Find Academic Supervisors

Jennifer CulbertsonView profile

Associate Professor

• Experimental linguistics
• Syntax
• Morphology
• +4 more

Jennifer Culbertson is an Associate Professor at the University of Edinburgh, where she has been a faculty member since 2014 when she took up a Chancellor's Fellowship, later being promoted to Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in 2018. She is a founding member of the Centre for Language Evolution at Edinburgh and maintains an active research program in experimental linguistics and cognitive science. Dr. Culbertson obtained her PhD in Cognitive Science from Johns Hopkins University in 2010, with her dissertation receiving the Robert J. Glushko Prize for Outstanding Dissertations in Cognitive Science in 2011. Her primary research investigates how languages are shaped by learning and use, with particular focus on grammatical structures (like word order) and morphological categories (gender and person systems). She employs experimental and computational methods to explore how typological universals arise from properties of the human cognitive system. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics, cognitive science, and language evolution, examining the cognitive constraints that influence linguistic patterns across diverse languages and learning contexts. She frequently uses artificial language learning paradigms to isolate specific cognitive mechanisms underlying language structure. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on cognitive biases in linguistic structure, particularly in word order and morphological systems. Her research increasingly incorporates cross-population studies (including work with autistic learners) and developmental perspectives to understand how language patterns emerge across different populations and throughout the lifespan. She examines how simplicity principles, communicative efficiency, and statistical learning shape linguistic structure. Dr. Culbertson's scientific contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards: Robert J. Glushko Prize for Outstanding Dissertations in Cognitive Science (2011) ERC Starting Grant Young Academy of Europe membership (2019) Her research has been supported by over €2 million in funding from the ESRC and ERC. While specific advisees aren't mentioned in the provided text, her active publication record with numerous co-authors suggests she mentors graduate students and early-career researchers. Her work has significant implications for understanding language universals, language acquisition, and the cognitive foundations of linguistic structure. As a founding member of the Centre for Language Evolution at Edinburgh, Dr. Culbertson collaborates with an interdisciplinary team investigating the biological, cognitive, and cultural foundations of human language. Her research often intersects with psychology, cognitive science, and computational linguistics, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of language as both a cognitive and social phenomenon.

Edna AndrewsView profile

Professor

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Linguistics
• Semiotics
• +7 more

Edna Andrews is the Nancy & Jeffrey Marcus Distinguished Professor of Slavic and Eurasian Studies and Professor of Linguistics and Cultural Anthropology at Duke University. She serves as Director of the Program in Linguistics, Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Linguistics Program, and Director of FOCUS, Duke's signature first-year seminar program. Her interdisciplinary work bridges Slavic studies, linguistics, anthropology, and cognitive neuroscience. Dr. Andrews earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University at Bloomington in 1984 and holds an honorary doctorate from St. Petersburg State University (Russia). Her academic journey has evolved from traditional Slavic linguistics to pioneering work at the intersection of language and brain sciences, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship. Professor Andrews' research focuses on cognitive neuroscience and multilingualism, semiotics (particularly Peircean and Lotmanian theories), and the neural basis of language processing. Her work examines how the brain processes multiple languages, the relationship between music and language cognition, and the semiotic foundations of linguistic structures. She has pioneered longitudinal fMRI studies of second language acquisition, challenging traditional linguistic models that often overlook the multilingual reality of most humans. Her research program has produced significant insights into how multilingualism affects brain structure and function, with implications for education, cognitive aging, and language rehabilitation. Andrews' work uniquely integrates theoretical linguistics with empirical neuroscience, creating a more comprehensive understanding of human language as situated within cultural and biological contexts. University Scholar/Teacher Award (2013) Richard Lublin Teaching Award Through her leadership of the Slavic & Eurasian Language Resource Center and numerous federally-funded grants from the U.S. Department of Education, Professor Andrews has secured significant research funding to advance understanding of language acquisition and multilingualism. Her collaborative approach brings together linguists, neuroscientists, anthropologists, and educators to tackle complex questions about language and the brain. Professor Andrews leads research teams through the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and has developed innovative programs like Duke Intense Global (DIG), which combines intensive language training with neuroscience research. Her work with the Bass Connections in Brain & Society Research Team fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among students and faculty across multiple departments.

