Find Academic Supervisors

Veena DwivediView profile

Professor

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psycholinguistics
• Neurolinguistics
• +5 more

Dr. Veena Dwivedi is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Centre for Neuroscience at Brock University. She holds a BSc in Physiology from McGill University and a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Previously, she taught at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and McGill University. Her research focuses on integrating neuroscience, psychology, and linguistics to understand language comprehension, particularly sentence processing and the role of affect and neural mechanisms. The Dwivedi Brain and Language Lab uses advanced techniques like EEG and ERP to investigate how the brain processes language in real-time, emphasizing heuristic-first models of cognition. Education: BSc in Physiology, McGill University PhD in Linguistics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst Research Interests: Neuroscience of language processing ERP studies of sentence interpretation Effects of emotion on language comprehension Quantifier scope ambiguity and cognitive models Cross-cultural and bilingual language processing Lab Facilities: The lab is equipped with a 128-channel BioSemi EEG system and sound-attenuated booths for electrophysiological studies. Behavioral experiments use E-Prime software with SPSS/R analysis. Advising & Collaborations: Dr. Dwivedi has mentored numerous students, including those pursuing PhDs in neuroscience and clinical fields. Collaborations include MIT’s Brain and Cognitive Science department, focusing on ERP-based language studies.

Martina WiltschkoView profile

Professor

• Syntax
• Grammatical Categories
• Linguistic Fieldwork
• +3 more

Martina Wiltschko is an Honorary Affiliate Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Arts. She is currently on leave and holds a research position with ICREA at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). Educational Background: Wiltschko earned her PhD and MA from the University of Vienna, where her dissertation focused on 'IDs in Syntax and Discourse: An analysis of Extraposition in German' under supervisors Edwin Williams and Wolfgang U. Dressler. Her graduate training emphasized theoretical linguistics with specialization in syntactic theory and interface issues (syntax-morphology, syntax-semantics, and syntax-pragmatics). Research Interests: Her work centers on syntax, grammatical categories, and linguistic fieldwork. She developed the 'universal spine hypothesis' for discovering functional categories and is extending this to discourse markers in her monograph 'Interactional Structure. Towards a formal typology of discourse markers.' Her research integrates fieldwork on Upriver Halkomelem (Salish), Blackfoot (Algonquian), and Ktunaxa (Kutenai) with theoretical linguistics. Publications: Wiltschko's extensive publication record (2014-2018) demonstrates consistent focus on syntactic variation, response particles, and formal typology across Germanic, Salish, Algonquian, and Sino-Tibetan languages. Her 15 most recent articles reflect methodological innovation in field linguistics and theoretical modeling. Additional Activities: She contributes to departmental strengths in fieldwork-theory integration and maintains profiles on Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Academia.edu related to her Syntax of Speech Acts project.

Martha McGinnisView profile

Associate Professor

• Syntax
• Morphology
• Linguistics
• +4 more

Dr. Martha McGinnis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Victoria. She specializes in syntax, morphology, and formal linguistic theory, with a focus on argument structure, binding theory, and distributed morphology. Her research spans over 30 languages, including Georgian, Japanese, and many Indigenous languages. Education: B.A. in Linguistics and English, University of Toronto M.A. in Linguistics, University of Toronto Ph.D. in Linguistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania (Linguistics & Cognitive Science) Research Interests: Her work explores syntax-morphology interfaces, reflexive clitics, causative constructions, and neurolinguistic aspects of language processing. She has contributed to Minimalist theory and the theory of Distributed Morphology, with recent focus on cross-linguistic syntactic patterns in Georgian and other languages. Awards: SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (University of Pennsylvania) SSHRC Standard Research Grant (2010–present) Associate Editor, Linguistic Inquiry (2006–present) Advising & Grants: Supervised student research on languages including Mandarin, SENĆOŦEN, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Belorussian Recipient of SSHRC grants for syntax research Professional Roles: Former Secretary, Canadian Linguistic Association (2001–2008) Editor of Canadian Journal of Linguistics Special Issue on Relative Clauses (2013)

