top phd programs in computational linguistics

Best Universities for Computational Linguistics in the World

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Computational Linguistics. A graph of 19.5M citations received by 1.12M academic papers made by 2,673 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

For Computational Linguistics

2. Stanford University

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

4. University of California - Berkeley

5. University of Cambridge

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

7. University of Edinburgh

8. University of Toronto

9. University of Washington - Seattle

10. Johns Hopkins University

11. University of Pennsylvania

12. University of Southern California

13. University College London

14. Tsinghua University

15. University of Maryland - College Park

16. Columbia University

17. New York University

18. University of Oxford

19. University of California-San Diego

20. Princeton University

21. Ohio State University

22. University of Amsterdam

23. Cornell University

24. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

25. University of Texas at Austin

26. University of California - Los Angeles

27. University of Tokyo

28. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

29. Georgia Institute of Technology

30. Radboud University

31. National University of Singapore

32. University of Wisconsin - Madison

33. University of Melbourne

34. Nanyang Technological University

35. McGill University

36. Catholic University of Leuven

37. University of Montreal

38. University of Sheffield

39. Peking University

40. University of Manchester

41. Harvard University

42. Tel Aviv University

43. University of Pittsburgh

44. Northwestern University

45. University of Hong Kong

46. Pennsylvania State University

47. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

48. University of British Columbia

49. University at Buffalo

50. RWTH Aachen University

51. University of Rochester

52. Harbin Institute of Technology

53. University of Waterloo

54. University of Arizona

55. University of Alberta

56. University of Chicago

57. Arizona State University - Tempe

58. University of California - Irvine

59. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

60. Boston University

61. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

62. Chinese University of Hong Kong

63. Imperial College London

64. Technical University of Munich

65. University of Texas at Dallas

66. Zhejiang University

67. Purdue University

68. University of New South Wales

69. University of Sydney

70. University of Iowa

71. University of Helsinki

72. University of Science and Technology of China

73. University of California - Santa Barbara

74. University of Colorado Boulder

75. Michigan State University

76. Saarland University

77. University of Florida

78. Brown University

79. Yale University

80. Utrecht University

81. University of Illinois at Chicago

82. National Taiwan University

83. Kyoto University

84. Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications

85. University of Groningen

86. University of Utah

87. Tokyo Institute of Technology

88. Ghent University

89. Macquarie University

90. University of Trento

91. University of Queensland

92. Sapienza University of Rome

93. Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

94. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

95. Hebrew University of Jerusalem

96. University of Sussex

97. Hong Kong Polytechnic University

98. Leiden University

99. University of Geneva

100. University of Ottawa

Computer Science subfields in the World

Graduate Programs

Our graduate programs provide a unique environment where linguistic theory, multiple methodologies, and computational research not only coexist, but interact in a highly synergistic fashion.  

Our focus is on the Ph.D. degree.  The department occasionally admits students already enrolled at Stanford for the M.A. degree. Ph.D. students in other departments at Stanford may also apply for the Ph.D. Minor. 

Doctoral Program

Our Ph.D. program emphasizes rigorous theoretical work that has at its base a firm empirical foundation in language data.

Ph.D. Minor

Our Ph.D. Minor allows Ph.D. students in other Stanford departments to develop a solid grounding in linguistics that can complement and enhance their studies and research in their home department.

M.A. for Stanford Graduate Students

We offer an MA degree for Stanford graduate students which develops students' knowledge of linguistics, preparing them for a professional career or doctoral study in linguistics or related disciplines.

Coterminal M.A. Program

Our Coterminal M.A. Program develops students' knowledge of linguistics, preparing them for a professional career or doctoral study in linguistics or related disciplines.

Graduate Program

The graduate program in Linguistics at Berkeley combines mentoring from faculty members in the department, coursework, research training, and professional development opportunities.

Faculty expertise in the department spans an unusually diverse range of endeavors. The graduate program accordingly includes a broad range of advanced seminars, along with coursework focusing on analyzing linguistic structure (e.g. syntax, semantics, phonology, phonetics), language ecologies (language variation and change, language and cognition), and methods (including field methods, archival research, experimental and corpus-based analyses, and computational modeling).

Graduate students have published their research in numerous journals, including Bilingualism: Language and Cognition , Glossa , Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America , Language Documentation & Conservation , Linguistic Inquiry , and Phonology ; and regularly present their work at conferences, including the Annual Meeting on Phonology , the Manchester Phonology Meeting , New Ways of Analyzing Variation , the Cognitive Science Society Conference , the CUNY Conference on Sentence Processing , LabPhon , the Acoustical Society of America Meeting , the Linguistics Society of America ,  NELS , Sinn und Bedeutung , the Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas , among others.

Graduate students actively participate in working groups, reading groups, and other activities, including Fieldwork Forum, Phorum, Syntax & Semantics Circle, and TABLE .  These groups contribute to the strength of the program as hubs of intellectual exchange, professional networking, and community building.

Graduate students in the Linguistics department are eligible to apply to two Graduate Designated Emphases : the Designated Emphasis in Indigenous Language Revitalization , and the  Designated Emphasis in Cognitive Science .

Our graduates build exciting careers in research labs, for-profit businesses, non-profits, government agencies, and higher education, among others.

Detailed description

The particulars of this program, describing the exact course requirements, details about the exams and required research papers are available in the  Linguistics Graduate Program description  (updated 2023). This document changes from time to time. Get previous versions of the program description for 2022 ,  2020 ,  2019 ,  2018 , and 2017 .

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Linguistics at Cambridge is unique in the UK in that study and research in theoretical and applied linguistics are integrated within in a single academic unit. We provide great variety and flexibility in course contents as well as subject-specific training and diversity of intellectual interactions.

The PhD in Computation, Cognition and Language is a PhD track for students who conduct basic and applied research in the computational study of language, communication, and cognition, in humans and machines. This research is interdisciplinary in nature and draws on methodology and insights from a range of disciplines that are now critical for the further development of language sciences, including (but not limited to) Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Psychology and Neuroscience. A variety of PhD topics that fall within this remit are accepted. Our current primary areas of research are:

• natural language processing

• computational and corpus linguistics

• computational models of human language acquisition and processing

• information extraction, mining, and presentation

• multilingual technology

• educational and assistive technology

• text data technology for health

• computational digital humanities

• computational approaches to the analysis of speech

• digital forensic speech analysis

In British universities, the PhD is traditionally awarded solely on the basis of a thesis, a substantial piece of writing which reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry. The completion of the PhD thesis is generally expected to take three to four years, and most funding is based on this assumption.  It is also possible to take a part-time route, and the expected timeframe would be five to seven years.

While the PhD is not a taught course, students will benefit from the availability of courses and seminars offered both within the MMLL Faculty and by other departments concerned with language science in Cambridge (e.g. Computer Science and Technology, Education, Engineering, Psychology, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit). All research students also benefit from a programme of professional training run at various levels within the University and enabling cross-disciplinary interactions. The programme includes seminars and workshops on e.g. giving conference papers, publishing, applications and interviews, teaching skills, and specialist linguistic training. If you wish, you are likely to be given the opportunity of gaining experience in small group teaching for colleges. There may also be opportunities to gain some experience in teaching in the Faculty.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, candidates will have acquired excellent skills, experience and knowledge to undertake postdoctoral work (research and teaching) or another related profession.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Advanced Study to PhD, the minimum academic requirement is an overall distinction in the MPhil.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Thesis to PhD, the usual academic requirement is a pass in the MPhil.

All applications are judged on their own merits and students must demonstrate their suitability to undertake doctoral level research.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Departments

This course is advertised in the following departments:

• Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics
• Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of theoretical and applied linguistics this course is advertised in multiple departments. please see the overview tab for more details., course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Michaelmas 2024 (Closed)

Funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

• Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence MPhil
• Advanced Computer Science MPhil
• Computer Science PhD
• Linguistics: Theoretical and Applied Linguistics PhD

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Linguistics, PhD

The Ph.D. program in Linguistics at Penn embraces a wide range of theoretical specializations and methodologies. What unites them is a commitment to careful and explicit formal analysis of the human capacity for learning and using language.

The core of our program is the formal generative tradition, but we encourage the cross-fertilization that results from the confrontation of empirical and theoretical perspectives on language structure. By our close collaboration with other programs (such as computer science and psychology) we promote an awareness of the broad view of language that interdisciplinary study induces. In addition to broad training, students are offered and expected to master the methods and results of their chosen areas of concentration in linguistics as a prerequisite to fruitful engagement in dialogue with others, both within and outside the program.

For more information: https://www.ling.upenn.edu/graduate/

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

Required Courses

The total course units required for graduation is 20. A minimum of 12 course units must be taken at the University of Pennsylvania.

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

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Graduate Program

The curriculum is designed to assure that Ph.D. students receive an adequate grounding in all of the fundamental areas of linguistics, while leaving them the freedom they need to become independent researchers. The first year is devoted to coursework, which gives students a strong foundation and enables them to quickly begin contributing to the research life of the department. Beyond the core, students are relatively free to design their own program of study both within the discipline and across disciplines, within a framework of requirements set by the field and the Graduate School.

This program is organized in consultation with a Special Committee of the student’s own choosing. Committee members represent the student's major and minor subjects. Minors may be chosen from disciplines other than linguistics, so that it is possible, for example, for a Ph.D. student to major in General Linguistics and minor in such areas as Computer Science, Latin American Studies or Cognitive Science. The Special Committee system makes the Ph.D. program maximally flexible and allows students to avail themselves of the entire university's resources. 

Note on M.A. Program:

We do not offer a Master's program. The exception is through the Employee Degree Program (a benefit for Cornell employees). Contact the Graduate Field Assistant for more information ( [email protected]  or 607-255-1105)

ADMISSIONS REVIEW CONSIDERING COVID-19 DISRUPTIONS

APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15 (of each year - fall admission only)

Application Requirements

Applicants must have a B.A., B.S. or M.A. degree.

Submitted online:

• Online application found at www.gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions
• Academic statement of purpose
• Personal statement
• One research paper as a writing sample
• Three letters of recommendation
• Application fee: $105
• TOEFL or ILETS scores also required.  For exact details of how to satisfy the English Language Proficiency, please see   https://gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions/prepare/english-language-proficiency-requirement/ .

*The GRE is not required for admission to the Field of Linguistics.

All materials must be uploaded to CollegeNet (see application link above). No hard copy application materials are accepted.

Requests for further information should be addressed to: E-mail :  [email protected] Phone : (607) 255-1105 Notification of Application Status: If any material is missing from your application, you will be notified by email.  Check the status of your application and select "review your activity".

Application and Admission Timeline

December 15 – All application materials are due.

Early February - Applicants are informed of admissions decisions and financial awards by this time. 

April 15 – Admitted students are required to accept or decline their offers by this date.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions 

- What are the strengths of your program? At Cornell, linguistic theory is applied to a broad range of linguistic evidence and tools, augmenting traditional linguistic intuitions. These include experimental/instrumental approaches, corpora, computational methods, and language documentation.

- What are the research interests and theoretical orientation of your faculty? Take a look at our  faculty webpages ! Our faculty cover a wide range of interests within the field of linguistics.

- How long does it take to complete the Ph.D. in Linguistics? Most students take five years. Finishing in this amount of time is contingent on timely completion of the required coursework and the A-exam.

- Can I do a Master's in Linguistics at Cornell University? No. Our program is designed to train students for the Ph.D.

- Can I start the program in the Winter or Spring semester? No. Our program's coursework is designed to start in the fall semester.

- What kinds of jobs do students who receive the Ph.D. in Linguistics have? Our students are successful in obtaining various academic and non-academic positions . See our " MA/PhD Alumni " page for information on the placement of our Ph.D graduates.

- What if I cannot afford the application fee? Please refer to this information from the Cornell University Graduate School: Application fee waivers: Check fee waiver eligibility requirements online before applying . If you are eligible, you can find a link to our fee waiver request form on the payment page of the online application form. You must submit your application and the fee waiver request at the same time. We review fee waiver requests every business day.

