Bruce Tesar

Bruce Tesar is a Professor of Linguistics at Rutgers University's Department of Linguistics, affiliated with the Center for Cognitive Science. He holds a primary appointment in the School of Arts and Sciences.

Education & Roles: His academic contributions focus on computational learning theory, phonology, and Optimality Theory. He teaches courses such as Linguistics and Cognitive Science and Seminar in Learnability and Linguistic Theory.

Research Interests: Tesar investigates phonological learning mechanisms, particularly in systems allowing insertion/deletion. His work emphasizes computational efficiency and output-driven learning frameworks. Recent research includes studies on underlying form determination and restrictiveness in grammatical systems.

Awards: In 2023, he received the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences Award for Distinguished Contributions to Undergraduate Education, recognizing his teaching excellence and student engagement.

Advising & Collaborations: Advises graduate student Chaoyi Chen. Collaborates with researchers like Alexandra Nyman and Morgan Moyer on phonological learning projects. Active in presenting at venues like the Linguistic Society of America annual meetings.

Labs/Teams: Engaged with cognitive science initiatives at Rutgers, leveraging interdisciplinary approaches to linguistic theory.