معرفی
Professor Barbara Mertins is Professor of Empirical and Experimental Linguistics of German - Psycholinguistics at TU Dortmund University, Faculty 15 since November 2014. She directs the psycholinguistics laboratories and leads the BMBF-funded BeeMEHR project focused on multilingualism. Her research spans linguistics, cognitive science, and educational studies with emphasis on language acquisition, bilingualism, and the language-cognition interface.
Education:
- Habilitation (2012) at Heidelberg University: 'Investigation on language and cognition using the example of event conceptualization and text coherence in German and Czech'
- PhD (2004) in psycholinguistics at Max-Planck-Institut für Psycholinguistik & Radboud University Nijmegen
- Master (1998) in linguistics, philosophy, and recent German literature at Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg
- Bachelor (1993-1998) in German Studies (neuro-linguistics specialization) at Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg
Professor Mertins' research explores how linguistic structures shape cognitive processes across various domains. She investigates bilingual cognition, examining cognitive advantages and code-switching patterns. Her work on spatial cognition compares experts and non-experts, analyzing gender differences and language-specific influences. She conducts experimental research on language pathology, including Alzheimer's dementia and developmental conditions like Down syndrome. Her laboratory employs eye-tracking methodology to study language processing in real-time, revealing how grammatical features like aspect and tense influence conceptualization of events.
Analysis of her recent publications shows a strong trajectory toward examining multilingualism in educational contexts, particularly challenging constructs like 'migration background' as explanatory variables. Her work increasingly integrates social dimensions of language use with cognitive processes, examining how language relates to identity formation and cultural participation. She combines theoretical linguistics with empirical approaches to address practical issues in language education, policy, and inclusion.
Scientific Awards:
- 2023: Gerda Henkel Fellowship at Stanford University
- 2019 & 2010: Nominations for Ars-Legendi-Prize for excellent teaching
- 2017: IDE Award for outstanding inclusion teaching
- 2014: Erasmus-Mundus research scholarship for University of Haifa
- 2010-2011: Research scholarship at Center of Advanced Study, Oslo
- 2007: Klaus-Georg und Sigrid Hengstberger-Prize for best young scientists
Professor Mertins actively supervises BA and MA students, integrating their dissertation work into her current research projects. She has secured multiple research grants including the BMBF-funded BeeMEHR project examining multilingualism in educational settings. She serves as co-editor of Schnittstelle Germanistik and associate editor of Psychology of Language and Communication. Her international collaborations span Europe with partnerships in the Czech Republic, Israel, and Norway, reflecting her transnational research perspective.
She directs the psycholinguistics laboratories at TU Dortmund University, which conduct interdisciplinary research on language acquisition, bilingualism, and language pathology. The laboratories collaborate with multiple departments including the Chair of Building Construction on spatial cognition research. Her team includes research assistants, student assistants, and interdisciplinary collaborators, supporting projects like 'Wrestling with Language' that bridge science, dance, and visual arts to explore multilingualism.