- What are the tuition costs? The tuition cost set for the 2023-24 academic year is $24,800. More detailed information on tuition & stipend rates and other fees (student activity fee and health insurance).

- What financial aid is available? Are international students eligible for financial aid? Two types of financial support are available through Cornell: merit-based (fellowships, assistantships, and tuition awards) and need-based (loans). Please visit our " Financial Support " section below for more information. Unless you choose otherwise, students are considered for merit-based aid, regardless of citizenship, as part of the admissions process—no special application is required. Applicants are notified of merit-based awards at the same time admissions offers are made. You must notify the Graduate School by April 15 if you plan to accept the offer.

- What does the admissions committee look for when reviewing applications? Simply stated, we are looking for talented students who are a good match for our program.

- How many students are accepted to the program per admission cycle? Our target class size is six. 

- What do my GRE scores and GPA have to be? We do not set specific minimums for GRE scores and GPA. GREs and GPA are only one consideration in evaluating applications for admission.

- Who should my letters of recommendation come from? Generally, academic references are from professors you have worked with during your undergraduate or master’s program. If you are not coming straight out of an academic program, these may also include references from your employers. Simply put, we are looking for letters from people who know both the applicant and our program and can tell us that the applicant will do well in our program.

- What should I include in my statement of purpose? A statement of purpose should be a well-written statement (of about 2 pages in length) that tells us why you have chosen to pursue linguistics as a field of study and why you have chosen to apply to Cornell. It should include your reasons for undertaking graduate work and an explanation of your academic interests, including their relation to your undergraduate study and professional goals. If possible, include the names of the Cornell faculty members whose research seems to match your own interests, and briefly discuss the connections you see. Also describe your relevant research experience, and note any publications you have authored or co-authored

Ph.D. Requirements

Progress towards the degree is attained by

• Completing the core course requirements
• Passing the Qualifying Exam (Q-exam), results reported to Field
• Passing the Admission to Candidacy Exam (A-exam), results reported to Grad School (form A4)
• Defending the prospectus (P-exam), results reported to Field
• Completing and defending dissertation (B-exam), results reported to Grad School (form A4)

Brief Ph.D Progress Checklist (For details on the requirements, see below. Italicized items are new Graduate School policies that apply to students beginning with those admitted for Fall 2014.)

1st year: 

• Apply for an NSF or other national fellowship in the fall semester, if eligible (usually only US citizens and resident aliens are eligible). 
• Make significant inroads on completing the core courses 
• Have two meetings (one per semester) with your Advisory Committee
• File academic plan with Graduate School describing anticipated summer activities and outcomes (due May 1, required for summer funding)

Select a Special Committee for your Q-paper by September 1st

• Submit a Q-paper proposal to your Special Committee by December 1st

Continue taking core courses, seminars

Complete any ancillary skills courses your committee requires (if any)

• Take Research Workshop (LING 6603) in spring

Take Q-Exam, committee reports results to GFA

The Q-Exam should be attempted before the end of the 4th semester. Summer funding for the second summer will be contingent on having attempted the Q-Exam by this deadline. To qualify for summer funding at the end of the fourth semester, it is essential that you schedule your Q-Exam no later than May 1st, and that the date of the exam be no later than May 14th.

• File academic plan with Graduate School describing anticipated summer activities and outcomes (due May 1, required for summer funding)​
• Select a Special Committee for your A-paper by September 1st
• Submit an A-paper proposal to your Special Committee by December 1st

Take Research Workshop (LING 6604) in fall semester

Take seminars to further research goals

Schedule A-Exam (form A3)

Take A-exam (report results with form A4, eligibility for 3rd summer funding is contingent on passing A-exam or filing a scheduling form indicating an intention to take the exam for the start of the 7th semester)

N.B. The dissertation-year fellowship will be available only to students who attempted their A-exam prior to the seventh semester of enrollment (a requirement of the Code of Legislation) and have passed the A-exam. In addition, students seeking the dissertation-year fellowship must have written and submitted an external fellowship or grant proposal within their first four years of enrollment, to encourage all students to pursue external funding. (In exceptional cases for which there may be no logical external funding organization to which it would be appropriate to write a proposal, the student may write a proposal for an internal Cornell award such as a Graduate School or Einaudi travel grant or may petition for permission to complete an alternative professionalization activity.)

• A-exam should be done by the beginning of the 7th semester!
• Select Special Committee for your dissertation by September 1st
• Write your dissertation proposal
• Take P-Exam (defense of prospectus) by end of fall semester, committee reports results to GFA
• Work on dissertation
• Apply for dissertation year fellowships (usually done in fall) and other post-A-exam funding
• 4th year summer funding is available by application only; students who have not passed their A-exam are not eligible. Applications for summer funding are due May 1 at the Graduate School.

 5th year:

• Apply for jobs, postdocs, etc.
• Finish dissertation
• Schedule B-Exam (form A3)
• Take B-exam (defense of dissertation, report results with form A4)
• File Thesis, using Graduation Manager

Course Requirements

A. core courses.

To assure that Ph.D. students receive an adequate grounding in all of the fundamental areas of linguistics, the field has defined a set of core requirements in the areas of Syntax, Phonology, Semantics and Historical Linguistics. The general expectation is that all students will take all core courses. If a student requests an exemption on the basis of comparable graduate-level coursework at another institution, this exemption can only be granted after consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and the instructor of the relevant course. Beyond the core courses, Ph.D. students are expected to attend advanced linguistics courses (topics courses and seminars) not only in the areas in which they write their research papers and thesis but in areas that will provide sufficient breadth as advised by the Special Committee.  

Students are required to complete courses equivalent to the following: 

• Historical Linguistics (LING 6314)
• Phonology I and II (LING 6401/6402)
• Syntax I and II  (LING 6403/6404)
• Semantics I (LING 6421)
• Research Workshops (LING 6603/6604): This course provides students with an opportunity to develop an original research paper through a number of revisions, some of which are presented to an audience of fellow students. The final version is presented at a semester-end conference.  Offered both fall and spring.
• At least one course from the following subfields:  computational linguistics, historical linguistics (beyond Ling 6314), morphology, phonetics, semantics and pragmatics.
• Advanced courses: all students are required to take at least four (4) seminars or topics courses for credit. These are courses at the 6600-level or higher. 

B. Ancillary skill sets

In the course of research a student may need to master one or more ancillary skill sets. These might be familiarity with languages of scholarship or training in statistics, logic, field methods or programming. The student, in consultation with his/her committee, is expected to determine which skills need to be acquired and how and when this should be done.

Q- and A-Exams (admission to candidacy):

Admission to candidacy in the field of Linguistics consists of writing two research papers which are evaluated in two exams, the Q-exam and the A-exam.  The Q-exam is taken by the end of the second year, and the A-exam is taken by the end of the third year.  Graduate School regulations require that all doctoral students must take the Examination for Admission to Candidacy before beginning their seventh semester of registration unless special permission is obtained from the Dean.  The format of the Q- and A-exams varies from case to case, depending on the expectations of the Special Committee.  The Field requires that the candidate submit to the committee in advance of the exam a research paper of high quality (see the deadlines above).  The papers for the two exams must be in two distinct subfields, with a distinct Special Committee devoted to each paper.  The Special Committee for each exam will normally ask the candidate to prepare written answers for one to two questions.    

P-Exam (defense of prospectus):

Following successful completion of the A-exam, a Special Committee for the dissertation is selected and the P-exam is undertaken by the fall of the fourth year.    

B-Exam (thesis defense):

The B-Exam is taken after completion of the Ph.D. dissertation.  The B-Exam includes a presentation of the highlights of the dissertation followed by questions from the committee and others in attendance. 

Financial Support

We typically offer guaranteed five-year full financial support to students we admit into the graduate program, regardless of the student's citizenship. Two of those years (SAGE Fellowship: the first-year and the "dissertation year" in which students are not expected to work as a Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant) are through fellowships, and the other three years are through other sources of support, typically teaching assistantships or research assistantships. The five year funding package covers: tuition and fees, student health insurance and a nine-month stipend for living expenses. Funding is contingent on satisfactory academic performance, and beginning with the 2014-15 academic year, the Graduate School has instituted progress requirements for continued funding.

Teaching/Research Assistantships

The studies of all graduate students are funded in part by Teaching Assistantships (TA). In the Department of Linguistics, most Teaching Assistantships involve helping a professor in an undergraduate course; responsibilities may include leading discussion sections, meeting with students, helping grade papers and exams. Every effort is made to match teaching assignments with graduate student interests and to make sure that each Teaching Assistant receives a variety of teaching experiences while at Cornell. Teaching assistants work on average 15 hours per week and do not usually exceed 20 hours in any given week.

A student holding a TA-ship may work total of 20 hours per week as a combination of the TA responsibilities and employment elsewhere, either on- or off-campus.  Students holding a University fellowship, external fellowship, or GRA may also be employed on- or off-campus for no more than 8 hours per week, as long as this does not conflict with the terms of the external funding agreement.

A research assistantship (RA) entails work on a faculty research project not necessarily related to the student's dissertation. RAs work 15 to 20 hours per week. If the research project directly relates to the student's dissertation, then the appointment is a graduate research assistantship, in which case the time spent on research connected with the project is expected to be significant.

The  John S. Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines  allots the Linguistics department TA-ships for our graduate students to teach a First-Year Writing Seminar. This program emphasizes the humanities and social sciences and provides graduate students in all fields the opportunity to lead small undergraduate writing seminars and even to develop their own unique course syllabi. All graduate student instructors of First-Year Writing Seminars are required to take Writing 7100: Teaching Writing, a summer or fall semester one-credit course that provides a thorough pedagogical and experiential grounding in teaching. The department of Linguistics has approved courses that are offered as a writing seminar. If you would like to propose a new writing seminar, you will need to fill out the pre-EPC form.

Students may serve as language instructors for their TA-ship.  These also involve 15-20 hours a week.  Students with appropriate language background who are given such assignments are required to fulfill the respective department's training requirements.

Fellowships

The Graduate Field now requires all graduate students to apply for external funding at some point in their first four years. Students in the field of Linguistics are encouraged to apply for a variety of fellowships such as the National Science Foundation and the Social Science Research Council Fellowships. Also, the area programs at Cornell (East Asian, Southeast Asia, South Asia and European Studies) offer federally supported Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships to students whose research focuses on any of these areas.

Many of these non-Cornell sourced external fellowships are intended for students who are U.S. citizens or nationals or permanent residents of the United States. Applicants from foreign countries should seek aid from their own governments, universities, corporations or from a U.S. agency operating abroad, such as the Institute for International Education or the Fulbright-Hays Program.

Under certain conditions, external funds can be used to extend the package of guaranteed support from the Field or used in place of the teaching assistantship or research apprenticeship to allow the recipient to focus on research. The Graduate School and Field policies on modifying the initial package are available from the Director of Graduate Studies. Currently, students who are awarded these fellowships receive the two "free" years of SAGE funding (i.e., the first year and the dissertation year), but not the University-funded RA or TA stipends in the years that are covered by the external fellowship. 

The East Asian Program offers the following fellowships that have no citizenship restrictions. These three typically provide tuition and stipend for one semester. 

Einaudi Center Funding-East Asia Program Fellowships

• Robert J. Smith Fellowships in Japanese Studies
• Starr Fellowships
• Lee Teng-hui Fellowships in World Affairs

Einaudi Center grants: http://einaudi.cornell.edu/student-funding Cornell's Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS), Fulbright-Hayes Awards, Fulbright Program, International Research Travel Grants: The Mario Einaudi Center and its associated Programs offer a wide range of support and assistance to graduate students in search of funding for their international research, study and scholarship. See web site for deadlines, usually late January.

Graduate School Fellowship Database: http://gradschool.cornell.edu/fellowships/ A searchable database of fellowships of all kinds - well worth a look!

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSFGRFP):   http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201 The National Science Foundation funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, these are very competitive, but they provide a multi-year package of fellowship funding. College seniors, first- and second-year students with no more than 12 months of graduate study (i.e. no MA/MS degree) are eligible. It is most advisable to apply in your first year, if you are eligible. Even if you feel you do not have much linguistics research experience, the experience of writing the proposal is worthwhile. You will also get feedback from the NSF Fellowship Panel, which you can incorporate into an improved application the following year, if you do not succeed the first time. If you wait until your final year of eligibility to apply, you cannot take a second chance.

