Alexander Martin is an Assistant Professor in Phonology at the University of Groningen (Netherlands), affiliated with the Center for Language and Cognition (CLCG). His research focuses on understanding how cognitive and social factors shape linguistic systems, with a particular emphasis on phonology, sociolinguistics, and language typology. He holds a PhD from École Normale Supérieure (Paris) and has conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Edinburgh and Paris. Education: PhD in Cognitive Science from École Normale Supérieure (2017), supervised by Sharon Peperkamp. Previous postdoctoral positions include the Centre for Language Evolution (Edinburgh) and the SMIC project (Paris). Research Interests: Experimental phonology, language typology, cognitive biases in linguistic structure, sociolinguistic variation (e.g., variable liaison in French), bilingual phonological perception, and the role of morphophonological features in Bantu languages. Key Contributions: Pioneering studies on cognitive universals in noun phrase word order, experimental evidence for phonetic naturalness in learning biases, and analysis of social meaning in linguistic variation. Active in supervising PhD students and collaborating internationally on projects involving language contact and perception. Professional Roles: Editor of TABU Festschrift for Jack Hoeksema (2024) and co-supervisor of PhD candidates at the University of Groningen and Université Paris Cité.
Jeffrey Berry is a Professor in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Marquette University, specializing in speech motor control and neurogenic speech disorders. He directs the Marquette University Speech and Swallowing Lab, advancing research on dysarthria assessment and treatment. Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Communicative Disorders from University of Wisconsin-Madison His research explores: Speech motor control mechanisms Dysarthria biomechanics and acoustics Tracheostomy and ventilator management Articulatory-kinematic modeling Speech recognition for disordered speech Clinical assessment tool development Recent publications focus on dysarthria severity estimation, kinematic redundancy analysis, and speech synthesis for assistive technologies. He has developed the EMA-MAE corpus for Mandarin-accented English studies and innovates auditory feedback methods for speech rehabilitation.
Geoffrey Schwartz is a full Professor at the Faculty of English, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland. He holds the title of University Professor, awarded in December 2021, and has been a central figure in the linguistics community at AMU since the mid-1990s. His work bridges theoretical and applied phonology, with strong emphasis on second language acquisition and Slavic linguistics. Education: BA in Slavic Languages and Linguistics, University of Toronto, 1991 MA in Slavic Linguistics, University of Washington, 1993 PhD in Slavic Linguistics, University of Washington, Seattle, 2000 D. Litt. in English Linguistics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, 2010 His research focuses on the phonetics–phonology interface , speech perception , historical phonology , and second language acquisition , particularly in the context of Polish learners of English. He investigates vowel dynamics, consonant synchronicity, and laryngeal feature modulation, combining experimental and theoretical approaches. His work is deeply informed by both Slavic and general phonological theory. The recent publications and conference presentations reflect a sustained engagement with core issues in phonological theory, including laryngeal representation, prosodic structure, and recursion in phonology. His research increasingly emphasizes cross-linguistic and second-language phonetic phenomena, with a strong experimental component evident in lab-based studies and acoustic analysis. Scientific Awards: Adam Mickiewicz University Rector's prize for publications (2016, 2013) Finalist for Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Washington (1999–2000) Teaching Prize, University of Washington Slavic Dept. (1999–2000) Polish Home Language prize, University of Washington (1995–96) Willie Ann Luckett Prize, University of Toronto (1991) Slavic Linguistics Prize, University of Toronto (1990) Geoffrey Schwartz has secured multiple competitive research grants from the Polish National Science Centre (NCN) as Principal Investigator, including projects on Sandhi in Second Language Speech , Vowel dynamics in the speech of Polish learners of English , Modulation in laryngeal features , Consonant synchronicity in Polish and English , and Phonation in L1 and L2 speech . These grants demonstrate sustained research leadership and funding success. He has supervised numerous students and early-career researchers, though specific names are not listed in the source text. He has organized key conference sessions and delivered invited talks at leading institutions including MIT, UCL, Boston University, and McGill. He is actively involved in the academic community through conference organization, including sessions at the Poznań Linguistic Meeting on topics such as Interfaces , Dynamic Phonology , and Beyond VOT . His research is conducted within a collaborative framework, often with colleagues such as Anna Balas and Arkadiusz Rojczyk, and is disseminated through international venues like LabPhon, GLOW, and the Manchester Phonology Meeting.
Chris Wen-Chao Li is Professor of Linguistics at the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, San Francisco State University since 2000. He has also held academic positions at National Taiwan Normal University , University of Minnesota, and Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. His career spans multiple roles including Coordinator of Chinese Program (2012-2018) and Director of Pacific Asian Studies Minor (2015-present). Education: D.Phil. and M.Phil. in Linguistics from Oxford University Research Focus: Sound change , diglossia , phonological translation , and Chinese romanization systems His 2016 paper on diasporic nostalgia explores linguistic standard imposition by mainland refugees in Taiwan, while 2017 encyclopedia entries cover Mandarin tone development and diglossia. The 2007 Target journal article investigates cross-linguistic name transfer mechanisms. Despite extensive publications, no direct scientific awards are mentioned in provided texts.
Melanie L. Matthies serves as Senior Associate Dean at Boston University's Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences within the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences. Her academic career spans research and administration focused on speech production mechanisms. Her research examines hearing's role in adult speech motor control using diverse populations including cochlear implant recipients, hearing aid users, pre-lingually deafened individuals, elderly subjects, and normal-hearing adults. Key investigations include speech motor control variability, efficiency, communicative effectiveness, and Parkinson's disease effects on speech production/intelligibility. Her work integrates biomechanical constraints with economy of effort and perceptual strategies. Research trends show consistent focus on auditory feedback mechanisms (2003-2008 publications), with increasing emphasis on cochlear implant adaptation and Parkinson's disease applications. Her publications demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration across acoustics, neuroscience, and rehabilitation science. Award for best paper in JSLHR-Hearing section (2007) Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, Alpha Lambda Delta honors As Subcontract PI for NIH R01 grants (DC03007 and DC01925), she secured significant research funding under Joseph Perkell's leadership. Her editorial roles include Section Editor for Ear and Hearing (2002-2005) and Associate Editor for the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (2008-present). Professional affiliations span the Acoustical Society of America, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and Hearing Loss Association.
