Sharese King is the Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago, where she has taught since 2018. She earned her Ph.D. and Master's in Linguistics from Stanford University, focusing on language variation across African American communities. Her research bridges sociolinguistics, critical race theory, and phonetics to examine how African American speech is constructed, racialized, and socially evaluated. Education: Ph.D., Linguistics, Stanford University (2018) M.A., Linguistics, Stanford University Research Interests: Sociolinguistics Language Variation & Change African American Language Critical Race Theory Phonetic and experimental analysis Dialect and judicial systems Notable Contributions: Interdisciplinary studies on raciolinguistics and courtroom bias Analysis of /s/ articulation in intersectional contexts Reconceptualization of AAVE as AAL to emphasize linguistic diversity Fieldwork in Bakersfield, Rochester, and Chicago Publications in American Speech , Journal of Sociolinguistics , Language , and Nature Scientific Awards: Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship Neubauer Family Assistant Professorship Labs & Projects: Co-founder of the Chicagoland Language Project
Shrikanth (Shri) Narayanan is a University Professor and holder of the Niki and Max Nikias Chair in Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC), serving as the inaugural Vice President for Presidential Initiatives. He leads the Signal Analysis and Interpretation Lab (SAIL) and holds joint appointments in Computer Science, Linguistics, Psychology, Neuroscience, Pediatrics, and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. His research focuses on speech and audio processing, behavioral signal processing, and real-time MRI of speech production, with applications in healthcare, education, and technology. Education: B.E. in Electrical Engineering from College of Engineering, Guindy (Chennai, India, 1988); M.S., Engineer, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA (1990, 1992, 1995). Research interests span computational linguistics, machine learning, and multimodal human behavior analysis. He pioneered technologies for speech biomarkers in mental health, real-time MRI of speech production, and wearable sensor systems for longitudinal health studies. His work in speech emotion recognition, forensic interviews, and clinical applications has been recognized through over 40 awards, including the IEEE Flanagan Award and ISCA Medal. He has published extensively in journals like Proceedings of the IEEE , Journal of the Acoustical Society of America , and PLOS One . Key Grants: NSF CAREER, Okawa Research, IBM Faculty, Google/Amazon awards. Labs/Teams: Signal Analysis & Interpretation Lab (SAIL), USC Information Sciences Institute (ISI), Google Visiting Faculty Researcher.
Alexandra Horowitz is a Senior Research Fellow and Adjunct Associate Professor at Barnard College. She has been teaching since 2004, specializing in dog cognition and olfactory research. Her academic roles span the Departments of English and Psychology, reflecting her interdisciplinary focus on animal behavior and human-animal interactions. Education: M.S. and Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from UC San Diego; B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. Research interests include naturalistic observations of dog social play, testing anthropomorphic assumptions, and characterizing canine olfactory abilities. She has authored influential books like Inside of a Dog and Being a Dog , exploring how dogs perceive the world. Her work frequently appears in top journals and media outlets, including the New York Times and TED-Ed. Recent articles highlight studies on dog navigation, play behavior, and olfactory perception. She has been recognized as among the Top 2% of Cited Authors globally. Her presentations and lectures span academic conferences, museums, and public forums, emphasizing science communication.
Miriam van Mersbergen, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Memphis. She directs the Voice, Emotion, and Cognition Laboratory (VECL) and serves as an affiliate of the Institute for Intelligent Systems. Her clinical expertise focuses on performing voice users. University of Memphis Institute for Intelligent Systems Her research examines how emotional and cognitive factors influence vocalization and communication. Key projects include establishing vocal measures of affect modulation, studying individual differences in responses to vocal mistakes, and developing clinical tools like measures of voice effort for use in voice clinics. She employs psychometric, behavioral, and psychophysiological methods to analyze the interplay between inner experiences and vocal expression. Dr. van Mersbergen’s academic journey began with studies in music and communication arts at Calvin College, followed by speech-language pathology and vocology at the University of Iowa and doctoral work in speech-language hearing sciences and psychology at the University of Minnesota.
