Prof. dr. Petra Hendriks is a Professor of Semantics and Cognition at the Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen. She leads the Semantics and Cognition group within the Center for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG). Her research focuses on semantics, pragmatics, language development, and cognitive science, with a particular emphasis on language abilities in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She directs the NWO project 'Unraveling Language Learning in Autism' (2025–2030) and chairs the CLCG (2024–2028). Her academic affiliations include membership in the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW, since 2016), the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities (KHMW, since 2013), and Academia Europaea (since 2025). Key research contributions include studies on pronoun interpretation in children and adults, language processing in ASD, and cognitive modeling of reference systems. She has supervised over 20 PhD students and collaborates with institutions globally, including Stanford University and the University of Oldenburg.
Dr. Bruno Bocanegra is an Assistant Professor in the Methods & Skills department at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam. His research focuses on cognitive processes, emotion-cognition interactions, language processing, and experimental methodologies. He has contributed to understanding how emotional cues modulate visual and temporal perception, behavioral interventions in secure residential care, and parental influences on moral development through lying behaviors. His work bridges theoretical linguistics, neuroscience, and applied psychology. His research interests include the semantics-syntax interface, hierarchical structure learning in language, and the application of artificial grammar learning paradigms. He has developed innovative tools like the QRTEngine for online reaction-time experiments, emphasizing replicable psychological science. His studies often explore trade-offs between spatial and temporal perceptual abilities under emotional contexts. Dr. Bocanegra has been involved in teaching activities and has received academic recognition (1 award noted). His work spans collaborative projects across behavioral science, neuroscience, and educational psychology, aiming to advance both theoretical frameworks and practical interventions in clinical and developmental contexts.
Floris Roelofsen is a Professor at the Institute for Logic, Language, and Computation (ILLC), part of the Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research centers on expanding semantic theories beyond truth-conditional content, particularly in the interpretation of questions and the formal modeling of meaning through inquisitive semantics. He also investigates sign languages, especially the Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT), aiming to deepen linguistic understanding and reduce communication barriers between deaf and hearing communities. Professor, ILLC, University of Amsterdam (2023–present) Associate Professor, ILLC, University of Amsterdam (2015–2023) Assistant Professor, ILLC, University of Amsterdam (2013–2015) Postdoctoral Researcher, ILLC (2010–2013) Visiting Assistant Professor, UMass Amherst (2009–2010) Roelofsen’s research interests include inquisitive semantics, formal semantics, questions in language, sign language linguistics, and computational models of meaning. He explores how linguistic meaning goes beyond truth conditions to include information-seeking functions, and how sign languages make grammatical structures visually accessible. His work integrates theoretical linguistics, logic, philosophy, and artificial intelligence. The most recent publications reflect a growing trend toward interdisciplinary research combining formal semantics with computational and experimental methods, particularly in sign language processing, annotation, and translation technology. Themes include polar questions in NGT, sign spotting, text-to-sign translation, and the semantics of attitude predicates across languages. NWO VICI Grant (2021, 1.5 million euro) ERC Starting Grant (2016, 1.4 million euro) NWO VIDI Grant (2015, 800,000 euro) NWO VENI Grant (2012, 250,000 euro) Roelofsen has advised 6 PhD students and 6 postdoctoral researchers, and supervised over 10 master’s and bachelor’s theses. He leads the SignLab Amsterdam initiative, which develops machine translation tools using animated avatars to translate Dutch and English into NGT. He is also the principal investigator of major projects such as 'Language Sciences for Social Good' and the NWO VICI project on questions in sign language. His editorial work includes serving as Associate Editor for the Journal of Semantics since 2018.
Dr. Fabienne Martin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication at Utrecht University. She is affiliated with the Institute for Language Sciences, focusing on the intersection of linguistics, philosophy, experimental psychology, and digital humanities. Her primary languages of investigation include French, Italian, Spanish, English, German, Mandarin Chinese, and Brazilian Portuguese. Linguistics: Semantics (syntax/semantics/pragmatics interfaces) Lexical Semantics and Morphosyntax First Language Acquisition Her research explores semantic phenomena across languages, particularly causation, aspect, and modality. Recent work includes studies on prepositional cycles in French, inchoative transitives, and agency effects in causation. She investigates how children acquire complex syntactic structures and how agentivity influences linguistic patterns. Her publications span topics like morphosyntactic development, anticausative constructions, and lexical aspect. She collaborates with researchers in theoretical and computational linguistics, often integrating experimental methods. Her teaching includes courses on linguistics and French language.
