معرفی
Sethu Karthikeyan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the College of Health Professions, Pace University, where he has been a faculty member since 2013. He holds a PhD in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences from The Graduate Center, City University of New York. His academic roles are deeply integrated with interdisciplinary research at the intersection of evolutionary psychology, speech science, and sociolinguistics.
- PhD, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, The Graduate School and University Center, The City University of New York, 2012
- MS, Speech and Hearing, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, India, 2003
- BS, Speech and Hearing, Dr. MV Shetty College of Speech and Hearing, Mangalore, India, 2001
Dr. Karthikeyan's research focuses on evolutionary behavioral sciences, particularly the human capacity for spoken language, social evaluations based on speech, vocal-verbal flexibility, and cultural diversity. He investigates how voice pitch, articulation, and dialect influence perceptions of attractiveness, status, and empathy, often using an evolutionary psychology framework. His work bridges speech science and sociocultural factors, with collaborations involving the Evolutionary Psychology Lab at SUNY New Paltz and the Behavioral Endocrinology and Evolution Lab at Penn State.
His recent publications, including in Scientific Reports and Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, reveal a strong trend toward understanding human mating behaviors, sound symbolism (e.g., Bouba-Kiki effect), and cross-cultural communication. The articles collectively emphasize experimental and evolutionary approaches to language and social perception, often incorporating cross-modal and cross-cultural data.
Dr. Karthikeyan has received several honors, including the College of Health Professions Dean's Scholarship Award (2023), the Martin Gitterman Excellence in Teaching Award (2010), and the Moe and Hannah Bergman Award (2009).
He has advised multiple student researchers and secured numerous grants, such as the Dean’s Summer Research Grant (2024), SRC awards, and the Kenan Grant for conference presentations (2014–2024). He is also actively involved in university governance, serving on committees including the Allied Health Search Committee and the Scholarly Research Committee. Dr. Karthikeyan is an Editorial Board member of Scientific Reports (Human Behaviour) and a member of professional organizations such as the International Society for Human Ethology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
He teaches courses such as Evolutionary Psychology, The Science of Speech Sounds, and Research in Communication Science Disorders, reflecting his broad expertise and integrative approach to behavioral and communication sciences.
