Sam Tilsen

Sam Tilsen is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. His research bridges phonetics, phonology, and speech production with a focus on dynamical systems approaches to linguistic structure.

His primary research interests include:

• Selection-coordination theory explaining hierarchical phonological structure through developmental changes in coordinative structures
• Syntax with oscillators and energy levels where syntactic patterns emerge from transiently stabilized energy hierarchies
• Speech energy dynamics examining how articulatory timing fluctuations reflect arousal and modulate phonatory-articulatory interactions
• Social networks and speech investigating co-evolution of social and linguistic systems through controlled experiments

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2025-2022) reveals a strong focus on F0 control mechanisms, speech rhythm analysis, and articulatory timing. His work increasingly integrates computational modeling with empirical phonetic data, particularly examining how prosodic structure emerges from motor control principles. Recent publications demonstrate growing interdisciplinary collaboration with computer science researchers on sensing technologies like the EchoNose system.

While no formal scientific awards are documented in the provided materials, his research program shows sustained productivity with consistent publication in top-tier journals including Journal of Phonetics, Cognition, and Frontiers in Physics.

Professor Tilsen's advising activities are not explicitly detailed, but his frequent co-authorship with graduate students (e.g., Kim, Burroni, Erdemir) suggests active mentorship. His work demonstrates significant grant support through collaborations requiring specialized equipment like real-time MRI and electromagnetic articulography. Current research directions include refining the Gesture-Field-Register framework for F0 control and investigating social dynamics in constrained vocabulary games.