• Corpus Linguistics
• Cognitive Linguistics
• Construction Grammar
• +7 more

Dr. Anatol Stefanowitsch is a Professor at the Institute of English Philology, Freie Universität Berlin. His work bridges corpus linguistics, cognitive linguistics, and sociolinguistic analysis, with a focus on construction grammar and language's role in societal discourse. He contributes to debates on language policy, gender marking, and digital communication, particularly through public commentary and academic publications. Linguistics (structure of modern English) Corpus Linguistics Cognitive Linguistics Construction Grammar Language Variation and Change Sociolinguistics Recent publications emphasize collocational patterns, metaphor interpretation, and motion event encoding. His research often integrates empirical methodologies with theoretical insights, challenging traditional grammatical paradigms. Key areas include the cognitive basis of language structures and their application to sociopolitical contexts.

• Information Visualization
• Data Visualization
• Human-Computer Interaction
• +4 more

Dr. Stuart Marshall serves as Associate Dean of Academic Development in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Victoria University of Wellington - Te Herenga Waka, where he also holds the academic rank of Senior Lecturer. Previously, he served as Head of School for the School of Engineering and Computer Science from 2015-2021 after joining the institution as a Lecturer in 2003. His academic journey includes completing his BSc, MSc, and PhD in Computer Science at Victoria University of Wellington, with his doctoral research focusing on software reuse. Marshall's research interests center on information and data visualization, particularly exploring how visualization can function as collaborative tools in team environments rather than single-user applications. He also investigates explainable AI and mobile user interface design with emphasis on promoting healthy device usage patterns. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical applications in education and environmental analysis. Analysis of his publication record reveals a consistent focus on visualization techniques, with recent work shifting toward immersive analytics and virtual reality applications for complex data analysis, particularly in ecosystem services. Earlier publications concentrated on mobile learning applications grounded in transactional distance theory, software visualization for large codebases, and graph layout algorithms. Marshall has supervised six PhD students and eight Masters students to completion, with current doctoral supervision spanning immersive environments for reading assistance, medical diagnosis interfaces, and cardiac procedure simulation. His grant portfolio includes multiple ACM ISS 2022 projects with industry partners including Sensor Holdings Limited, Niantic, Autodesk, and Northeastern University, along with an Australian Research Council grant for digital games preservation. Teaching responsibilities encompass foundational programming, safety-critical systems, human-computer interaction, and data visualization across undergraduate and graduate courses. He teaches subjects including SWEN326 (Safety-Critical Systems), CGRA151 (Introduction to Computer Graphics and Games), and DATA301 (Data Science in Practice), with teaching assignments scheduled through 2026.

Larry M. HymanView profile

Professor

• Phonological Theory
• Tone Systems
• African Linguistics
• +1 more

Larry M. Hyman is Distinguished Professor of Linguistics at University of California, Berkeley, specializing in phonological theory and African language studies. His research analyzes tone systems, Bantu morphophonology, and Niger-Congo historical linguistics. Research focuses on tonal patterns in Bantu languages, morphotactic structures, and historical development of African tone systems. Recent work examines Tiania tonology, Luganda noun phrase prosody, and Runyankore verb morphology. Publications demonstrate methodological rigor in phonological analysis and language documentation, contributing to theoretical understanding of tone, prosody, and morphological complexity in understudied languages. Editorial contributions include honor volumes and theoretical studies advancing autosegmental phonology and morphological analysis.