Dr. Luisa Meroni is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication within the Faculty of Humanities at Utrecht University. Her research focuses on language acquisition, processing and disorders, with specialization in Italian language studies. Her areas of expertise include Bilingualism , Psycholinguistics , First Language Acquisition , Sentence Processing , and Second Language Acquisition . Dr. Meroni's work primarily investigates how children and adults process linguistic information, with particular attention to semantic constraints, logical expressions, and ambiguities in language. Her research employs experimental methodologies including eye-tracking to examine real-time language processing. Recent work has expanded to include cross-linguistic studies, particularly examining Mandarin Chinese collectives and Dutch language structures. Her publications reveal a consistent focus on the interface between linguistic theory and experimental evidence in language acquisition. Among her notable scientific contributions are studies on scalar implicatures, epistemic modals, and the acquisition of modality in Dutch. She has received research funding including a European Science Foundation grant and a Marie Curie grant. Dr. Meroni is actively involved in the academic community through conference organization (including Going Romance 2018), editorial work, and numerous invited presentations at international conferences. She has supervised research projects and collaborated with scholars internationally, particularly in studies involving Mandarin Chinese and Dutch language structures.
Dr. Stefan Sudhoff is an Assistant Professor in German Linguistics at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication. He is affiliated with the Institute for Language Sciences and specializes in Language Structure: Variation and Change. His research focuses on information structure, specifically how the function of sentences within coherent discourse is reflected in grammatical form. His expertise spans multiple areas including syntax-semantics-pragmatics interfaces, language acquisition, multilingualism, corpus linguistics, morphosyntax, semantics, prosody, and pragmatics. His work examines how sentences vary in word order and intonation depending on linguistic and non-linguistic context, using both theoretical work and empirical methods including corpus studies and speech production/perception experiments. His publication record shows a significant evolution from early work on focus particles in German (culminating in his 2008 dissertation) to broader research on multilingualism, language education, and linguistic structure. Recent publications (2022-2024) demonstrate a strong focus on multilingualism in academic settings, particularly through the Lingua Receptiva approach, alongside continued contributions to language teaching materials for Dutch as a foreign language. Dr. Sudhoff has been actively involved in the Dynamics of Youth (DoY) research theme and Institutions for Open Societies (IOS) at Utrecht University, with research that bridges theoretical linguistics and practical applications in language education and multilingual university environments. His work combines theoretical linguistic research with practical applications in language education, as evidenced by his numerous language teaching materials alongside academic publications. He has made significant contributions to understanding how information structure operates across languages and in multilingual contexts, with implications for both linguistic theory and language education practice.
Anne Marijke Schel is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science , Utrecht University , specializing in Animal Behaviour and Cognition . Her research focuses on the evolutionary origins of human cognitive capacities, particularly language, through the comparative study of primate communication. University: Utrecht University School: Faculty of Science Department: Animal Behaviour and Cognition Academic Rank: Assistant Professor Email: a.m.schel@uu.nl , amschel@uu.nl Research Interests Dr. Schel investigates the intentionality and flexibility of primate vocal and gestural communication. Her work explores: Primate communication systems (e.g., alarm calls, food grunts) Evolution of language precursors in non-human primates Impact of socio-ecological and predation pressures on communication Compositional processing in wild chimpanzees Acoustic structure and social bonding in vocalizations Article Trends Her recent publications emphasize primate communication complexity, including: Vocal learning and referential specificity in chimpanzees Gestural intentionality in red-capped mangabeys Chorusing behavior and social bonds Geophagia and mineral acquisition in wild primates Teaching and Collaborations Dr. Schel teaches courses such as Cognition and Socio-ecology and Primate Social Behavior . She collaborates with researchers in the UK, Uganda, France, and Switzerland, working with both wild and captive primates.
Prof. Aoju Chen is a Professor of English Linguistics: Language Development at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities, Department of Languages, Literature and Communication. She holds a VICI Grant (2021-2026) investigating prosodic development in early childhood and leads the NWO-funded VIDI project (2011-2016) on prosodic focus marking in children. Her research focuses on prosody's role in first and second language acquisition, with interdisciplinary projects in the Dynamics of Youth strategic theme exploring prosody's link to children's sense of belonging. Her expertise spans Information Structure, Language Comprehension, and Phonology, with a strong emphasis on cross-linguistic studies. Key projects include prenatal prosody acquisition and robot-assisted language learning. She has published extensively on prosodic focus marking, intonation, and bilingualism, with over 50 peer-reviewed articles since 2004. Awards include prestigious NWO grants and contributions to Oxford Handbook of Language Prosody (2020). Her research integrates experimental methods with computational prosody analysis, addressing both theoretical and applied questions in developmental linguistics. She leads the English Linguistics: Language Development chair and collaborates with robotics teams to apply prosody insights in educational technology. Her work bridges phonetics, psychology, and education, emphasizing real-world applications for language learning and child development.
