I am currently a third-year doctoral student in the Linguistics Department at the University of Kansas, under the supervision of Dr. Fiorentino, Dr. Gabriele, and Dr. Minai. My research investigates first and second language acquisition of morphosyntax and semantics with the use of psycholinguistic (e.g., eye-tracking) and brain-imaging (e.g., EEG) techniques. In particular, I am interested in exploring how first and second language learners comprehend sentences in real time, with regards to the effects of individual differences (e.g., working memory), cross-linguistic influences, and other factors, on the cognitive processes of language processing and acquisition.
Before coming to KU Linguistics, I was trained in linguistic theory and communication sciences and disorders (CSD) at Syracuse University. I received training in the Diversity in Language and Literacy Lab at the CSD Department, and am excited about working on typical and atypical language acquisition among bilingual children in the future. Besides, I worked with linguistics professors at the Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics Department at Syracuse, and conducted research on the morphosyntax and phonology of Chinese languages such as Teochew and Mandarin.
Currently, I am developing my research interests in computational linguistics and being trained in computer science and programming. In the future, I would love to employ computational modelling for my research on language processing.
I also moonlight as an applied linguist, and I conducted research in language learning and teaching in the past few years.
Download my CV.
PhD student in Linguistics, 2021-Present
University of Kansas, Kansas, U.S.
MA Linguistics, 2021
Syracuse University, New York, U.S.
MA Applied Linguistics, 2018
Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
MA TESOL, 2016
University of Bath, England, U.K.
BA English Language & Literature, 2015
Beijing Language & Culture University, China.
My paper titled ‘Cross-linguistic transfer and morphological salience in bilingual morpheme acquisition’ was accepted to present at Bilingualism Matters Research Symposium in October 2023.
My paper titled ‘A CHILDES study on cross-linguistic influences in bilingual morpheme development’ was presented at 2023 UC Davis Symposium on Language Research in May 2023, and received the best abstract award and travel grant.
My teaching mainly focuses on Linguistics and Mandarin Chinese at the college level. Currently I am a graduate teaching assistant in Linguistics at the University of Kansas. Before that, I was an instructor of record in Mandarin Chinese at Syracuse University for two years. The courses are listed below; click the course name for a sample syllabus.
Linguistics
LING 110: Language and Mind. Fall 2022/2023, with Dr. Politzer-Ahles
LING 320: Language in Culture and Society. Spring2023/Summer 2022/Spring 2022/Fall 2021/ with Dr. Duncan
Mandarin Chinese
CHI 101: Introductory Chinese I. Fall 2019/2020
CHI 102: Introductory Chinese II. Spring 2020/2021
CHI 200: Daily Conversation in Chinese. Spring 2020