Andrés Buxó-Lugo serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University at Buffalo, where he directs the Language Processing and Computation Lab. His research investigates the cognitive mechanisms underlying language production, comprehension, and acquisition with a specialized focus on speech prosody—the rhythm, intonation, and intensity patterns in speech—and their role in human communication. His primary research interests include psycholinguistics, cognitive psychology, speech prosody, language production, language comprehension, language acquisition, and computational linguistics. He examines how listeners integrate diverse linguistic cues during speech processing, how individuals learn unfamiliar constructions like non-native pronunciations or novel prosodic patterns, and the cognitive basis of durational changes in speech. His work also explores how communicative context shapes prosodic production and how higher-level linguistic information aids prosodic structure parsing. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2019-2025) reveals consistent interdisciplinary work bridging cognitive science, linguistics, and computational modeling. Key trends include phonological representation studies, speech planning mechanisms, intonation adaptation across talkers, lexical representation structures, and the integration of input expectations in syntactic parsing. His research demonstrates significant methodological diversity, incorporating experimental paradigms, computational modeling, and acoustic analysis to unravel language processing complexities. As director of the Language Processing and Computation Lab at the University at Buffalo, Buxó-Lugo leads research initiatives focused on developing computational models of language processing while investigating the cognitive foundations of speech and prosody through empirical experimentation and theoretical innovation.
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States
Pasquale Bottalico serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science at the University of Illinois, with dual appointments as Associate Professor at the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Affiliate Faculty in the School of Music. His unique interdisciplinary profile bridges engineering, music performance, and speech science, reflecting his dual academic training and professional artistry. His educational foundation includes: Bachelor's in Telecommunications Engineering from Univeristà Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Italy Concurrent Opera Singing degree from F. Cilea Music Academy, Reggio Calabria Master's in Telecommunications Engineering from Politecnico di Torino, Italy Ph.D. in Metrology specializing in acoustics measurement uncertainty and classroom acoustics Dr. Bottalico's research centers on vocal load quantification and professional voice techniques , with significant contributions to understanding vocal fatigue in teachers and singers. His work spans Speech Intelligibility in educational environments, Room Acoustics for performance and learning spaces, and Musical Acoustics of historical vocal styles. A distinctive thread throughout his research examines how acoustic conditions modulate voice production and perception, increasingly incorporating virtual reality and bone conduction technologies for innovative assessment and intervention approaches. His Colombian vocal health study demonstrates cross-cultural applications of his work. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) The impact of noise and dysphonia on children's speech processing in educational settings, using multimodal assessment including EEG; (2) Virtual reality applications for voice production research and therapeutic intervention; (3) Cross-cultural validation of vocal fatigue metrics and development of biofeedback systems. His work consistently bridges engineering precision with clinical applicability, particularly for professional voice users in challenging acoustic environments. No scientific awards were documented in the available information. While specific advising relationships aren't detailed, his research collaborations span international institutions including Colombian and Italian universities, suggesting graduate mentorship in interdisciplinary projects. No grant information was provided, though his systematic reviews and cross-cultural studies imply externally funded research activities. Though no dedicated laboratory is specified, his virtual reality voice studies and acoustic parameter assessments suggest affiliations with audio engineering facilities and voice clinics, likely through the Speech and Hearing Science department's research infrastructure.
Zainab Hermes is an Associate Instructional Professor in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago, where she has taught since 2018. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2018), earned through experimental research combining phonetics and neuroscience methodologies. Education PhD in Linguistics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2018) Research Interests Her work focuses on experimental linguistics, particularly the articulation of Arabic dialects (Cairene, Lebanese, Jordanian, Saudi). Key projects involve: MRI studies of vocal tract configurations for back consonants MEG investigations of neurological representations during Arabic diglossic code-switching Self-paced reading studies on L2 acquisition of Arabic grammatical gender Publications & Methodologies Her research employs advanced imaging techniques (rt-MRI, EMA) and neurolinguistic methods (MEG) to analyze speech production and processing. Her teaching includes courses on Arabic linguistics, dialectology, and academic reading. Academic Contributions She collaborates on interdisciplinary studies bridging phonetics, neuroscience, and language acquisition frameworks.