Social Science Research Council fellowships:  https://www.ssrc.org/fellowships-and-opportunities/ Most support from the Council goes to predissertation, dissertation and postdoctoral fellowships, offered through annual, peer-reviewed competitions.

NSF dissertation improvement grants (DDRIG):  http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505033&org=SBE&sel_org=SBE&from=fund These are for post-A-exam dissertation writers. There is no U.S. citizenship requirement. The grants supply up to $12,000 for research-related expenses. Deadlines are July 15th and January 15th of each year. The Principal Investigator should be the student's dissertation advisor, and the student should be the Co-Principal Investigator. It is expected that the student (Co-PI) will author the proposal, which will then be submitted through the university by the dissertation advisor (PI).

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships: http://www.acls.org/programs/dcf

Recently Offered Seminars

The department of linguistics offers a wide variety of graduate-level seminars. Seminar topics vary each semester based on the research interests of the graduate students and faculty.

• Finite State Methods
• Optimality Theory
• Neuro-linguistics
• Old Iranian
• Sanskrit Historical Grammar
• Phonetics in the Lexicon
• Timing and Weight in Phonology and Phonetics
• Information Structure
• Modality, Negative Polarity
• Polarity, Alternatives, Modality, Pragmatics
• Aspect of Interface between Syntax and Morpho-Phonology
• Relation Based Syntax
• Peripheries

Research Facilities

The Computational Linguistics Lab focuses on the statistical parsing of large data samples, including grammar development, parameter estimation, and acquisition of lexical information from corpora.

The Language Documentation Lab provides resources and laboratory space for research involving language documentation, description, and analysis, with an emphasis on understudied languages.

The Phonetics Lab offers state-of-the-art facilities for research in articulatory movement tracking, ultrasound, electroglottography, and speech aerodynamics. The phonetics lab is part of the Cornell Speech Imaging Group (SIG), a cross-disciplinary team of researchers using real-time magnetic resonance imaging to study the dynamics of speech articulation. 

Faculty and students in the Computational Psycholinguistic Discussions research group (C.Psyd) are interested in the intersection of computational linguistics and psycholinguistics. By building computational models to predict human language processing behavior (e.g., reading times), we can study the linguistic features that impact human processing decisions. Relatedly, C.Psyd members use psycholinguistic techniques to study the strategies used by neural networks to produce high accuracy in different language contexts, which gives us insights as to when different strategies might be employed by humans.

At the Linguistic Meaning (LiMe) Lab we investigate the complex process by which humans assign meaning to utterances. To do so, we combine insights from linguistic theory and cognitive science more broadly with experimental and computational methods. Contact: [email protected]

Cornell Linguistics Circle

The Cornell Linguistics Circle (CLC) is the graduate student group of the Cornell Department of Linguistics.  Students from linguistics and related fields are welcome to attend CLC meetings and participate in planned activities. The CLC serves to promote exchange of ideas among graduate students in the field and to advocate for the graduate student body within the department. Throughout the course of the academic year the CLC invites a series of outside speakers from linguistics departments around the country and the world.  Speakers deliver talks attended by faculty and graduate students (followed by a CLC-sponsored reception, of course!) and are often available for one-on-one meetings with interested students. The CLC also publishes The Proceedings of SALT, which contains articles developed from work presented at the annual Semantics and Linguistic Theory conference. All volumes of the Proceedings of SALT are available online through the LSA.

CLC Officers 2023-24

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

Computational linguistics.

Department of Linguistics | College of Arts & Sciences

Computational linguistics is an interdisciplinary field that addresses the use of computers to process or produce human language. Linguistics contributes to this field an understanding of the special properties of language data, and also provides theories and descriptions of language structure and use. Computational linguistics is largely an applied discipline concerned with practical problems. Typical applications include natural language processing, machine translation (translating from one language to another), speech synthesis, speech production, information retrieval (finding relevant documents or parts of documents in large collections of texts) cognitive modeling, and, in general, almost anything dealing with natural language interfaces.

Ph.D. in Linguistics with a Concentration in Computational Linguistics

Note: these are the most recent requirements updated in 2022-2023..

If you started earlier, please check your year's requirements in the bulletins under "University Graduate School".

The Concentration in Computational Linguistics combines both general linguistic coursework and computational specific coursework.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 90 credit hours, including dissertation. Specific requirements include LING-L545, LING-L645, LING-L615, LING-L555, one graduate-level course each in phonetics, phonology, and syntax, plus at least two additional courses in linguistics at the 600-700 levels.

LING-L555 may be waived if the student has previously completed equivalent coursework. In addition to the required core coursework, a student's advisory committee may assign other courses as appropriate and relevant to that student's particular program. These may include courses such as the following:

• COGS-Q520  Mathematics and Logic in Cognitive Science
• COGS-Q550  Models in Cognitive Science
• CSCI-B551  Artificial Intelligence
• CSCI-B651  Natural Language Processing
• CSCI-B652  Computational Models of Symbolic Learning
• CSCI-B659  Topics in Artificial Intelligence

The choice of a minor field should be agreed to by the student’s advisory committee. The specific requirements for the minor are established by the department that grants the minor. The student is responsible for ascertaining what those requirements are and for meeting them.

Typical minors would include Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Informatics, Information and Library Science, or any of the language departments.

Advisory Committee

All students in the Ph.D. program will select an advisory committee consisting of at least three faculty members, one of whom should normally represent the student’s minor field. The committee must be selected no later than the end of the semester following the completion of the master’s degree at Indiana University, or, in the case of students entering the program with master’s degrees from other institutions, no later than two semesters after matriculation.

Students will plan their programs with the advisory committee, which will be responsible for counseling students with regard to the qualifying examination, setting the examination, and administering it.

Foreign Language Structure

Knowledge of the structure of a language other than English and outside the student’s general language family (choice to be determined in consultation with the student's advisory committee).

This requirement of knowledge of the structure of an "exotic" language can be fulfilled in several ways (1) through a one-semester "structure course" (e.g., "Structure of Mongolian", "Arabic Syntax", etc.); (2) through a two-semester introductory language course (e.g., Beginning Swahili), or (3) through the field methods sequence (LING-L653 to LING-L654). As for what counts as "outside the student’s general language family", this has been interpreted to mean outside Indo-European for English speakers (although Hindi or Bengali might be okay depending on the logic of the student’s program) and outside Semitic for Arabic speakers, to give just a couple of examples.

Research Tool Requirements

The student must demonstrate proficiency (1), in the basics of discrete mathematics or mathematical linguistics, which can be met by courses such as COGS-Q520 Mathematics and Logic in Cognitive Science or L611 Models of Linguistic Structure; and (2) in programming techniques, with working knowledge of at least two programming languages.

Completion of LING-L555 satisfies working knowledge of one programming language. Students then need a second programming language. Preferred languages are either Java or C++. Students should consult their academic advisor about what course would be most appropriate to take.

Qualifying Examination Requirements

The qualifying exam is comprehensive; the examination is on two distinct areas of computational linguistics and/or linguistics. At least one of the qualifying examinations must entail a practical software artifact. The artifact may be a program, a computational grammar, an implemented scheme for corpus annotation, or some other approved artifact. The other examination may take the form of a written paper (of publishable quality) or a written exam. Specific focus and scheduling of the examination is determined by the student's advisory committee.

Research Committee

After nomination to candidacy, the student will select a research committee composed of no fewer than three members of the Department of Linguistics faculty and an outside representative. This committee must approve the proposed dissertation topic.

Final Examination

Oral defense of dissertation. This defense is normally open.

• Joint B.S./M.S.
• Ph.D. Minor

University of Rochester

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Master of Science in Computational Linguistics

The computational linguistics master's program at Rochester trains students to be conversant both in language analysis and computational techniques applied to natural language. The curriculum consists of courses in linguistics and computer science for a total of 32 credit hours.

Graduates from the computational linguistics program will be prepared for both further training at the PhD level in computer science and linguistics, as well as industry positions. A number companies such as Google, Amazon, Nuance, LexisNexis, and Oracle are searching for employees with advanced degrees in computational linguistics for positions ranging from speech recognition technology to improving translation systems to developing better models of language understanding.

The curriculum consists of courses in linguistics and computer science, in roughly a 50/50 mix, for a total of 32 credit hours. Four courses (16 credits) are required in linguistics and four courses (16 credits) in computer science. The degree also requires a culminating special written project on a topic relevant to the student's interest and in consultation with individual advisors.

This program’s coursework can typically be completed in three full-time semesters. A fourth semester is for students to prepare their program’s final assignment, project, or thesis.

Linguistics Courses

Prerequisite.

Students are required to have completed the following prerequisite course, or its equivalent.

• LING 110: Introduction to Linguistic Analysis

Track Courses

Within linguistics, students will work with an advisor to create a “track” for their coursework in one of three areas:

• Sound structure (LING 410, 427, 510)
• Grammatical structure (LING 420, 460, 461, 462, 520)
• Meaning (LING 425, 465, 466, 468, 525, 535)

Students will be encouraged to take LING 450 and LING 501 as it suits their programs.

At least one of the following:

• LING 410: Introduction to Language Sound Systems
• LING 420: Introduction to Grammatical Systems
• LING 425: Introduction to Semantic Analysis

Plus at least two from the following:

• LING 427: Topics in Phonetics and Phonology
• LING 450: Data Science for Linguistics
• LING 460: Syntactic Theory
• LING 461: Phrase Structure Grammar
• LING 462: Topics in Experimental Syntax
• LING 465: Formal Semantics
• LING 466: Pragmatics
• LING 468: Computational Semantics
• LING 481: Statistical Methods in Computational Linguistics
• LING 482: Deep Learning Methods in Computational Linguistics
• LING 501: Linguistics Graduate Proseminar
• LING 520: Syntax
• LING 525: Graduate Semantics
• LING 527: Topics in Phonetics and Phonology
• LING 535: Formal Pragmatics

Computer Science Courses

Prerequisites.

• CSC 171: The Science of Programming
• CSC 172: The Science of Data Structures
• CSC 173: Computation and Formal Systems
• MATH 150: Discrete Math
• MATH 165: Linear Algebra with Differential Equations 
• LING 424: Introduction to Computational Linguistics
• CSC 447: Natural Language Processing
• CSC 448: Statistical Speech and Language Processing

Plus at least two of the following:

• CSC 440: Data Mining
• CSC 442: Artificial Intelligence
• CSC 444: Logical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
• CSC 446: Machine Learning

Program Faculty

Linguistics:

• Ash Asudeh , Professor and Director of the Center for Language Science
• Scott Grimm , Department Chair and Associate Professor
• Aaron White , Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies

Computer science:

• James Allen
• Ehsan Hoque
• Len Schubert

Department of Linguistics

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What Linguistics Is and What Linguists Do...

Linguistics is the scientific study of language.  We seek to understand the structure of language, how it is learned, how it changes over time, how it interacts with the world, how it is represented in the mind, and how humans produce and understand language.

Our work informs a wide variety of human concerns: education (foreign-language teaching, the way to approach standard and non-standard languages in the classroom), technology (speech recognition, artificial intelligence), health care (diagnosis and treatment of language disorders), language's place in a diverse society (the role of multilingualism, protections for endangered and minority dialects and languages), and the legal system (interpreting legal language and the significance of linguistic evidence).

Humanities Radio

For more information, we encourage you to listen to   Episode 2   of the Humanities podcast, where  Aaron Kaplan, Assistant Professor of Linguistics, answers all of these questions.

The Department of Linguistics at the University of Utah is committed to advancing the understanding of human language in the service of local, national, and global communities.

We accomplish this by:  

• conducting cutting-edge research on language structure, acquisition, and processing
• preparing students to achieve personal and professional goals equipped with the knowledge and skills developed through the study of linguistics.