David EmbickView profile

Professor

• Syntactic Theory
• Morphological Theory
• Distributed Morphology
• +7 more

David Embick is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997 and has established himself as a leading scholar in theoretical and experimental linguistics. Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1997 Professor Embick's research spans both theoretical and experimental linguistics, with a focus on syntactic theory, morphological theory (particularly Distributed Morphology), and the syntax/morphology interface. His work explores syntax and phonological form, argument structure, lexical knowledge, and language processing in the brain. He has developed significant research in language and autism using MEG neuroimaging techniques. His theoretical contributions include the Localist approach to morphology and phonology, which contrasts with Globalist theories like Optimality Theory. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward integrating theoretical linguistics with experimental psycholinguistics, particularly in morphological processing and spoken word recognition. Embick's work bridges theoretical syntax and morphology with cognitive neuroscience, examining how linguistic structures are represented and processed in the brain. His research on autism spectrum disorders has produced important insights into auditory processing differences in this population. Professor Embick leads the XMorph (Experimental Morphology) Lab at Penn, which investigates lexical and morphological representation and processing. The lab works closely with Meredith Tamminga's Language Variation and Cognition Lab and collaborates with Tim Roberts at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on autism spectrum disorder research. His lab has produced significant work on morphological priming, semantic transparency effects, and the representation of inflectional morphology in the mental lexicon. Embick has advised several doctoral students including Ava Creemers (2020), Robert J. Wilder (2018), and Amy Goodwin Davies (2018), whose dissertation topics focused on morphological processing, speech perception, and lexical representation respectively. His collaborative research spans multiple institutions and disciplines, connecting theoretical linguistics with cognitive neuroscience and clinical applications.

Suzanne FlynnView profile

Professor

• Second Language Acquisition
• Linguistics
• Syntax
• +4 more

Suzanne Flynn is a Professor of Foreign Languages and Linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy. Her research focuses on Second Language Acquisition (SLA), Syntax, Semantics, and the intersection of Universal Grammar with language learning mechanisms. She has contributed significantly to theories such as the Cumulative-Enhancement Model for multilingualism and the Parameter-Setting Model in SLA. Education: Not explicitly mentioned, but her academic roles and publications suggest advanced degrees in Linguistics. Affiliations: MIT Linguistics and Philosophy Department, involvement in academic societies and conferences. Her work explores syntactic and semantic factors in SLA, including free relative clauses, third language acquisition, and the role of cognitive constraints in language learning. Key contributions include co-editing volumes on SLA theories and co-authoring foundational texts like Theoretical Second Language Acquisition (2006). She has also published extensively in journals such as Behavior and Brain Sciences and International Journal of Multilingualism . Research Themes: Universal Grammar, syntactic parameters, comparative language acquisition (children vs. adults). Though no specific awards are listed, her impactful publications and academic leadership reflect scholarly recognition. Her advising and grants are not detailed here, but she has supervised collaborative projects with colleagues like B. Lust and G. Martohardjono. She is involved in the MIT Linguistics community, contributing to pedagogical innovation and theoretical discourse in language studies.

• Spanish Grammar
• Language Variation
• Morphosyntax
• +7 more

Antonio Fábregas (b. 1978) is a Professor at the Department of Language and Literature, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), specializing in Spanish grammar, variation, morphosyntax, comparative linguistics, and semantics. He has authored 8 monographs and over 150 articles/book chapters. Research : Focuses on syntax, semantics, phonology, and their interactions in word formation. Explores Spanish language variation, sociolinguistic contact phenomena, and theoretical morphology. Teaching : Engaged in linguistics education at NTNU (office: Bygg 4 Dragvoll, Trondheim). Publications : Recent work includes analyses of Spanish prefixation, argument structure, elative compounds, and negation-participle constructions. Key contributions to morphological theory and Romance language comparison.

Marie TåqvistView profile

Senior Lecturer

• English Linguistics
• Second Language Acquisition
• Discourse Analysis
• +3 more

Marie Tåqvist is a Senior Lecturer in English Linguistics at Karlstad University, Sweden. She is an active member of the Research Group for Culture Studies (KuFo), one of the university's prioritized research groups. Her work focuses on discourse-organizing nouns in second language (L2) writing, advanced ESL learners' language use, and translation studies. Affiliations: Karlstad University, Research Group for Culture Studies (KuFo) Education: Completed her doctoral dissertation at Karlstad University in 2016, titled "Another thing": Discourse-organising nouns in advanced learner English . Research interests include analyzing how learners use discourse-organising nouns to structure arguments, the syntactic and semantic patterns of L2 writing, and the role of translation in academic discourse. Her recent work emphasizes pre-modification strategies in academic essays and lexical choices in ESL contexts. Publications span monographs, peer-reviewed articles, and edited volumes, reflecting her expertise in both theoretical linguistics and applied language education. She has co-edited works on translation ethics and honor studies. Teaching includes courses on English grammar, phonology, history of the English language, and teaching methodology. While no formal advising roles are noted, her research frequently engages with pedagogical applications for advanced learners. Labs/Teams: Collaborates within the KuFo research group, contributing to interdisciplinary projects in culture studies and linguistic analysis.