Georgia Zellou is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California, Davis, where she co-directs the Phonetics Lab and conducts award-winning research at the intersection of phonetics, speech perception, and human-AI interaction. Her work investigates how phonetic detail is cognitively represented through variations in speech production, with significant contributions to understanding speech alignment with voice assistants, face-masked speech intelligibility, and cross-linguistic perception of synthetic voices. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Colorado at Boulder (2012), an M.A. in Linguistics from Stony Brook University (2007), and a B.A. in Linguistics & Anthropology from the University of Florida (2005, Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa). Ph.D., Linguistics, University of Colorado at Boulder (2012) M.A., Linguistics, Stony Brook University (2007) B.A., Linguistics & Anthropology, University of Florida (2005) Professor Zellou's research program centers on laboratory phonology approaches to real-world communication challenges, examining how acoustic-phonetic details influence speech perception across contexts. Her studies span speech alignment with voice-AI systems (e.g., Amazon Alexa), sociophonetic variation in bilingual speech, and the cognitive mechanisms underlying perceptual compensation for coarticulation. She employs experimental methods including eye-tracking, acoustic analysis, and perceptual testing to uncover how phonetic variation functions pragmatically in human communication and human-machine interaction. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) human-AI voice interaction dynamics, including prosodic alignment and social evaluation of TTS voices; (2) intelligibility optimization in challenging contexts (face masks, clear speech for diverse listeners); and (3) cross-linguistic phonetic variation in vowelless words and consonant clusters. These works consistently bridge theoretical phonology with applied speech technology, demonstrating how fine-grained phonetic detail influences communication effectiveness in both human-human and human-machine contexts. Her scientific recognition includes: Fulbright Scholar (2022) for research in France Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring (2019) Fellow of the Linguistic Society of America (2020) Amazon Faculty Research Award (2019) for Alexa-related speech studies Dean’s Fellow designation at UC Davis (2020-2023) Professor Zellou maintains an active mentoring practice recognized with the Chancellor’s Award, supervising undergraduate researchers in the Phonetics Lab while teaching core linguistics courses from introductory to advanced graduate levels. Her research program is supported by competitive grants including NSF funding, Amazon Research Awards, and UC Davis internal grants (Hellman Foundation, ISS Junior Faculty Grant), reflecting the translational value of her work for speech technology development. She has co-directed major initiatives including the 2019 LSA Linguistic Institute. The Phonetics Lab she co-leads serves as a hub for experimental phonetics research, focusing on speech production-perception relationships through projects investigating vocal accommodation to voice assistants, nasal coarticulation dynamics, and cross-linguistic prosody. Current collaborations with industry partners aim to implement human speech adaptation principles into voice assistant design to enhance naturalness and engagement.
Susan Hughes, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Evolutionary Studies Program at Albright College. She holds a B.S. in Psychobiology from Binghamton University and a Ph.D. in Biopsychology from the University at Albany, SUNY. Her work bridges evolutionary psychology, biopsychology, and the study of human mating strategies. She explores how voice characteristics convey social, biological, and behavioral information, including attractiveness, mate selection, and sexual behavior. Her research also examines facial/body measures in attraction, female preferences for resources, and sexual orientation from an evolutionary lens. Education: B.S. Psychobiology, Binghamton University, SUNY Ph.D. Biopsychology, University at Albany, SUNY Research Interests: Evolutionary Psychology: Human mating strategies, sex differences, and ancestral adaptations Voice Analysis: Vocal attractiveness, manipulation, and its role in social perception Mating/Sexual Behaviors: Post-coital behaviors, jealousy, and physical markers of fitness Labs/Teams: Directs the Evolutionary Studies Program, fostering interdisciplinary research on evolutionary principles. Collaborates with colleagues on studies of vocal perception and behavioral ecology. Grants/Awards: None explicitly listed. Teaching: Teaches courses including Evolutionary Psychology, Human Sexuality, and Psychobiology. Engages students in research labs and fieldwork.
Saint Francis Medical Center College of NursingUnited States
Ximena E. Bernal is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University's College of Science, where she leads the Bernal Lab. Her research focuses on animal communication systems in anurans (frogs and toads) and their interactions with eavesdropping enemies and anthropogenic environmental changes. Her lab integrates behavioral and sensory ecology to investigate how natural enemies like frog-biting midges and frog-eating bats shape signal evolution in vocal anurans. Research examines the dual pressures of predation and sexual selection, alongside human impacts including traffic noise and habitat fragmentation on threatened amphibian populations. The work combines neuroethological mechanisms with functional analyses of communication networks. Recent publications demonstrate how defensive strategies in male túngara frogs alter attractiveness to both mates and predators, revealing receiver-dependent trade-offs in signal evolution. This research highlights the vulnerability of communication systems to environmental disruption and the ecological consequences of signal interference. Dr. Bernal actively promotes inclusive excellence in STEM through mentoring and program development. She supports undergraduate and graduate education initiatives aimed at broadening participation of underrepresented groups in science. The Bernal Lab operates as a collaborative unit within Purdue University and maintains a research associate affiliation with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Field and laboratory studies focus on anuran communication networks in natural contexts, emphasizing the integration of mechanistic and functional approaches to understand signal evolution.