• Linguistics
• Japanese Language Studies
• Conversation Analysis
• +3 more

Yoshi Ono is a Professor in the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Arts. He specializes in Japanese linguistics, focusing on conversation analysis, syntax, and grammatical structures in everyday talk. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with empirical data from real-world interactions, emphasizing usage-based approaches to language understanding. He has taught courses such as EASIA 102 (East Asian Languages and Cultures) and EASIA 211 (Overview of the Japanese Language) in Fall 2025. His research explores fixed expressions, verb repetition, and the role of particles, while also documenting Ryukyuan dialects like Ikema. He advocates for discourse-centered pedagogy and has contributed to discussions on reconciling textbook dialogues with naturally occurring conversations. His academic career includes notable contributions to the study of Japanese grammar, including works on pronouns, clause combining, and the pragmatic nature of grammatical markers. He has also engaged with interdisciplinary topics such as the impact of lithium carbonate treatment on diabetes and ITS-based driver safety programs, though these appear less central to his primary East Asian Studies affiliation. Awards: None explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Advising/Grants: No advisees or grant details are listed, though his courses suggest involvement in academic mentoring. Labs/Teams: No specific labs or research teams are mentioned in the provided information.

Anja ArnholdView profile

Associate Professor

• Prosody
• Phonology
• Phonetics
• +6 more

Anja Arnhold is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Alberta (since 2016). She holds a PhD from Goethe-University Frankfurt (2013) and an MA from the University of Potsdam (2007), both under supervision of Caroline Féry. Her research focuses on experimental phonology, prosody, and information structure, with special emphasis on prosodic typology across languages like Finnish, Inuit, Mandarin, and Kalaallisut. She directs the Prosody Lab at the University of Alberta, equipped with advanced recording facilities and analysis tools. Her research projects include SSHRC-funded studies on prosody of new vs. shared information in Canadian English and linguistic complexity in marking information structure across languages. She has received the 2025 Faculty of Arts Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentorship Award, and serves on the advisory board of Phonological Data & Analysis . She teaches courses such as Phonological Theory, Prosody, and Phonetics at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Key research contributions include work on prosodic focus marking in multiple languages, typological studies of stress systems (e.g., Plains Cree), and the interplay between syntax and prosody in marking information structure. Her lab investigates production and perception of prosodic features using acoustic analysis and experimental methods.

• Psycholinguistics
• Socio-psycho-linguistics
• Children's pronoun processing
• +5 more

Juhani Järvikivi is a Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on psycholinguistics, socio-psycho-linguistics, and developmental aspects of language processing. He employs methods like eye-tracking and pupillometry to study pronoun resolution, accented speech comprehension, and individual differences in language processing. Järvikivi's work often intersects with cognitive science, exploring how factors like political ideology, personality traits, and foreign accent influence real-time language comprehension. He teaches courses in psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, and directed research, emphasizing experimental methodologies. His research has been published in top journals such as Cognitive Science , Applied Psycholinguistics , and Frontiers in Psychology . Key contributions include studies on children's pronoun processing, the role of prosody in focus marking, and the impact of accent on speech perception. Research Interests: Psycholinguistics, socio-psycholinguistics, developmental language processing, accented speech, pupil dilation as a cognitive measure, and visual world paradigms. Awards: None explicitly listed in the provided materials. Notable collaborations involve investigating the ENglish Reading Online (ENRO) project and developing tools like the PupilPre and VWPre packages for preprocessing psycholinguistic data. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with cognitive and experimental approaches, contributing to our understanding of language processing in both monolingual and multilingual contexts.