Sebastian BalmesView profile

Lecturer

• Premodern Japanese Literature
• Religious and Cultural History of Japan
• Narratology
• +1 more

Sebastian Balmes is a Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer in Japanese Studies at the Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, University of Zurich. Since 2023, he has been a postdoctoral researcher in the SNSF project “Time and Emotion in Medieval Japanese Literature,” focusing on premodern Japanese literary analysis, narratology, and cultural history. Doctorate in Japanese Studies (LMU Munich, 2019) Magister Artium (Japanese Studies, LMU Munich, 2008–2013) Research in Japan (Waseda University, 2010–2011) His research integrates narratological theory with historical linguistics to explore premodern Japanese literature, particularly Heian and medieval war tales (gunki monogatari). Key themes include temporality, Buddhist discourse on literature, and text-image relationships in handscrolls. He has pioneered German-language research on Japanese narrative traditions. Recent publications analyze time, emotion, and narrative structure in Japanese texts, with a monograph on narratology and premodern literature (2022). His work bridges Japanese cultural history and modern theoretical frameworks. Dissertation Prize of the Faculty for the Study of Culture (2019) LMU Completion Grant (2019) LMU Research Prize for Gifted Students (2013) Doctoral scholarship (German Academic Foundation, 2015–2019) DAAD scholarship (2010–2011) Balmes has edited volumes on premodern Japanese literature and contributed to exhibition catalogs, focusing on narrative art and cultural transmission. His advising and mentoring roles at LMU Munich (2014–2020) and teaching experience (2013–2015) highlight his dedication to education.

Steve DuckView profile

Professor

• Personal Relationships
• Communication Studies
• Rhetoric
• +5 more

Steve Duck is a Professor in the Department of Rhetoric at the University of Iowa. He previously served as Department Chair (2010-2022), Chair of the Faculty Assembly (2020-2021), and held roles on University College and CLAS Executive Committees. His research focuses on personal relationships and their rhetorical dimensions in everyday interactions, including workplace dynamics, dissolution processes, and relational maintenance. He edited the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships for 15 years and authored/edited over 55 books. Key scholarly contributions include exploring relational communication, workplace relationship appropriateness, and the evolution of personal relationships research. Notable works include Rethinking Relationships through Rhetoric (2023) and textbooks like Communication in Everyday Life (2021). His research integrates rhetoric with interpersonal processes, examining intimacy, dissolution models, and public speaking pedagogy. Awarded the Doug Trank Memorial Award, Duck’s work emphasizes interdisciplinary connections between rhetoric, psychology, and social structures. He advises graduate programs and has shaped university governance through leadership roles. Ongoing interests include historical analyses of relational studies and future directions in communication theory.

Gila Safran NavehView profile

Professor

• Holocaust Studies
• Genocide Studies
• Critical Theory
• +7 more

Professor Gila Safran Naveh holds the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati Chair in Judaic Studies and serves as Department Head at the University of Cincinnati. She specializes in Holocaust Studies, Genocide Studies, Critical Theory, and Gender and Judaism, with interdisciplinary expertise in Semiotics and Linguistics. Her academic trajectory includes roles from Visiting Assistant Professor (1978-1986) to full Professor (1999–present). Education: Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, University of California San Diego, 1981 Ph.D.C. in Linguistics and Comparative Literature, UC San Diego, 1979 B.A. in Comparative Literature & Near Eastern Studies, Hebrew University, 1969 Multiple additional degrees from San Diego State University (1973–1974) Her research bridges textual analysis with cultural and psychological dimensions, particularly focusing on Holocaust survivors’ narratives, semiotics, and gender dynamics. Key works include Biblical Parables and Their Modern Recreations (2000) and Unpacking the Heart with Words (in progress). She has organized major conferences, including the Semiotic Society of America meetings in 1988 and 2010, and founded the Center for Jewish Cultures and Ideas. Awards include the George C. Barbour Award (2006) and Edith Alexander Award (2000) for teaching excellence. Awards: Fellow of the Academy for Teaching and Learning (2010) Skirball Fellowship (1997) Multiple teaching awards (1996–2006) Her courses span Holocaust literature, Jewish humor, and film studies, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary pedagogy. She advises on scholarly journals and serves on boards for the Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute and Rockwern Academy.