Professor Patricia H. Reiff is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University and Associate Director for Outreach Programs at the Rice Space Institute. Her research focuses on space plasma physics, magnetospheric dynamics, auroras, and space weather. She has led missions like the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) and contributed to the Dynamics Explorer, Polar, and Cluster missions. Reiff has pioneered public education initiatives, including the Discovery Dome portable planetarium system and the 'Totality!' planetarium show, reaching global audiences. She has trained fourteen PhD students and directs the Master of Science Teaching (MST) program, which has produced 36 teacher alumni as of 2024. Education: B.S. Physics (Oklahoma State University, 1971), M.S. Space Science (Rice University, 1974), and Ph.D. Space Physics and Astronomy (Rice University, 1975). Her research uses data from missions like MMS and citizen science projects like Citizen CATE to study magnetic reconnection and space weather effects. Key research interests include solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions, magnetospheric reconnection, and the societal impacts of space weather. She has authored over 160 refereed publications and holds an H-index of 40. Reiff’s awards include AGU Fellow (1997), the Athelstan Spilhaus Award (2009), and NASA Group Achievement Awards. She is a vocal advocate for STEM education, frequently appearing in media to discuss eclipses and space science, including her role as a solar eclipse tour guide and science commentator.
Andrea Megela Simmons is a Professor at Brown University in the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences with a secondary appointment in the Department of Neuroscience . She is a member of the Carney Institute for Brain Science and serves as a Principal Investigator on an ONR MURI project. Education : A.B. from the University of Pennsylvania (1973), Ph.D. from Harvard University (1978), Postdoctoral research at Cornell University Simmons specializes in cognitive and neural mechanisms of sound perception and communication across species including frogs, bats, dolphins, and humans. Her work bridges behavioral neuroscience, comparative neurology, and developmental studies to explore auditory processing, echolocation, and sensory integration. Her recent publications highlight interdisciplinary trends in auditory neuroscience, focusing on sound exposure effects, metamorphic neurodevelopment, and sensory-motor coordination in cluttered environments. Key subfields include echolocation, lateral line function, tectal connectivity, and acoustic adaptation across species. Scientific Awards : Fellow, Acoustical Society of America Simmons has received grants from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for MURI projects and has taught courses such as Animal Behavior , Evolution and Development of the Brain , and Auditory Perception Laboratory .
Dr. Lucian Sulica is the Sean Parker Professor of Laryngology and Director of the Sean Parker Institute for the Voice at Weill Cornell Medical College. He is an attending Otolaryngologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital with a clinical practice exclusively focused on voice disorders. Dr. Sulica served as the 2023 President of the American Laryngological Association and is a Fellow of the American Laryngologic, Rhinologic and Otologic Society (the Triologic Society). His educational background includes: A.B. from Dartmouth College (1989) M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine (1993) Residency at Georgetown University Medical Center Fellowship at New York Center for Voice & Swallowing Disorders, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center Dr. Sulica's research focuses on evidence-driven principles for treating voice conditions, with particular emphasis on vocal fold injuries from voice use (especially in performers), neurologic voice disorders (including vocal fold paralysis, spasmodic dysphonia, and tremor), and in-office procedures for voice disorders that don't require general anesthesia. His work has addressed critical aspects such as gender differences in vocal fold injury, pathophysiology of laryngeal nerve injury, and diagnostic accuracy in voice disorders. Analysis of Dr. Sulica's recent publications reveals a strong focus on advancing diagnostic techniques through artificial intelligence, improving surgical outcomes for vocal fold lesions, understanding performers' unique voice care needs, and developing evidence-based protocols for vocal fold hemorrhage and other voice disorders. His research increasingly incorporates technology-driven approaches while maintaining a strong clinical focus on patient-centered outcomes. Dr. Sulica has received numerous prestigious awards including: Casselberry Award of the American Laryngological Association (2021) Felix Semon Lectureship in Laryngology, Royal Society of Medicine (2022) American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery Honor Award (2008) Consistent recognition as one of "Best Doctors in America" (2005-2024) Designation as one of "America's Top Physicians in Voice Disorders/Laryngology" (since 2006) Inclusion in "New York Magazine Best Doctors" list annually since 2013 As an educator, Dr. Sulica has authored more than 110 journal articles and 40 book chapters, and has edited three books including "Vocal Fold Paralysis," "Classics in Voice and Laryngology," and "Patologia Laringea y Fonocirugia" (in Spanish). He is passionate about teaching and has lectured extensively across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Australia. His clinical work at the Sean Parker Institute for the Voice represents a comprehensive approach to voice care, incorporating innovative in-office procedures that have helped establish new standards in laryngology.
