab, employing EEG and psychophysiological measures to study topics like sensorimotor systems, self-other body representations, and visual language processing. Her work emphasizes the role of experience in learning actions and the impact of signed language exposure on cognitive processes. Dr. Quandt holds a PhD in Psychology from Temple University and teaches courses such as PEN-701 Educational Neuroscience Proseminar. She has advised over ten doctoral students in the PEN program and contributed to grants like the NSF-funded Signing Avatars & Immersive Learning (SAIL) project. Her research has explored ASL comprehension, biological motion perception, and virtual reality applications in deaf education. Notable awards include the 2020 Public Choice Award and Facilitators’ Choice Awards. She actively participates in committees like the PEN Steering Committee and Gallaudet’s IT Department search committees, advocating for inclusive technology and equity in sign-related research. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges neuroscience, linguistics, and education to advance accessibility for deaf communities.