Maxime TullingView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neurolinguistics
• Language Acquisition
• Syntax-Semantics-Pragmatics Interface

Maxime Tulling is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Linguistics and Translation, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Montreal. She is affiliated with the Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM) and employs diverse experimental methodologies including EEG/MEG, eye tracking, and behavioral paradigms in her research. Current projects focus on neurolinguistic processing of abstract language Specializes in first language acquisition and discourse semantics Collaborates with international research teams at NYU, UCSC, and UMD Uses corpus analysis and electrophysiological measures Her research investigates neural mechanisms underlying the processing of modal expressions, counterfactuals, and discourse particles. Recent projects explore how children develop the ability to interpret hypothetical scenarios and how social interaction influences language learning. Maxime's work reveals distinct neural patterns in processing factual vs. non-actual information, with implications for understanding the syntax-semantics-pragmatics interface. Scientific projects include: Étudier les propriétés représentationnelles de l’expression linguistique de la possibilité (2023-2026) From Repeated Words to Grammar: Brain-based language learning mechanisms (2024-2030) Discourse updating in infants: Social interaction's role in sound learning (2024-2027) She has secured grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQSC, FRQNT). Her publications span topics including temporal reference in counterfactuals, prosody of rhetorical questions, and modal flavor distinctions in language acquisition.

• Developmental Perception
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Early Childhood Cognition
• +3 more

Mireille Babineau is a part-time Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto (St. George campus). She holds a Ph.D. and Psy.D. from the Université du Québec à Montréal (2016) and completed postdoctoral research at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris under Anne Christophe, supported by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship. Her research focuses on early language acquisition mechanisms, particularly how children learn novel words through syntactic and prosodic cues. She also practices as a child psychologist at Possibilities Clinic, specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders and early childhood. Education: Ph.D./Psy.D., Université du Québec à Montréal (2016) Postdoctoral Fellowship, École Normale Supérieure (Paris, 2016–2020) Undergraduate Degree, Université de Moncton (Psychology) Research Interests: Language acquisition, bilingualism's impact on cognitive development, syntactic bootstrapping, prosody's role in word learning, and neurodevelopmental disorders in early childhood. Awards: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (EU, 2018–2020) Fyssen Foundation Postdoctoral Grant (2016) SSHRC Insight Development Grant (current funding) Grants & Projects: Leads the SASC project (ERC Horizon 2020-funded), investigating synergies between syntactic and semantic acquisition. Collaborates on the ManyBabies 5 project, a large-scale study on infant cognition. Labs/Teams: Directs the Babineau Lab at U of T (collaborating with institutions in Paris, Vancouver, and Toronto), focusing on language acquisition and neurodevelopmental research. Lab members include undergraduates and graduate students working on bilingualism, moral development, and speech impairments.

Sean AllisonView profile

Professor

• French Linguistics
• Functional/Typological Linguistics
• Morpho-syntax
• +3 more

Dr. Sean Allison is a Professor and co-chair of the Linguistics and World Languages department at Trinity Western University's Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. He has taught French since 2015 and served as French Program coordinator since 2020. His research focuses on Chadic languages (e.g., Makary Kotoko), functional/typological linguistics, and French linguistics. He co-leads Bible translation projects in French-speaking Africa with Wycliffe Bible Translators since 1998, combining academic work with applied linguistic fieldwork. Education: PhD in Linguistics (University of Colorado, 2012), DEA and Master's in Linguistics (Université Marc Bloch, Strasbourg, 1996-1993), and certifications in French language studies. Awards include TWU's Davis Distinguished Teaching Award (2023-24) and a teaching excellence award from CU Boulder (2011). Research spans Makary Kotoko grammar, language contact in West Africa, and sociolinguistic impacts of Bible translation. Recent work includes a 2023 paper linking Bible translation to church health, a major 2020 grammar publication, and 2017 studies on conditional clauses and language contact dynamics. Teaching includes FREN 101-380 courses, emphasizing practical language skills and advanced grammar. His work integrates field linguistics with pedagogical innovation, supported by affiliations with SIL International and Wycliffe. Ongoing projects focus on Chadic language documentation and African language policy.