João Luiz Rebelo Moreira is an Assistant Professor at the University of Twente, specializing in Artificial Intelligence, Ontology Engineering, and IoT Interoperability. His research focuses on semantic technologies, explainable AI, FAIR data principles, and their applications in healthcare, smart industries, and enterprise systems. He contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health, smart industries, and sustainable consumption. His expertise includes ontology-driven systems, machine learning workflows, and data governance frameworks. Notable achievements include the FOIS 2018 best paper award for SAREF4health, an ontology for IoT-based healthcare systems. He collaborates internationally on projects like SEMIoTICS (semantic IoT interoperability) and OpenPREDICT (FAIR workflows in drug discovery). Research Interests: Ontology Engineering, Explainable AI, FAIR Data, IoT Standards, Enterprise Architecture Key Projects: OpenPREDICT, SEMIoTICS, Personal Health Trains Collaborations: Port of Valencia IoT EWS, VODAN Brazil Health Network Publications span over 40 works in conferences like EDOC, FOIS, and ER, focusing on semantic interoperability, machine learning explainability, and IoT standardization. He actively reviews for journals and organizes workshops on ontology-driven systems and FAIR data practices. His datasets include work on FAIR protocols (Zenodo) and healthcare data management studies. Current research trends emphasize integrating AI ethics, digital product passports, and data mesh architectures for decentralized systems.
Max Planck Institute for PsycholinguisticsNetherlands
Constantijn (Stan) van der Burght is an Assistant Professor in Experimental Linguistics at Leiden University’s Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL), specializing in the Psychology of Language. He holds a dual affiliation with the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen. His research focuses on prosody’s role in sentence processing and production, combining behavioral experiments and neuroimaging methods. Key interests include how prosodic cues (intonation, duration) guide syntactic and semantic expectations in listeners, and individual differences in prosody perception/production. Education: PhD in Psychology (2021), Leipzig University/Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences MSc Clinical Neuroscience (2014), University College London BSc Liberal Arts & Sciences (2012), University College Utrecht Research: Investigates neurolinguistic mechanisms of language processing, particularly prosody’s influence on syntax and semantics. Recent work emphasizes methodological rigor in cognitive neuroscience and brain regions involved in intonation-guided sentence comprehension (e.g., inferior frontal gyrus). Collaborations: Active collaboration with MPI for Psycholinguistics and institutions like Utrecht University and the Donders Institute. Research integrates EEG, fMRI, and behavioral paradigms.
Dr. Bart Hollebrandse is an Assistant Professor (tenured) in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Groningen, Faculty of Arts. His research focuses on Linguistics, Child Language, Syntax, Semantics, and Cognition, with a particular emphasis on recursion, quantification, and the relationship between language and Theory of Mind. He has held academic positions since 2000, including roles at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Smith College. Education: PhD in Linguistics (2000), University of Massachusetts Amherst MA in Linguistics (1993), Tilburg University Civil Engineering (1985), Delft University of Technology Research Interests: Hollebrandse investigates language acquisition, syntactic recursion, quantifier interpretation, and the role of language in cognitive development. He collaborates internationally, including with the University of Nantes and UMass Amherst. His work bridges experimental methods (e.g., eye-tracking) with formal linguistic theory. Key Awards: Drongo Award (2014) for outreach at Science Nemo Grants: CHLaSC (€1.5M), Alpha-stimulation (€75k), and multiple NWO/National Science Foundation projects Advising & Grants: Supervised over 50 theses, advised PhD committees globally, and led projects on recursion and quantification. His grants include CHLaSC (2006–2009) and collaborations with institutions like the University of Western Australia. Labs & Teams: Member of the Center for Language and Cognition Groningen and the School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience. Active in experimental linguistics, including iPad game-based studies on recursion and cognitive development.
Dr. Anna de Koster serves as an Academic Advisor in the Department of Physics and Applied Physics at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science and Engineering. Her role includes academic advising for students and program management within the Physics cluster. She holds a PhD and has conducted extensive research at the intersection of Linguistics, Cognitive Modelling, and Artificial Intelligence. Her research focuses on language acquisition and distributivity in sentence interpretation, particularly in children and adults. She employs experimental methods to investigate how cognitive processes like working memory influence semantic interpretations. Her work combines empirical studies with computational modeling, bridging linguistics, psychology, and computer science. Anna collaborates within the Physics cluster team, contributing to programme coordination and academic support alongside colleagues like Prof. Diederik Roest and MSc Bo Slot. She has been affiliated with the Optical Condensed Matter Physics group and has held past research roles in language acquisition. Her publications (2015-2022) explore distributivity in language processing, collective interpretations, and the cognitive mechanisms behind syntactic-semantic interactions. Though no scientific awards are noted, her interdisciplinary research reflects significant contributions to understanding language development and cognitive modeling.