Our Specializations and Interests

In the Department of Linguistics at the University of Utah, our faculty specialize in:

• theoretical syntax and semantics
• theoretical phonology
• second language acquisition
• second language phonology

Our faculty also have interests in historical linguistics, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics. We offer   undergraduate ,   MA , and  PhD   degrees, as well as a  computational linguistics certificate and a  TESOL certificate .

About the Department

Linguistics provides the intellectual satisfaction of learning how human language works, while at the same time developing the analytical skills necessary to be highly competitive on the job market.  Students in linguistics learn how to analyze languages and develop crucial skills for today’s job market: reasoning, critical thinking, rigorous analysis, and written and verbal communication.

Graduates of our program have been admitted to some of the top graduate programs in linguistics and other fields and found careers in ESL instruction, language analysis, and computational linguistics.

Prof. Aniello De Santo Publishes Two Co-Authored Articles

2024 Proceedings of the Linguistic Society of America So Young Lee, Aniello De Santo "Exploring variation in English and Italian relative clause attachment: The role of coordination." Baggio, Giosuè, Aniello De Santo, and Nancy Abigail Nuñez. "Plausibility and Early Theory in Linguistics and Cognitive Science." Computational Brain & Behavior (2024): 1-13

PhD Candidate Ying Zhang Awarded Graduate Research Fellowship in L2 Pragmatics

Ying Zhang has been awarded a Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) for AY 2024-25! Zhang is a PhD candidate in the Department of Linguistics and her dissertation research focuses on L2 Pragmatics. GRFs are awarded by the graduate school and are highly competitive. Congratulations Ying!

Aniello De Santo at the 37th Annual Conference on Human Sentence Processing (HSP)!

Aniello will present two posters at HSP 2024: So Young Lee (Miami University) and Aniello De Santo. Evaluating the Limits of a Minimalist Grammar Parser on Korean Double Relative Clauses. Cassandra Jacobs (U. of Buffalo), Aniello De Santo, and Loïc Grobol (U. Paris Nanterre). Structural and Interpretative Factors in the Processing of Zeugma. HSP 2024 will be held May 16/18 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Fall 2022 Capstone Students Publish Research Article in Second Language Acquisition Journal

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Graduate Studies in Computational Linguistics

Professor James Pustejovsky works with students in his lab.

Master of Science in Computational Linguistics

The master's degree program (MS) in computational linguistics is an intensive two-year program that prepares you for mastery in the field, whether you want to work in industry or pursue your PhD.

The computational linguistics training at Brandeis enables both initial success and satisfying long term careers in this burgeoning field. You'll find your skills in demand in a variety of areas that include speech recognition, artificial intelligence, machine translation, big data, automated text analysis and web search.

Why Brandeis for Computational Linguistics?

As a student in this program, you will benefit from individualized teaching, advising, and mentoring as you deepen your skills in computational linguistics. We offer extensive career support and networking opportunities, and you'll have access to our broad community of alumni.

Careers and Alumni

Our computational linguistics graduates enjoy a very high placement rate in both industry jobs and PhD programs.

Our alumni working in industry focus on areas that include speech recognition, natural language understanding, robotics and artificial intelligence, machine translation, healthcare, call center analytics, internet search, financial services, and cloud computing. Visit our alumni page for a listing of specific companies and placements.

A smaller but significant portion of our alumni go on to top PhD programs and academic careers in computational linguistics, computer science, and linguistics, at universities that have included Brandeis, Tufts University, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Washington.

The curriculum is designed to progressively prepare you for a successful long-term career in computational linguistics. The first year curriculum is tailored to the level of the students entering the program. It allows students who need it to establish a strong foundation in both computer science and linguistics, while also enabling those with prior background in both fields to begin more advanced coursework from the start.

In the second year, students take advanced courses in computational linguistics, as well as courses on applied or theoretically oriented topics within computational linguistics, natural language processing, computer science, and linguistics.

For-credit internships are available and encouraged, with direct help from our faculty. Opportunities are also available to be involved in Computational Linguistics research labs. The program culminates in a semester- or year-long internship, capstone project or master's thesis.

For detailed program information, please review our student handbook and the University Bulletin .

Financial Aid and Scholarship Support

All of our students are highly qualified for the program and receive a merit scholarship award that is renewed for their second year as long as they remain in good academic standing. For information about the cost of this program, please refer to the  Cost of Attendance calculator . There is no additional application required to be considered for merit scholarships. If you qualify, you might also consider working as a research assistant or a teaching assistant.

Application Requirements

Please visit the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences website to learn about the application requirements .

• For Prospective Students
• For Current Students

For questions, please contact:

Division of Science, Graduate Affairs Office [email protected] 781-736-3148

At a Glance

Program Length: Two years

Credits: 12 course credits + thesis or internship

Entry Term: Fall only

Cost of Attendance: Calculator

Application Deadline:  Priority deadline of January 15. Applications will be considered after this date on a space-available basis, but no later than April 1.

“Brandeis…provides an amazing amount of support in terms of networking and career fairs. They have connections not only with smaller local companies and start-ups, but also a lot of big name companies, like Amazon and Apple. I was pretty busy my last semester with phone interviews and ended up with multiple job offers, which I could not have done without Brandeis’ extended network of people in the industry. ”

Keelan Armstrong, MA’14

Best Master’s in Computational Linguistics

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Updated October 19, 2023

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Are you ready to discover your college program?

The Association for Computational Linguistics describes computational linguistics as the scientific study of language from a computational perspective.

Computational Linguistics (CL) combines resources from linguistics and computer science to discover how human language works. Computational linguists create tools for critical tasks such as machine translation, speech recognition, speech synthesis, grammar checking, and text mining.

Typically, computer science (CS) departments at colleges and universities offer computational linguistics as a specialization, though some linguistics departments also offer it. Some CS departments don't offer CL as a formal specialization, but qualified students can often work with faculty to create their own focus area.

Computational linguistics graduate students take computer programming , math, and statistics courses. They examine subjects such as semantics, computational semantics, natural language processing, models in cognitive science, and phonology.

Featured Online Schools

Best online computational linguistics graduate programs.

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Cambridge, MA

A top-ranked private institution focused on technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a doctorate in linguistics that lets students design their own focus area. Since the 1960s when Noam Chomsky and Morris Halle led the linguistics program, MIT has garnered international recognition for its research and scholarship.

After meeting coursework requirements, linguistics students take a three-part general exam, including completing two workshop subjects during coursework, writing two research papers, and passing oral examinations. The requirements ensure that students build broad research strengths in linguistics before focusing on their dissertation.

Program topics and areas of learning at MIT include:

• Experimental linguistics
• Computational linguistics
• Computational modeling of language learning

Applicants must submit a statement of purpose, academic transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. The writing sample should reflect the applicant's ability to conduct scholarly research. Recommended samples include research reports, papers, and theses. All applicants must also provide a sample research summary of their proposed dissertation project.

Stanford, CA

At Stanford University, the Stanford Natural Language Processing (NLP) Group brings together faculty and graduate students in linguistics and computer science to advance the science of computer processing of human languages. Members of the group conduct research on computational linguistics, human language technology, and machine translation.

Graduate students can join the group by gaining admission to the Ph.D. in linguistics program or master's in computational linguistics program. Stanford's linguistics department lets graduate students create an individualized program of study, prioritizing flexibility.

Program topics and areas of learning at Stanford include:

• Computer science with a focus on computational linguists
• Linguistics with a focus on computational linguists
• Natural language processing
• Machine translation

The Ph.D. program receives around 150 applications annually and admits seven students. Both the Ph.D. and master's programs require applicants to submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a resume, and GRE scores.

At Harvard University, graduate students can pursue a focus in computational linguistics through graduate programs in applied computation . The Institute for Applied Computational Science comprises graduate students and faculty focused on applied computational methods, including computational linguistics. The institute emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration.

Graduate students can choose from several degree options, including two master's degrees in computational science and engineering (CSE), which let students complete independent research projects focused on computation applications. Students can earn a one-year master of science in CSE or a two-year master of engineering in CSE.

Program topics and areas of learning at Harvard include:

• Data science
• Computational science and engineering
• Machine learning

Students interested in computational linguistics can strengthen their skills through a capstone graduate course, which asks students to apply concepts like machine learning to solve real-world problems.

Pittsburgh, PA

At Carnegie Mellon University, the Language Technologies Institute (LTI) trains graduate students in natural language processing, computational linguistics, information extraction, and machine learning. Students can earn a Ph.D. in language and information technology or a master's degree in language technology, intelligent information systems, artificial intelligence, or computational data science.

The two-year master's in language technology incorporates two summers of research. The master's in intelligent information systems lets students concentrate on human language for language technologies, language technology application, or machine learning for language technologies. Doctoral students spend two years completing coursework before conducting research under a faculty advisor.

Program topics and areas of learning at CMU include:

• Language and information technology
• Language technology
• Intelligent information systems
• Artificial intelligence and innovation
• Computational data science

Applicants must submit GRE scores, official transcripts, a current resume, a statement of purpose, and three letters of recommendation. The five LTI graduate degrees let students choose a computational linguistic master's or doctoral degree aligned with their career goals.

Berkeley, CA

One of the top-ranked public institutions in the world, the University of California, Berkeley benefits from its proximity to Silicon Valley. Graduate students can pursue a doctorate in linguistics with a focus on computational linguistics through the Berkeley Linguistics Graduate Program . The program incorporates computational and experimental methods and linguistic research into the curriculum.

During their first year, graduate students complete foundational coursework in areas like phonology and cognition. Doctoral classes in experimental phonetics; psycholinguistics; and language, computation, and cognition train students for research in their focus area. After completing coursework and passing qualifying exams, doctoral students must research, write, and defend a dissertation.

Program topics and areas of learning at Berkeley include:

• Linguistics
• Computation and experimental methods

Applicants must submit letters of recommendation, transcripts, a writing sample, and admissions essays. Berkeley's linguistics graduate program admits about 10% of applicants, making it highly competitive.

Princeton, NJ

At Princeton University, graduate students can pursue a master's or doctoral degree with a focus on computational linguistics, natural language processing, or machine learning through the Department of Computer Science . Graduate students take coursework in machine learning, algorithms, and artificial intelligence, with the ability to conduct independent research in an area of interest.

The Center for Statistics and Machine Learning (CSML), established in 2014, brings together faculty and graduate students working on statistics, machine learning, and the data sciences. An interdisciplinary group, graduate students affiliated with CSML study methodological challenges in fields like computational linguistics.

Princeton also offers a graduate certificate in statistics and machine learning to complement departmental graduate programs. Students take courses in artificial intelligence, computer systems, and computational theory. The certificate helps linguistics and computer science students pursue machine learning research.

Program topics and areas of learning at Princeton include:

Ann Arbor, MI

Graduate students at the University of Michigan can pursue a computational linguistics research area through the Department of Linguistics. The department enrolls over 30 doctoral students. In the computational linguistics research area, graduate students examine the intersection of computer and human language. In addition to machine translation and speech recognition, learners study computational models of language processing.

Doctoral students complete coursework on topics like phonetics, phonology, syntax, and semantics. All doctoral students take at least two courses outside the department to promote an interdisciplinary approach. After passing qualifying exams, doctoral students complete a dissertation under the supervision of faculty.

Program topics and areas of learning at U-M include:

• Computational discovery and engineering
• Speech recognition
• Information extraction

Prospective doctoral students must submit an application, a statement of purpose, a personal statement, and official transcripts. The linguistics department also requires three letters of recommendation and a written work sample.

New York, NY

At Columbia University, master's and Ph.D. students can pursue focus areas in natural language processing and spoken language processing through the Department of Computer Science. In these areas, learners study computational approaches to text and speech analysis and generation, examining machine translation, language generation, and question answering in multiple languages.

Coursework covers topics like language modeling, information extraction, and the role of linguistic concepts in language processing. Computational linguistics students can work with the Columbia NLP Group or the Center for Computational Learning Systems, interdisciplinary research groups that let students advance their training in a focused field.

Program topics and areas of learning at Columbia include:

• Information extraction and data mining
• Information extraction, data mining

Applicants must submit research-oriented reference letters, GRE scores, and transcripts.

