Esther de Leeuw

Esther de Leeuw is an Associate Professor of English Linguistics in the English Department at the University of Lausanne, Faculty of Arts, a position she began on 1 August 2023. She previously served for 13 years at Queen Mary, University of London, progressing from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer and Reader in Linguistics.

Her research is centered on lifelong bilingual development, drawing from both experimental inquiry and her personal multilingual background. She employs advanced techniques such as acoustic analysis and ultrasound imaging to study speech production in bilingual infants and children.

Esther has received significant research funding, including an SNSF SPARK grant, a Humboldt Research Fellowship for work at LMU Munich, and support from the British Academy. She is currently Associate Editor of the journal Second Language Research and is authoring an introductory textbook on bilingualism for Routledge.

Scientific Awards and Grants:

• SNSF SPARK Grant – for research on speech production in bilingual infants and children
• Humboldt Research Fellowship – for longitudinal study of bilingual speech at LMU Munich
• British Academy Funding – for research on perception-production relationships in bilingual speech

She collaborates widely across Switzerland, Europe, and internationally and is actively involved in mentoring and teaching at both Bachelor's and Master's levels. While specific advisees are not listed, she is engaged in academic training and future research initiatives in bilingualism and language development.

Esther and her family have settled in Lausanne, where she is building new research projects and contributing to the academic life of the Faculty of Arts.