Maria Aloni is an Associate Professor of Logic and Language at the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) and the Department of Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam. She holds dual affiliations with the Formal Semantics & Philosophical Logic (FSPL) research unit as her primary affiliation and the Epistemology & Philosophy of Science (EPS) unit as her secondary affiliation. Her research bridges formal semantics, philosophical logic, and the philosophy of language, with particular expertise in quantification, modality, and the interpretation of indefinite expressions. She currently leads the N∅thing is Logical (NihiL) project, which investigates cognitive tendencies to neglect empty representations and their effects on reasoning and interpretation. Aloni completed her PhD at the University of Amsterdam in 2001 with the thesis "Quantification under Conceptual Covers," which won the prestigious E. W. Beth Dissertation Prize in 2002. Her academic trajectory includes significant research funding: an NWO Veni grant (2004-2007) for "Semantic Structure and Dynamics in Natural Language Interpretation," an NWO Vidi grant (2007-2012) as Principal Investigator for "Indefinites and beyond. Evolutionary pragmatics and typological semantics," and the current NWO Open Competition Grant (since 2023) for the NihiL project. Her research spans formal semantics and pragmatics, with specific expertise in quantification, modals, propositional attitudes, reference, indefinites, disjunction, indexicals, questions, imperatives, and various semantic phenomena including free choice, exhaustification, and presupposition. She employs diverse methodologies including formal modeling, corpus analysis, and experimental approaches to investigate how linguistic meaning is constructed and interpreted across different contexts and languages. Aloni's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the "neglect-zero" hypothesis, examining how cognitive tendencies to ignore empty representations affect interpretation of quantifiers, disjunction, and free choice phenomena. Her work also explores cross-linguistic and diachronic dimensions of indefinites, investigating how pragmatic inferences become conventionalized in language through historical processes. Scientific awards: E. W. Beth Dissertation Prize (2002) for "Quantification under Conceptual Covers" As an educator, Aloni coordinates the MoL Graduation Trajectory for Master of Logic students and teaches courses including "Introduction to Logic" and specialized seminars on semantics and philosophy. She has supervised numerous Master's theses in the Logic program, with recent students exploring topics related to free choice phenomena, perspective shifts, and linguistic semantics. Her research is supported by significant grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and previously from the European Union. Aloni is a key member of the Formal Semantics & Philosophical Logic research unit at ILLC and collaborates extensively with international researchers. Her current NihiL project brings together interdisciplinary perspectives from linguistics, philosophy, and cognitive science to investigate the cognitive foundations of logical reasoning and its divergence from everyday reasoning patterns.
Harm Brouwer is an Associate Professor at Tilburg University's School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, within the Department of Cognitive Science and AI. His research focuses on neurocomputational modeling of language comprehension, particularly examining electrophysiological responses such as the N400 and P600 potentials. He explores how these neural markers reflect lexical retrieval and syntactic integration processes during reading and listening. Key research themes include the interplay between surprisal-based expectation and neural correlates of language processing, with applications in computational psycholinguistics and diagnostic tools for neuropsychiatric disorders. His work integrates computational models with neurophysiological data to bridge gaps between theoretical linguistics and cognitive neuroscience. Brouwer has contributed to projects like the 'Normative Range of P600 Morphology' (2025–2027), aimed at developing diagnostic tools for mental health through electrophysiological biomarkers. He has been recognized with the Robert J. Glushko Prize (2015) for his dissertation on cognitive science. His publications span over 15 years, emphasizing the biphasic nature of N400-P600 interactions, computational semantics, and the role of neural networks in linguistic processing. His work often bridges formal semantics with empirical neuroscience, advancing understanding of how language is processed in the brain.
Dr. Iris Mulders is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, and a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Language Sciences. Her work focuses on Eye movement monitoring Sentence processing mechanisms Psycholinguistics Interfaces between syntax, semantics, and pragmatics R programming for statistical analysis . Research Interests: Mulders specializes in experimental linguistics, particularly using eye-tracking to study language acquisition, processing, and disorders. Key subfields include Dutch posture verbs (functional vs. lexical analysis), prosodic focus processing, referential communication, and digital literacy in humanities education. Article Trends: Recent publications analyze: AI's role in language research (ChatGPT as informant) Eye-tracking methodology for reading patterns Focus marking in native/non-native English Stress processing in sentence comprehension Developmental differences in verb processing Interface phenomena across syntax/semantics/pragmatics Lab Involvement: She actively demonstrates and trains in eye-tracking lab facilities, contributing to experimental methods in language acquisition research through tutorials at EMLAR workshops and international conferences.