An Ivy League institution, Cornell University offers graduate degrees through the Linguistics Department . The department's strengths in computational linguistics, phonology, and language documentation prepare graduates for computational linguistics jobs. The Cornell Computational Linguistics Lab supports graduate students conducting theoretical and applied works on computational modeling.

The research group in neurolinguistics and psycholinguistics applies computational linguistics models to study the cognitive neuroscience of language. In addition, the Cornell Natural Language Processing Group brings together graduate students and researchers in computer science, information science, and linguistics.

Linguistics students take courses in computational linguistics, natural language learning, and neurolinguistics. The computer science department also hosts a natural language processing seminar and offers coursework in advanced language technologies, providing an interdisciplinary environment for computational linguistics students

Program topics and areas of learning at Cornell include:

• Natural language learning
• Computational phonetics

New Haven, CT

Consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the country, Yale University dates back to 1701. Graduate students interested in computational linguistics can pursue a Ph.D. in linguistics and join an interdisciplinary research group known as Computational Linguistics at Yale (CLAY). The research group brings together students and researchers studying linguistics, computer science, and cognitive science and machine learning.

In the CLAY lab, graduate learners study abstract computational models and practical applications in language technology. Current research projects at CLAY include investigations into the representation of grammatical knowledge in neural networks, the construction of practical parsing systems, and learning biases in neural network models. CLAY hosts a weekly meeting to discuss recent research papers and current work by lab members.

Program topics and areas of learning at Yale include:

• Cognitive science

Applicants must submit information on their interests in research and potential faculty advisors, including interest in CLAY. Graduates typically work in academia or the tech industry.

From its Manhattan campus, New York University offers a doctoral degree with a focus area in computational linguistics from the Department of Linguistics . Learners study the fundamentals of linguistics before pursuing advanced courses and research in their focus area. In NYU's Machine Learning for Language group, linguistics learners study natural language understanding and natural language processing.

During a machine learning for language understanding class, learners explore machine learning methods with a focus on artificial neural networks, culminating in a research paper on artificial intelligence or computational linguistics. During natural language understanding courses, students learn about artificial intelligence research and its connection to naturally occurring human language. These classes prepare doctoral students for advanced research in computational linguistics.

Program topics and areas of learning at NYU include:

• Artificial neural networks
• Computational semantics

Applicants must submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, a resume, and a writing sample. The writing sample must include a term paper, senior essay, thesis, or publication.

Chicago, IL

At the University of Chicago, prospective computational linguists can earn a graduate degree through the Department of Linguistics . One of the oldest linguistics departments in the country, UChicago offers a theory-oriented focus with an empirical interest in languages. The department encourages interdisciplinary and interdepartmental study, including work with the computer science department on computational linguistics.

Doctoral students complete foundational courses in their first two years. UChicago offers a three-course computational linguistics sequence as part of its foundational courses. The curriculum also includes classes like mathematical foundations of computational linguistics, language learnability, and introduction to artificial intelligence. After completing coursework, students must submit qualifying papers and meet the department's language requirement before advancing to the candidacy phase.

Program topics and areas of learning at UChicago include:

• Artificial intelligence
• Industrial linguistics

Applicants must submit GRE scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose describing their research area and reason for pursuing a graduate degree.

Los Angeles, CA

At the University of California, Los Angeles, graduate students in the Department of Linguistics can earn degrees in computational linguistics, computational semantics, or computational phonology. UCLA emphasizes linguistic theory, with a focus on fieldwork and experimental study. Graduate students can take a two-term computational linguistics sequence, which incorporates lecture and lab learning on theoretical linguistics and natural language processing.

The linguistics department admits eight students per year to its doctoral program, making it highly selective. UCLA also offers a computational linguistics master's degree for students planning to earn a doctorate. All graduate students complete core classes, write a master's thesis, and take field method courses and seminars. Doctoral students complete a dissertation in their research area.

Program topics and areas of learning at UCLA include:

• Computational phonology

Applicants must submit a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts. The statement of purpose should explain the applicant's background and their reasons for earning a linguistics graduate degree.

Philadelphia, PA

The University of Pennsylvania offers graduate degrees through the Department of Linguistics . The department lets students pursue interdisciplinary topics like computational linguistics, prioritizing collaboration with the computer science and psychology departments. Penn graduate students specializing in computational linguistics can join the computational linguistics research area , an interdisciplinary group of faculty and graduate students.

Penn runs the Linguistic Data Consortium , which compiles and distributes linguistic materials specifically for language engineering research. A valuable resource for computational linguists and researchers worldwide, the consortium hosts conferences and maintains a digital archive of papers in the field.

Program topics and areas of learning at Penn include:

• Language engineering

Penn typically admits students seeking a doctorate in linguistics, though it may accept candidates pursuing a computational linguistics master's degree. Applicants must submit transcripts, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and writing samples.

Seattle, WA

Founded in 1861, the University of Washington ranks as one of the top public universities in the country. The school offers a master of science in computational linguistics with on-campus and online options. The computational linguistics master's degree prepares students to pursue careers in tech or a doctorate in computational linguistics.

Master's students complete nine courses, and full-time students can earn their degree in one year. Students take four core computational linguistics classes, two linguistics classes, and three electives. Coursework incorporates hands-on work, research, and collaborative projects to provide the skills needed for computational linguistics jobs. Master's students culminate the degree with an internship or thesis.

Program topics and areas of learning at UW include:

• Grammar engineering

The program admits applicants with a background in linguistics and computer science. Coursework in programming, algorithms, linguistics, and statistics prepare undergraduates for the computational linguistics master's program.

At the University of Southern California, the Department of Linguistics enrolls 35-40 graduate students studying different areas of linguistics, including computational linguistics. During USC's five-year doctoral program, graduate students conduct research, present papers at conferences, and publish their work in journals.

Doctoral students also complete three graduate seminars in linguistics and advanced courses in their research area. After meeting coursework requirements, students must pass a qualifying examination, which includes written and oral requirements. Doctoral candidates then complete a dissertation in their research area.

The linguistics department admits 6-9 doctoral students annually. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose explaining their linguistics background and reason for pursuing a computational linguistics Ph.D. at USC. Applicants must also submit three letters of recommendation, transcripts, a resume, and a research paper.

Champaign, IL

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers one of the only undergraduate computational linguistics degrees in the country, in addition to a computational linguistics graduate program. The schools Ph.D. in linguistics lets graduate students pursue a specialization in computational linguistics.

The program encourages students to conduct original research. The Zea Mays Center for Computational Linguistics brings together faculty and graduate students conducting computational language research in an interdisciplinary group. Through natural language processing seminars and a reading group, doctoral students strengthen their computational linguistics training.

Program topics and areas of learning at Illinois include:

Students complete coursework during their first two years, followed by qualifying exams. In the second stage of the program, doctoral students complete additional coursework and a second qualifying examination. In the final stage, students research, write, and defend a dissertation. The program admits students with a bachelor's or master's degree.

Pasadena, CA

Founded in 1891, the California Institute of Technology ranks as one of the top universities in the country. Caltech offers a research area in statistics and machine learning that allows graduate students to pursue a computational linguistics master's or doctoral degree.

Graduate students conduct research on computational linguistics, mathematical linguistics, and machine learning while earning their degree. A graduate course in mathematical and computational linguistics covers models of acquisition, learnability, and communicative efficiency.

Program topics and areas of learning at Caltech include:

• Mathematical linguistics

Prospective Caltech graduate students must submit a CV, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. Caltech also requests a statement of purpose and GRE scores. While Caltech admits applicants from outside computer science and applied mathematics, students benefit from a background in the field.

Established in 1883, the University of Texas at Austin offers both a master's and doctoral degree with a concentration in computational linguistics through the Department of Linguistics. The interdisciplinary concentration trains students in the theory, technologies, and applications of computational linguistics. Students participate in a cross-departmental reading group on natural language learning and work with faculty in multiple departments.

During their first year, students take core linguistics classes. UT Austin offers computational linguistics classes on computational semantics, computing for text analysis, natural language learning, and applied text analysis. Graduate students also take computer science courses on topics like natural language processing and machine learning.

Program topics and areas of learning at UT Austin include:

• Applied text analysis

Prospective students must submit a statement of purpose detailing their interests in linguistics and specialization areas and their plans for graduate study. Applicants also submit three letters of recommendation and a sample research paper.

Providence, RI

An Ivy League institution located in Rhode Island, Brown University dates back to 1764. Graduate students can earn a computational linguistics degree from the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences . The department focuses on studies of language processing, linguistic structure, and computational processes.

Brown offers a Ph.D. in psychology, cognitive science, and linguistics, with the option to focus on computational linguistics. The program incorporates seminars, scholarly projects, and research to develop the skills necessary for computational linguistics jobs. The computational linguistics concentration lets students work with faculty from multiple departments to customize the degree around their interests.

Program topics and areas of learning at Brown include:

• Language processing

The highly selective admissions process interviews 15% of applicants and offers admission to half of the interviewees. Admitted students receive five years of tuition remission and a graduate stipend to support their studies.

San Diego, CA

At the University of California, San Diego, graduate students can earn a computational linguistics Ph.D. from the Linguistics Department . The department focuses on theoretical and experimental approaches to language, with research areas in computational linguistics, psycholinguistics, and language acquisition. Linguistics students can collaborate with faculty in the computer science, cognitive science, psychology, and anthropology departments.

Doctoral students receive theoretical and research training, taking classes in core linguistic analysis fields and learning how to conduct experimental investigations. Research training covers topics like field methods and documentation of understudied languages, computational modeling, neurolinguistics, and language acquisition. Theoretical training covers core topics like phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics.

With only seven required courses, doctoral students can specialize their training by pursuing courses in a focus area, such as computational linguistics. After completing coursework, students research, write, and defend their dissertation before a faculty committee.

At Duke University, graduate students can pursue a computational linguistics master's or doctoral degree through the Department of Computer Science . The inDuke program lets computational linguistics graduate students collaborate with industry partners on research projects.

Students can concentrate on areas like machine learning and natural language processing systems. Machine learning courses prepare graduate students to conduct advanced computational linguistics work. Natural language processing learners study theories of semantics and build natural language interactive systems.

Program topics and areas of learning at Duke include:

The master's program receives over 650 applicants each year, with highly competitive admissions. Duke recommends a strong background in computer science, particularly for applicants who did not major or minor in computer science during their undergraduate degree. The Ph.D. program provides full financial support for admitted students, and first-year doctoral students can take advantage of summer funding incentives to complete research.

West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University offers graduate linguistics programs for students interested in a computational linguistics master's or doctoral degree. Both graduate programs let students customize the degree around their interests, with a strong interdisciplinary focus. First-year graduate learners study the foundations of linguistics to develop their research interests. Advanced coursework focuses on the student's research area.

The School of Interdisciplinary Studies houses the linguistics department, underscoring the attention to multi-disciplinary training. The linguistics program builds strengths in linguistic and psycholinguistic development, language acquisition, and fieldwork. The curriculum blends theoretical and experimental approaches to linguistics.

Applicants must submit transcripts, an academic writing sample, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose describing their academic and professional goals. Purdue also considers an applicant's background in linguistics, research, and writing.

Evanston, IL

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Northwestern University offers a Ph.D. in linguistics through the Department of Linguistics . The program integrates theory with advanced experimental and computational methods. Graduate students benefit from access to laboratory facilities, interdisciplinary opportunities, and full funding for their studies.

Students complete core courses before choosing from electives in areas like computational linguistics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The program emphasizes integrative research. Computational linguistics students can customize a research plan around their interests.

In addition to the linguistics program, graduate students can earn a master of science in artificial intelligence at Northwestern. The program incorporates technical skills to train students in machine intelligence and human-machine interactions.

Program topics and areas of learning at Northwestern include:

Applicants must submit official transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and a CV or resume. They must also submit a writing sample and statement of purpose. The highly competitive program typically admits 4-6 students per year.