Liz SmeetsView profile

Assistant Professor

• Language Acquisition
• Syntax-Semantics Interface
• Syntax-Discourse Interface
• +4 more

Liz Smeets is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics at York University, affiliated with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. She holds a PhD from McGill University (2020) and dual BAs in Linguistics and Italian from Utrecht University (2012). Her research focuses on second language acquisition, syntax-discourse interfaces, and bilingual populations’ language transfer. She collaborates with the University of Guelph to develop linguistically informed language learning modules for classrooms. Education: PhD in Linguistics, McGill University (2020) BAs (cum laude) in Linguistics and Italian Language & Culture, Utrecht University (2012) Research emphasizes syntax-semantics/discourse/prosody interfaces, particularly how bilingual learners integrate native and target language systems. She explores how prosody (e.g., stress) influences pronoun interpretation in L2 English and Italian. Applied work bridges linguistic theory with pedagogical tools for language instructors. Collaborations include projects with Alena Barysevich at U of Guelph to create online resources for language learners. Personal interests include yoga, travel, and nature, reflecting a balanced academic and creative lifestyle.

Phaedra RoyleView profile

Professor

• Language Acquisition
• Psycholinguistics
• Neurolinguistics
• +4 more

Phaedra Royle is a Full Professor at the Université de Montréal's School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, part of the Faculty of Medicine. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from the Université de Montréal and a postdoctoral fellowship from McGill University. Her research focuses on language acquisition, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, and developmental language disorders, particularly in French and multilingual populations. She leads the Language Acquisition and Processing Lab and collaborates with institutions like the CRBLM (Brain, Language, and Music Research Centre). Education: Postdoc at McGill University (Communication Sciences), PhD in Linguistics (Université de Montréal), Master's in Linguistics (McGill), and Bachelor's in Linguistics with a minor in Spanish (Concordia University). Research Interests : Morphology, neurolinguistic processing of language, bilingualism, aging effects on language, and clinical applications for language disorders. She uses ERPs (electrophysiological methods) to study syntactic and semantic processing in both typical and atypical populations. Grants & Collaborations : Principal investigator on multiple projects funded by FRQNT, CRSH, and CRSNG. Notable projects include Language Acquisition and Processing in Teen and Adult L1 and L2 and Aging and the Time-Course of Morphology for Reading in French . She co-leads teams like the REPAR network for rehabilitation research. Labs & Teams : Director of the Language Acquisition and Processing Lab (Laboratoire de recherche sur l’acquisition et le traitement du langage). Affiliated with CRBLM, CIRCA, and the Centre de réadaptation Marie-Enfant (CHU Sainte-Justine).

Masako HirotaniView profile

Associate Professor

• Psycholinguistics
• Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• Syntax-Phonology and Semantics-Phonology Interfaces
• +6 more

Dr. Masako Hirotani is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at Carleton University, cross-appointed with the Department of Cognitive Science. She directs the Language and Brain Laboratory and is an adjunct associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on psycholinguistics, cognitive neuroscience of language, and syntax-phonology interfaces. Key interests include adult sentence processing, auditory information use in language comprehension, and neural correlates of language processing, with recent work on dialectal impacts on education and conversational dynamics. Education: B.A. (Sophia University), M.A. (University of Tokyo), Ph.D. (University of Massachusetts Amherst). Former postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (Leipzig, Germany). Research highlights include studies on dialectal disparities in academic achievement, neural synchronization in conversation, and acoustic properties of speech sounds. She actively contributes to Carleton’s Accessibility Institute and Visualization and Simulation (VSIM) Centre. Awards include the 2018 Favourite Faculty Member nomination and JSPS Invitation Fellowship (2017-2018). Teaching includes courses on psycholinguistics, child language, and cognitive neuroscience methods. Over 10 grants funded her work, including CUELF (2023-2024) and SSHRC grants. Her lab integrates EEG, fMRI, and behavioral methods to study language-brain interactions.