Ramon Ferrer CanchoView profile

Associate Professor

• Quantitative Linguistics
• Information Theory
• Network Theory
• +3 more

Ramon Ferrer Cancho is an Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia's Department of Computer Science, affiliated with the Barcelona School of Informatics and the LQMC research group (Quantitative, Mathematical, and Computational Linguistics). His work focuses on quantitative linguistics, information theory, and network theory, with applications in language structure, evolution, and animal communication. Education: Doctor in Computer Science, Advanced Studies Diploma in Applied Physics and Simulation. Research Interests: Dependency syntax, linguistic laws (Zipf's law, Menzerath-Altmann law), computational models of language, and cross-disciplinary studies in biology and cognitive science. He leads projects on language optimization, complexity, and data analysis. Recent work includes studies on syntactic dependency distances, ape gesture patterns, and bottlenose dolphin communication parallels. His research bridges computer science, linguistics, and biology, emphasizing universal principles in communication systems. Notable contributions include theoretical frameworks for dependency distance minimization, optimization models of language structure, and empirical analyses of primate vocal sequences.

• Phonology
• Sound change
• Language change
• +4 more

Sverre Stausland Johnsen is Professor of General Linguistics and Scandinavian Linguistics in the Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Oslo. His academic work focuses on language change within the fields of phonology, historical linguistics, and sociolinguistics, with particular emphasis on Norwegian language history and Scandinavian languages. Johnsen's research interests span phonology, sound change, language change, historical linguistics, and sociolinguistics. His work often examines how linguistic structures evolve over time, with special attention to Norwegian orthographic reforms, phonological patterns in Scandinavian languages, and the historical development of linguistic features. He has made significant contributions to understanding vowel harmony, retroflexion in Norwegian, and the historical development of grammatical structures in Old Norse and related languages. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on Norwegian language history, orthography reforms, and phonological patterns. The 2021-2025 publications show particular emphasis on Somali tonal systems, Norwegian word formation, stress patterns in loanwords, and historical aspects of Norwegian orthography, especially regarding the 1901 spelling reform. His work combines theoretical linguistic frameworks with detailed historical analysis of Scandinavian languages. Johnsen is actively involved in two research groups: Language Change and Phonology. His ongoing projects include studies on the spread of uvular /r/ in Norway, the historical development of grammatical structures, and the relationship between phonetic perception and phonological change. His research often bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications in understanding language evolution and variation.

David A. PetersonView profile

Associate Professor

• Linguistics
• Morphosyntactic Typology
• Comparative Tibeto-Burman
• +2 more

David A. Peterson is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at Dartmouth College , specializing in morphosyntactic typology , comparative Tibeto-Burman , and language documentation . His academic work bridges theoretical and descriptive linguistics. Education : B.A. from University of Alaska at Fairbanks, M.A. and Ph.D. from University of California at Berkeley His research focuses on the structural analysis of Kuki-Chin languages within the Tibeto-Burman family, emphasizing historical contingency, participant marking, and endangered language preservation. He teaches foundational courses in linguistics, including LING 1 (Introductory Linguistics), LING 24 (Discourse Analysis), LING 25 (Typology), and LING 26 (Morphology). Recent publications highlight his expertise in Tibeto-Burman subgrouping, typological patterns, and endangered language documentation. Current works in progress include comparative grammar studies of Kuki-Chin languages and reference grammars for Khumi, Mru, and Rengmitca.