Madison, WI

The flagship campus of Wisconsin's public university system, the University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a Ph.D. in linguistics through the Language Sciences Department . Learners study topics like computational linguistics, human-computer interaction, and machine learning. Students receive foundational linguistics theory training before working with a faculty advisor to create an individualized research program.

In addition to a Ph.D. in linguistics, the department offers a Ph.D. minor in linguistics for graduate students in other departments, like computer science. The ability to minor at the graduate level lets students pursue an interdisciplinary course of study. Research groups in human-computer interaction, machine learning, and artificial intelligence bring together faculty and graduate students to solve complex interdisciplinary research problems.

• Human-computer interactions

Linguistics doctoral students generally complete the program in 5-6 years. Graduate students spend the first 3-4 years meeting coursework requirements, which includes writing two original research papers and defending them before a preliminary exam committee. The program then allows two years for dissertation research and defense.

Online Computational Linguistics Graduate Programs Ranking Guidelines

We ranked the best master's in computer science programs based on acceptance and graduation rates, median ACT/SAT scores for accepted students, and average earnings of graduates, according to the National Center for Education Statistics .

To determine a school's influence, reputation, and faculty strength, we used data from AcademicInfluence.com , which tracks the scholarly publications and citations of professors, graduate students, and alumni of the ranked universities.

Natural Language Processing

Both computational linguistics and natural language processing (NLP) apply formal training in linguistics, computer sciences, and machine learning. NLP allows computers to understand, analyze, and derive meaning from human language in an intelligent and useful way. NLP professionals organize and structure knowledge to perform tasks such as translation, text segmentation, and speech recognition.

Both computational linguistics and natural language processing (NLP) apply formal training in linguistics, computer sciences, and machine learning.

NLP systems, with their ability to analyze language for meaning, perform tasks such as correcting grammar, automatically translating languages, and converting speech to text. NLP allows machines to communicate with people on conventional language-based terms, which makes it an important factor in cognitive computing.

Data scientists use NLP for log analysis of security models, risk management and regulatory compliance, and demand forecasting. Companies use NLP to improve the accuracy of documentation, enhance the efficiency of documentation processes, and identify the most pertinent information in large databases.

Related Articles

How to get into computational linguistics.

Most computational linguistics jobs require at least a master's degree. To pursue a master's degree, candidates must first hold a bachelor's degree . While several undergraduate majors prepare students for graduate study in computational linguistics, a bachelor's in linguistics or computer science provides ideal training for a master's program.

Certain undergraduate courses may help students gain admission to a master's program, such as courses in morphology, semantics, and statistics. Undergraduate classes in artificial intelligence and machine learning also prepare graduates for master's programs in computational linguistics.

Many computational linguistics master's programs set prerequisite requirements for admission. These requirements may include programming knowledge, such as the ability to program in specific languages, like Python, C++, or Java. Many programs also require or prefer applicants to have taken an undergraduate linguistics course, statistics or probability class, and foreign language courses.

Most graduate programs require a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and transcripts. They may also ask applicants to complete a skills assessment or provide samples of their academic work.

Computational Linguistics Careers

Computational linguistics is the most commercially viable branch of linguistics. Computational linguists can work for high-tech companies, creating and testing models for improving or developing new software in areas such as speech recognition, grammar checkers, and dictionary development. They can also work in computer-mediated language learning and artificial intelligence or in research groups at universities and government research labs.

Examples of Companies That Employ Computational Linguists

• Expert System
• SRI STAR laboratory
• Vantage Linguistics

Computational Linguistics Jobs and Salaries

Below are some common careers and average salaries for graduates with a master's degree in computational linguistics.

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Master of Science in Computational Linguistics

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Part Time or Full Time / 1–3 Years / Online & Seattle

Work at the Intersection of Language and Technology

Computational linguists help machines process human language. All the pioneering language-based technologies in use today — search engines, predictive text messaging, speech recognition, machine translation and voice-user interfaces — rely on the work of computational linguists.

Place yourself at the forefront of this dynamic field by earning a Master of Science in Computational Linguistics at the University of Washington.

UW Master of Science in Computational Linguistics

Hear how the UW Master of Science in Computational Linguistics offers students a baseline understanding of the many ways computational linguistics is being used in the tech space today and the ethics of building language technology.  

Duration: 4:18

Explore the UW Difference

Work in emerging technologies.

Prepare yourself for an exciting career. Computational linguists are in demand in quickly evolving areas, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. 

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Gain Unique Knowledge

Our program is one of the few that combines the study of linguistics and natural language processing, giving you a unique depth of understanding and skillset for your career.

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Get Valuable Experience

Gain hands-on experience through the program's rigorous internships. Our students have interned at some of the world's leading companies, including Amazon and Google.

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With our flexible program, you can choose the schedule and format that works best for you. Study part time or full time, and take classes online or on campus, or both.

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"In the computational linguistics program, we aim to train all our students so that no matter what professional role they go on to have, they can help steer the development of technology away from harm."

— Emily M. Bender

Director, UW Master of Science in Computational Linguistics Program | Professor, UW Department of Linguistics

Read a Q&A with Professor Bender

Important Dates

December 1, 2023 Applications Open

March 1, 2024 Application Deadline

September 23–24, 2024 Student Orientation

September 25, 2024 Classes Begin

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IIIT Hyderabad has announced suspension of the course work with immediate effect on 14th-March-2020 and has made it mandatory for all undergraduate students (first year to fourth year batches) and postgraduate students (MTech first and second year batches) doing only course work to return home by 18th-March-2020; research students (MS, PhD and Dual Degree students registered for thesis credits) can choose to stay and continue their research work. Institute will announce plans for finishing the Spring semester's coursework by 20th-March-2020.

PhD in Computational Linguistics

About the program.

PhD (CL) is a three to five year program which admits students from varying backgrounds, computer-science and non-computer science which includes science, humanities and social science.

There are two streams of students:

Stream 1 This stream consists of two sub-streams of students: Stream 1A: Students coming from Computer science / technology bacground Stream 1B: Students coming from Science/Maths/ECE background or equivalent

Stream 2 Students coming from Linguistics, humanities and social science background belong to this stream. If you wish you to apply through Stream 2, you have to apply via a Standing Committee portal which will be open  in  throughout the year.

The goal of the programme is to give a general high level breadth in the area of Computational Linguistics and its related disciplines, and to carry out original in-depth research work on a problem in Computational Linguistics.

Advantages (for the student)

Students can pursue their academic career as a faculty or researcher in India or abroad. They can also contribute in research and development activities in industry.

Three to six years

Stream 1 (Students coming from Computer Science/Science/Maths/ECE background or equivalent)

Eligibility:  B.E/B.Tech/M.E/M.Tech in CSE or ECE branches, M.Sc, MCA

Admission Process: Visit https://www.iiit.ac.in/admissions/pgee

Stream 2 (Students coming from Linguistics, humanities and social science bacground)

Eligibility: MA/Mphil in linguistics, langauges and other related areas. Sanskrit students or individuals with an aptitude in language analysis are encouraged to apply. Admission Process:   Standing committee portal will be open in  in  throughout the year.  

Breadth Courses for Stream 1

a.        Students from Computer Science background (any three)

1.       CL3.401 - Computational Morphology and Syntax

2.       CL3.402 - Computational Semantics and Discourse Processing

3.       CS1.304 - Data Structures and Algorithms for Problem Solving

4.       CS7.501 - Advanced Natural Language Processing

b.       Students from Science/Maths/ ECE background (all three)

1.          CL3.401 - Computational Morphology and Syntax

2.          CS0.301 - Computer Problem Solving

3.          CS7.401 – Introduction to Natural Language Processing

Breadth Courses for Stream 2

Students from Linguistics/Humanities/Social Science background (all three)

1.       CL4.401 - Mathematics (for CL)

2.       CL4.406 - Computer and Scripting I(H) and CL4.407 - Computer and Scripting II(H)

3.   CS7.401 – Introduction to Natural Language Processing

Depth Courses for both the streams

Three courses should be from level 400 and above. One project/Independent Study is allowed in place of a depth course. These courses should be advised/approved by the thesis advisor.

Click here  for Detailed Curriculum Document

Regulations:

https://www.iiit.ac.in/academics/programmes/phdreg

Admission procedure

Visit https://pgadmissions.iiit.ac.in/

http://ltrc.iiit.ac.in

https://www.iiit.ac.in/people/faculty

Research Centers

https://www.iiit.ac.in/research/centers

Page last updated on February, 2024

Department of Cognitive Science

Dr. smolensky: one of ai magazine’s most-cited authors.

Dr. Paul Smolensky ‘s 2022 paper on Neurocompositional computing: From the Central Paradox of Cognition to a new generation of AI systems was recently celebrated by AI Magazine as one of their top 10 most-cited papers published*, which highlights the impact of his work within the AI community. Congrats, Dr. Smolensky!

* Citation data from Clarivate Analytics. Compared to articles published 1st January 2022 – 31st December 2023 .

Smolensky, P., R. T. McCoy, R. Fernandez, M. Goldrick, and J. Gao. 2022. “Neurocompositional computing: From the Central Paradox of Cognition to a new generation of AI systems.”  AI Magazine  43: 308–22.  https://doi.org/10.1002/aaai.12065

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Six with UB ties receive Fulbright student awards

campus news

By CHARLES ANZALONE

Published May 21, 2024

Six UB students and alumni have won Fulbright awards, the prestigious national scholarship competition for grants to study, research and teach abroad.

“From its inception in 1946, the Fulbright program has been at the forefront of efforts to spread international goodwill and cooperation,” says Patrick McDevitt, Fulbright program adviser, associate professor of history and a 1993 Fulbright grantee to New Zealand.

McDevitt says UB is proud to have a long history of contributing to the Fulbright program by sending some of the university’s brightest graduates overseas to represent the university and the nation.

Students who win these awards often have “life-changing experience” he says, “and build relationships that will stay with them for the remainder of their lives.”

McDevitt says UB submitted 15 applications, nine of which were recommended to the national committees. He also recognized the pivotal support and contributions from UB’s Office of Fellowships and Scholarships, citing in particular director Megan Stewart.

The Fulbright recipients:

Peggy “Pegi” Bakula. A UB doctoral student in linguistics, Bakula will document masalai stories in Yil, a Torricelli language of Papua New Guinea. She will conduct field work in the country, considered the world’s most linguistically diverse, with more than 800 languages belonging to approximately 30 language families.

The objective of Bakula’s project is to document aspects of the cultural heritage of the Yamari people narrated in Yil, their traditional language. While all features of cultural heritage will be chronicled, the focus of the documentation is the Yamari’s masalai stories. The masalai are spirits who hold specific associations with people (clans, descent lines) and places (villages, garden areas, wild bush). Masalai are a component of traditional faith systems in Papua New Guinea before Christianization. By documenting the Yamari masalai stories, their traditional beliefs and language are preserved for future generations.

Bakula is a recipient of a SUNY Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship (2018-22) and a College of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Fellowship (2022 and 2023). She plans to pursue a career in academia.

Reem Berman. Berman earned a bachelor’s degree in public health in 2020 and a master’s in public health in 2023. She received a Fulbright English Teaching Award (ETA) to Saudi Arabia.

Berman says she was motivated to apply for the ETA to Saudi Arabia after witnessing the power of the English language during a visit to the country. She has worked with college students in a variety of capacities, including collaborating with UB’s Experiential Learning Network to lead undergraduates in a virtual project with a non-profit in Kenya.

Berman also has served as a venture coach, supporting student entrepreneurs. She has taught workshops to groups of 200 students, and has also assisted children with reading through a local public library. She hopes to help create a classroom environment where students are open to sharing their viewpoints. 

Berman is a winner of won both the WNY Prosperity Fellowship and a Blackstone Launchpad Fellowship.

Leah Cabarga. Cabarga, who received an undergraduate degree in 2023 and master’s degree in education in 2024, both from UB, is the recipient of an ETA to Montenegro.

Cabarga says she decided to pursue an ETA because of her interest in education and a desire to learn more about other cultures to inform her career in teaching. She has worked as a writing consultant at UB’s Center for Excellence in Writing, meeting with many students who speak English as a second language (ESL). Cabarga has tutored in the Buffalo Public Schools and worked as a substitute teacher in suburban school districts. 