C. Daniel Meliza is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on the neural mechanisms of auditory learning and perception, primarily using zebra finches as a model system to understand how brains process complex vocal communication. Dr. Meliza's research investigates how neural circuits enable auditory learning and perception in songbirds. His lab studies experience-dependent plasticity, examining how early acoustic environments shape auditory processing. They also investigate how birds form internal models of vocal signals and use them to reconstruct degraded communication in noisy environments. This work has implications for understanding speech perception and communication disorders in humans. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on intrinsic plasticity mechanisms in the auditory cortex, computational modeling of neural systems, and how experience shapes neural coding of vocalizations. The work spans from cellular mechanisms to systems-level processing, with increasing integration of computational approaches to understand neural dynamics. Dr. Meliza has received significant recognition for his research: NIH R01 grant from NIDCD to examine mechanisms of intrinsic plasticity in early auditory learning (2021) NSF CAREER Award to study neural mechanisms of auditory restoration (2020) UVA Presidential Fellowship for Collaborative Neuroscience (2022) Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postgraduate Scholarship (2023) UVA Double Hoo Award (2023) Dr. Meliza has successfully mentored multiple PhD students including Yao Lu, Samantha Moseley, Christof Fehrman, and Margot Bjoring. His lab is well-funded through competitive grants from NIH and NSF, supporting research into the fundamental neural mechanisms underlying auditory learning and perception. The lab employs a multidisciplinary approach combining behavioral experiments, electrophysiology, computational modeling, and molecular techniques. The Meliza Lab at the University of Virginia operates at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and computational modeling. The team uses zebra finches to investigate how the brain processes complex vocal communication, with particular focus on how experience shapes neural circuits during development. Current research directions include examining how complex acoustic environments influence auditory perception and neural coding, and how neural circuits implement rapid gain control mechanisms.
Steven Rings serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Music and Director of Professional Development at the University of Chicago. His scholarship centers on popular music analysis, vocal studies, and transformational theory frameworks, with significant contributions to understanding Bob Dylan's work and Black experimental music traditions. Education: PhD in Music, Yale University (2006) Rings' research explores the intersection of musical cognition, cultural context, and performance practice. His work bridges theoretical musicology with vernacular traditions, examining vocal expression across genres from Dylan's protest songs to Albert Ayler's free jazz. Current projects investigate tonal hearing models and the relationship between song structures and recorded performances. His publications reveal consistent focus on analytical frameworks for popular music, particularly transformational approaches to vocal delivery and historical performance practices. Rings frequently connects technical music theory with broader cultural narratives, especially regarding racial identity in experimental music. Scientific Awards: 2014 Outstanding Publication Award (SMT Popular Music Interest Group) Society for Music Theory Award for 'Tonality and Transformation' Society for Music Theory Award for 'Oxford Handbook of Critical Concepts in Music Theory' Rings secured Mellon Foundation funding for a collaborative project with Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche, reimagining musical categories of voice and groove. He chairs the University of Chicago Society of Fellows and co-founded City Elementary, a therapeutic school in Hyde Park. His teaching spans undergraduate theory courses, graduate seminars on Black experimental music, and College Core musical interpretation classes. Additional roles include series editor for Oxford Studies in Music Theory and former Professor of Guitar at Portugal's Conservatório Regional de Angra do Heroísmo, where he performed extensively as a classical guitarist prior to his music theory career.