She is a recipient of a Daniel Acker Scholarship (2019-23). After completing the Fulbright grant, Cabarga hopes to teach grades 5-12 in Buffalo.

Cameron Kowalczewski. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from UB in 2022, Kowalczewski earned an ETA to Taiwan.

A published poet, Kowalczewski says he pursued a Fulbright ETA because of his experience with education and language learning. He has tutored Somali Bantu refugees in the city of Buffalo, as well as non-native English speakers in Germany. 

His future plans include pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in linguistics.

Disorn Kwunchaithanya. A 2020 graduate from the School of Management with a BS in business administration, international business concentration, Kwunchaithanya received an English Teaching Award to Thailand.

Kwunchaithanya says he strongly believes in the power of English education and is currently pursuing a master’s in education with a focus on teaching adolescents with disabilities at the Banks Street College of Education in New York City. Kwunchaithanya has classroom experience as a special education teacher in New York City public schools and volunteered at a day care center for more than two years.

He plans to work toward a PhD degree in sociology and eventually an academic career.

Liza Wilson. A master’s student in geology, Wilson earned a research grant to study “Rapid Deglaciation and Changes in Volcanism and Seismicity: Sólheimajökull Case Study” in Iceland. Wilson will be working on the ISVOLC: Effects of climate change induced Ice-retreat on Seismic and VOLCanic activity project at the University of Iceland’s Institute of Earth Sciences in Reykjavik, under the supervision of Freysteinn Sigmundsson.

Her research will center on the relationship between glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) caused by glacial retreat and changes in seismic and volcanic activity.

Wilson received the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship (2019-21) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Killam Undergraduate Fellowship (2019), awarded by Fulbright Canada.

After completing the Fulbright, Wilson plans to begin doctoral work studying volcano-ice interactions and climate change.

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Recent University News

• 5/22/24 UB biomedical sciences grads excel in community, too
• 5/22/24 Six with UB ties receive Fulbright student awards
• 5/22/24 UB Neurosurgery to Host DEI/URM Summer Scholar
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• 5/22/24 UB biosciences grads excel in the community as well as in the lab

UCSB Classics Welcomes New Faculty Member Annie Lamar

We are delighted to announce that Annie Lamar will be joining the Classics faculty as an Assistant Professor next year. Professor Lamar (PhD, Stanford) is a Classicist and Data Scientist whose research uses computational methods to analyze Homer and develops machine-learning models for low-resource languages like ancient Greek. 

Professor Lamar joins a growing network of faculty in computational linguistics and humanistic data science on campus. She will teach a range of Classics courses, as well as a new course in Literary Text Mining (Spring 2025) and other new courses in Classics & Data Science. Her computational linguistics lab will offer exciting opportunities for undergraduate majors and graduate students to participate in high-level research.

Diversity Statement

The Department of Classics is committed to promoting excellence through diversity and inclusiveness. In keeping with the academic mission of the University of California to educate its residents, we strive to create an environment that is welcoming for all sectors of our state’s diverse population and that is conducive to the development of each individual’s highest potential. In addition, the Department upholds the principle of equal opportunity for all since equal opportunity fosters the best conditions possible for the enhancement of research, creativity, innovation, and excellence.

Diversity Officer:  Sara Lindheim

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Projects funded by 2024 New Frontier Grants look toward the future

New Frontier Grants

By | Kate Blackwood , A&S Communications

How will a new multinational power grid affect people and cultures across Asia? Will artificial intelligence aid or hurt the United Nations? How can scholars take a new approach to Haudenosaunee studies? What new instruments will help us understand and harness the power of two different types of quantum materials?

To support the progress of the Cornell researchers asking these questions, the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) has awarded five New Frontier Grants to cutting edge projects in science, social science and the humanities led by A&S faculty, some with collaborators from other colleges.

“Technologies such as AI and quantum computing are developing rapidly with the potential for profound impacts on our society. At the same time we are gaining new insight into history, communities and human endeavor. The New Frontier Grants awarded this year ensure that Cornell researchers are working at the forefront of discovery in these critical and often interconnected areas, steering their adoption and implementation toward the greater good,” said Rachel Bean, interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “This year, five new, innovative projects draw on the expertise of Arts and Sciences faculty, demonstrating our college’s characteristic zeal for interdisciplinary collaboration.

“I am thrilled to announce these ground-breaking research projects conceived by our brilliant scholars, and I am grateful for the donors whose philanthropy has been absolutely vital to the New Frontier Grant program,” she said. 

To date, the New Frontier Grant program has funded 39 projects.

Projects funded in 2024 by New Frontier Grants address a wide range of issues in the humanities, social sciences and sciences. Some cross disciplinary boundaries to solve complex problems while others focus closely on mysteries of nature that have implications for future technologies.

In the project “Engaging Multi-Scalar Dynamics in Trans-Asia Infrastructures,” Shaoling Ma , associate professor of Asian studies (A&S) and Stefano Galelli , associate professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering (ENG) will analyze the dynamic interconnections and divisions between human-natural systems involved in the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project. Power grids challenge researchers with multi-scalar objects of study that range from man-made infrastructures, the natural environment, narratives about displaced communities and environmental degradation to remotely-sensed data sets, requiring a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The project aims to show that computational modeling helps to verify and quantify critical humanities theories, and that the latter can enrich data-driven analysis. By closing existing knowledge gaps that have failed to encapsulate the geopolitical, socioeconomic, environmental and cultural dynamics of trans-Asia energy networks, the researchers hope to help construct an alternative infrastructural future centered on people and ecology instead of profit and capital.

“Reconceptualizing Haudenosaunee Studies” aims to advance Haudenosaunee studies in linguistics, anthropology/archaeology and art/history of art while changing long-dominant methods in the field. Foregrounding involvement of community members and knowledge keepers, particularly Stephen Henhawk , research associate in linguistics (A&S) and program associate in the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program (AIISP) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the researchers will focus on Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫɁ (Cayuga), the indigenous language and people of the Cayuga Lake region, while touching all the Haudenosaunee nations and the diaspora into which many Haudenosaunee people have been driven. Research goals include revision of the stereotyped “polysynthetic” characterization of Haudenosaunee languages; rewriting the narrative of the long-term Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫɁ habitation in the region; and re-inscription of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫɁ physical presence here. The project is led by John Whitman , professor of linguistics (A&S); Kurt Jordan , professor of anthropology (A&S); and Jolene Rickard , associate professor of history of art and visual studies (A&S).

Generative AI is poised to revolutionize various sectors, extending its reach into international organizations such as the United Nations. But adoption of AI in report generation for these organizations could have major implications for governance if AI is inaccurate and biased. In the project “New Frontier for AI in Global Policy Dissemination: Exploring the Use of AI for Evaluating International Organization Country Performance Reports,”  Sabrina Karim , the Hardis Family Assistant Professor of government (A&S) aims to comprehensively examine the advantages and drawbacks of employing AI in policy report writing, leveraging the established infrastructure of the Gender and Security Sector Lab at Cornell, which includes undergraduate research. Karim will also compare how officials perceive reports written by AI compared to humans.

Two projects approach important research frontiers in quantum physics.

In “Development of a Time-Resolved Sagnac Interferometer for Ultra-Sensitive and Ultra-Fast Optical Studies of Spin Dynamics,” Dan Ralph , the F. R. Newman Professor of Physic (A&S), together with Gregory Fuchs , professor of applied and engineering physics (ENG), will investigate the physics of “spintronics,” trying to understand how to efficiently excite and control the dynamics of electron spins in materials where the overall equilibrium magnetism is weak or zero, i.e. ferrimagnets or antiferromagnets. These dynamics are of interest in part because the spin precession speed can be much faster than for conventional strong ferromagnets (0.1-several THz versus 0.1-10 GHz). However, studying these materials requires the development of new experimental techniques with both very high sensitivity and very high speed. The goal of the project is to develop a unique spintronics instrument capable of time resolution down to 200 fs together with the sensitivity to measure even weakly-magnetic nanometer-scale films.   In “Imaging Invisible Spin Orders with Nanoscopic Magnetic Tunneling Junctions” Xiaomeng Liu , assistant professor of physics (A&S) will explore unconventional magnetism, such as quantum spin liquids. A new frontier in quantum materials exploration, unconventional magnetism offers tantalizing quantum properties like long-range entanglement and fractionalized excitations – but probing these materials is challenging due to their vanishing magnetization. This proposal aims to develop an imaging technique that is effective in probing spin orders even in the absence of global magnetization. This approach enables atomic-resolution imaging of spin textures and excitations applicable to both conducting and insulating 2D magnetic materials. This endeavor holds promise for unraveling specific quantum properties critical for future advancements in spintronics and topological quantum computing.

Read the story on the Cornell Chronicle website . 

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Eleven from MIT awarded 2024 Fulbright fellowships

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Eleven MIT undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni have won Fulbright grants to embark on projects overseas in the 2024-25 grant cycle. Two other students were offered awards but declined them to pursue other opportunities.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers year-long opportunities for American citizen students and recent alumni to conduct independent research, pursue graduate studies, or teach English in over 140 countries.

MIT has been a Fulbright Top-Producing Institution for five years in a row. MIT students and alumni interested in applying to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program should contact Julia Mongo, MIT Fulbright program advisor, in the Office of Distinguished Fellowships in Career Advising and Professional Development.

April Cheng is a junior studying physics with a minor in mathematics and is fast-tracked to graduate this spring. They will take their Fulbright research grant to the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Potsdam, Germany, where they will study different statistical techniques to infer the expansion rate of the universe from gravitational waves. They first developed an interest in gravitational waves and black holes at the MIT LIGO and Caltech LIGO labs, but their research spans a wide range of topics in astrophysics, including cosmology and fast radio bursts. Cheng is passionate about physics education and is heavily involved in developing educational materials for high school Science Olympiads. At MIT, they are a member of the Physics Values Committee, the physics mentorship program, and the MIT Lion Dance team. After Fulbright, Cheng will pursue a PhD in astrophysics at Princeton University, where they have received the President’s Fellowship.

Grace McMillan is a senior majoring in literature and mechanical engineering with a concentration in Russian language. As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award recipient, she will teach at a university in Kazakhstan. McMillan’s interest in Central Asia was sparked by a Russian language immersion program she participated in during her sophomore summer in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, funded by MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI). She is excited to help her students learn English to foster integration into the global academic community. During her time at MIT, McMillan has conducted research with faculty in nuclear science; earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences; and the Digital Humanities Lab. Outside of academics, she has been an active member of her sorority, Sigma Kappa, and has served on the MIT Health Consumers’ Advisory Council for two years. After Fulbright, McMillan hopes to attend law school, focusing on education reform.

Ryan McTigue will graduate this spring with a BS in physics and mathematics and a concentration in Spanish. With a Fulbright award to Spain, he will do research at the University of Valencia’s Institute of Molecular Science focusing on the physics of two-dimensional multiferroic nanodevices. He is looking forward to improving his Spanish and getting the opportunity to live abroad. At MIT, McTigue became interested in condensed matter physics research with the Checkelsky group, where he focused on engineering materials with flat bands that exhibited correlated electron effects. Outside of research, McTigue has been a mentor in the physics department’s mentoring program and a member of the heavyweight men’s crew team. After his Fulbright grant, McTigue will begin a PhD in physics at Princeton University.

Keith Murray ’22 graduated from MIT with a BS in computation and cognition and linguistics and philosophy. He will receive his MEng degree in computation and cognition this spring. As a Fulbright Hungary research grantee at the HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Murray will design generative AI models inspired by the primary visual cortex with the goal of making AI models more interpretable. At MIT, Murray’s research experiences spanned from training mice to perform navigation tasks in virtual reality to theorizing about how neurons might compute modular arithmetic. He was also a member of the men’s heavyweight crew team and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After Fulbright, Murray will pursue a PhD in neuroscience at Princeton University.

Maaya Prasad ’22 completed her undergraduate education at MIT with degrees in both electrical engineering and creative writing and will graduate this month with an MS in mechanical and ocean engineering. Her thesis research focuses on microplastic detection using optical sensing. Prasad’s Fulbright fellowship will take her to Mauritius, an East African island country located in the Indian Ocean. Here, she will continue her master’s research at the University of Mauritius and will work with local researchers to implement a microplastic survey system. While at MIT, Prasad joined the varsity sailing team with no prior experience. Her time spent on the water led her to pursue marine research at MIT Sea Grant, and she eventually earned an honorable mention to the 2023 All-American Sailing Team. After Fulbright, Prasad hopes to pursue a PhD in applied ocean engineering.

Anusha Puri is a senior majoring in biological engineering. Her Fulbright award will take her to Lausanne, Switzerland, where she will conduct cancer immunology research at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research. At MIT, Puri’s work in the Weinberg Lab focused on understanding mechanisms that drive resistance of breast cancer to immunotherapy. On campus, she founded and serves as president of MIT’s premiere stand-up comedy group, Stand-Up CoMITy, leads MIT’s Bhangra dance team, and is the editor-in-chief of the MIT Undergraduate Research Journal . She looks forward to engaging with teaching outreach and practicing her French in Switzerland. After her Fulbright grant, she plans to pursue a PhD in biomedical science.

Olivia Rosenstein will graduate this spring with a BS in physics and a minor in French. Her Fulbright will take her to ENS Paris-Saclay in Palaiseau, France, where she’ll deepen her education in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics. At MIT, Rosenstein has worked in Professor Mark Vogelsberger’s group researching models of galaxy formation and the early universe, and in Professor Richard Fletcher’s group on an erbium-lithium experiment to investigate quantum many-body dynamics in a degenerate mixture. In France, she will expand on the skills she developed in Fletcher’s lab by contributing to a project using optical tweezer arrays to study dipolar interactions. After Fulbright, Rosenstein plans to return to the United States to pursue a PhD in experimental AMO at Caltech.

Jennifer Schug willreceive this spring an MEng degree in the Climate, Environment, and Sustainability track within the MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. During her Fulbright year in Italy, she will conduct research on carbon storage in the Venice lagoon at the University of Padua. Schug is excited to build upon her research with the Terrer Lab at MIT, where she is currently investigating the effectiveness of forestation as a carbon sequestration strategy. She also looks forward to improving her Italian language skills and learning about Italian history and culture. Before beginning Fulbright this fall, Schug will study ecological preservation in Sicily this summer through an MIT-Italy collaboration with the University of Catania. After Fulbright, she hopes to continue researching nature-based solutions as climate change mitigation strategies.

Vaibhavi Shah ’21 earned a BS in biological engineering and in science, technology, and society at MIT, where she was named a Goldwater Scholar. She is now a medical student at Stanford University. As a Fulbright-Fogarty Fellow in Public Health, Shah will use both her computational and humanities backgrounds to investigate sociocultural factors underlying traumatic surgical injuries in Nepal. While at MIT, she was on the executive board of GlobeMed and the Society of Women Engineers, and she hopes to use those experiences to amplify diverse voices in medicine while on her journey to becoming a neurosurgeon-scientist. After Fulbright, Shah will complete her final year of medical school.

Charvi Sharma is a senior studying computer science and molecular biology with a minor in theater arts. As a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Spain, she is excited to engage in cross-cultural exchange while furthering her skills as a teacher and as a leader. In addition to teaching, Sharma looks forward to immersing herself in the country’s vibrant traditions, improving her Spanish proficiency, and delving into the local arts and dance scene. At MIT, through Global Teaching Labs Spain and her roles as a dynaMIT mentor, an associate advisor, and a captain and president of her dance teams Mirchi and Nritya, Sharma has served as a teacher of both STEM and dance. Her passion for making a difference in her community is also evident through her work with Boston Medical Center’s Autism Program through the PKG Public Service Center and as an undergraduate cancer researcher in the Yaffe Lab. After Fulbright, Sharma plans to pursue an MD and, ultimately, a career as a clinician-scientist.

Isabella Witham is a senior majoring in biological engineering. As a recipient of the Fulbright U.S.-Korea Presidential STEM Initiative Award, she will conduct research at Seoul National University’s Biomimetic Materials and Stem Cell Engineering Lab. Her work will involve creating biomimetic scaffolds for pancreatic cell transplantation to treat type I diabetes. While in South Korea, Witham aims to improve her language skills and explore cultural sites and cities. At MIT, she worked in the Belcher Lab on nanoparticle formulations, was a tutor for MIT’s Women’s Technology Program, and volunteered as a Medlink. After her Fulbright fellowship, she plans to pursue a PhD in biological engineering.

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Eleven from MIT awarded 2024 Fulbright fellowships

The fulbright us student program funds research, study, and teaching opportunities abroad..

Eleven MIT undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni have won Fulbright grants to embark on projects overseas in the 2024-25 grant cycle. Two other students were offered awards but declined them to pursue other opportunities.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers year-long opportunities for American citizen students and recent alumni to conduct independent research, pursue graduate studies, or teach English in over 140 countries.

MIT has been a Fulbright Top-Producing Institution for five years in a row. MIT students and alumni interested in applying to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program should contact Julia Mongo, MIT Fulbright program advisor, in the Office of Distinguished Fellowships in Career Advising and Professional Development.

April Cheng is a junior studying physics with a minor in mathematics and is fast-tracked to graduate this spring. They will take their Fulbright research grant to the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Potsdam, Germany, where they will study different statistical techniques to infer the expansion rate of the universe from gravitational waves. They first developed an interest in gravitational waves and black holes at the MIT LIGO and Caltech LIGO labs, but their research spans a wide range of topics in astrophysics, including cosmology and fast radio bursts. Cheng is passionate about physics education and is heavily involved in developing educational materials for high school Science Olympiads. At MIT, they are a member of the Physics Values Committee , the physics mentorship program, and the MIT Lion Dance team. After Fulbright, Cheng will pursue a PhD in astrophysics at Princeton University, where they have received the President’s Fellowship.

Grace McMillan is a senior majoring in literature and mechanical engineering with a concentration in Russian language. As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award recipient, she will teach at a university in Kazakhstan. McMillan’s interest in Central Asia was sparked by a Russian language immersion program she participated in during her sophomore summer in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, funded by MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI). She is excited to help her students learn English to foster integration into the global academic community. During her time at MIT, McMillan has conducted research with faculty in nuclear science; earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences; and the Digital Humanities Lab. Outside of academics, she has been an active member of her sorority, Sigma Kappa, and has served on the MIT Health Consumers’ Advisory Council for two years. After Fulbright, McMillan hopes to attend law school, focusing on education reform.

Ryan McTigue  will graduate this spring with a BS in physics and mathematics and a concentration in Spanish. With a Fulbright award to Spain, he will do research at the University of Valencia’s Institute of Molecular Science focusing on the physics of two-dimensional multiferroic nanodevices. He is looking forward to improving his Spanish and getting the opportunity to live abroad. At MIT, McTigue became interested in condensed matter physics research with the Checkelsky group , where he focused on engineering materials with flat bands that exhibited correlated electron effects. Outside of research, McTigue has been a mentor in the physics department’s mentoring program and a member of the heavyweight men’s crew team. After his Fulbright grant, McTigue will begin a PhD in physics at Princeton University.

Keith Murray ’22 graduated from MIT with a BS in computation and cognition and linguistics and philosophy. He will receive his MEng degree in computation and cognition this spring. As a Fulbright Hungary research grantee at the HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Murray will design generative AI models inspired by the primary visual cortex with the goal of making AI models more interpretable. At MIT, Murray’s research experiences spanned from training mice to perform navigation tasks in virtual reality to theorizing about how neurons might compute modular arithmetic. He was also a member of the men’s heavyweight crew team and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. After Fulbright, Murray will pursue a PhD in neuroscience at Princeton University.

Maaya Prasad ’22 completed her undergraduate education at MIT with degrees in both electrical engineering and creative writing and will graduate this month with an MS in mechanical and ocean engineering. Her thesis research focuses on microplastic detection using optical sensing. Prasad’s Fulbright fellowship will take her to Mauritius, an East African island country located in the Indian Ocean. Here, she will continue her master’s research at the University of Mauritius and will work with local researchers to implement a microplastic survey system. While at MIT, Prasad joined the varsity sailing team with no prior experience. Her time spent on the water led her to pursue marine research at MIT Sea Grant, and she eventually earned an honorable mention to the 2023 All-American Sailing Team. After Fulbright, Prasad hopes to pursue a PhD in applied ocean engineering.

Anusha Puri is a senior majoring in biological engineering. Her Fulbright award will take her to Lausanne, Switzerland, where she will conduct cancer immunology research at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research. At MIT, Puri’s work in the Weinberg Lab focused on understanding mechanisms that drive resistance of breast cancer to immunotherapy. On campus, she founded and serves as president of MIT’s premiere stand-up comedy group, Stand-Up CoMITy, leads MIT’s Bhangra dance team, and is the editor-in-chief of the MIT Undergraduate Research Journal . She looks forward to engaging with teaching outreach and practicing her French in Switzerland. After her Fulbright grant, she plans to pursue a PhD in biomedical science.

Olivia Rosenstein will graduate this spring with a BS in physics and a minor in French. Her Fulbright will take her to ENS Paris-Saclay in Palaiseau, France, where she’ll deepen her education in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics. At MIT, Rosenstein has worked in Professor Mark Vogelsberger’s group researching models of galaxy formation and the early universe, and in Professor Richard Fletcher’s group on an erbium-lithium experiment to investigate quantum many-body dynamics in a degenerate mixture. In France, she will expand on the skills she developed in Fletcher’s lab by contributing to a project using optical tweezer arrays to study dipolar interactions. After Fulbright, Rosenstein plans to return to the United States to pursue a PhD in experimental AMO at Caltech.

Jennifer Schug  will receive this spring an MEng degree in the Climate, Environment, and Sustainability track within the MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. During her Fulbright year in Italy, she will conduct research on carbon storage in the Venice lagoon at the University of Padua. Schug is excited to build upon her research with the Terrer Lab at MIT, where she is currently investigating the effectiveness of forestation as a carbon sequestration strategy. She also looks forward to improving her Italian language skills and learning about Italian history and culture. Before beginning Fulbright this fall, Schug will study ecological preservation in Sicily this summer through an MIT-Italy collaboration with the University of Catania. After Fulbright, she hopes to continue researching nature-based solutions as climate change mitigation strategies.

Vaibhavi Shah ’21 earned a BS in biological engineering and in science, technology, and society at MIT, where she was named a Goldwater Scholar. She is now a medical student at Stanford University. As a Fulbright-Fogarty Fellow in Public Health, Shah will use both her computational and humanities backgrounds to investigate sociocultural factors underlying traumatic surgical injuries in Nepal. While at MIT, she was on the executive board of GlobeMed and the Society of Women Engineers, and she hopes to use those experiences to amplify diverse voices in medicine while on her journey to becoming a neurosurgeon-scientist. After Fulbright, Shah will complete her final year of medical school.

Charvi Sharma  is a senior studying computer science and molecular biology with a minor in theater arts. As a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Spain, she is excited to engage in cross-cultural exchange while furthering her skills as a teacher and as a leader. In addition to teaching, Sharma looks forward to immersing herself in the country’s vibrant traditions, improving her Spanish proficiency, and delving into the local arts and dance scene. At MIT, through Global Teaching Labs Spain and her roles as a dynaMIT mentor, an associate advisor, and a captain and president of her dance teams Mirchi and Nritya, Sharma has served as a teacher of both STEM and dance. Her passion for making a difference in her community is also evident through her work with Boston Medical Center’s Autism Program through the PKG Public Service Center and as an undergraduate cancer researcher in the Yaffe Lab. After Fulbright, Sharma plans to pursue an MD and, ultimately, a career as a clinician-scientist.

Isabella Witham is a senior majoring in biological engineering. As a recipient of the Fulbright U.S.-Korea Presidential STEM Initiative Award, she will conduct research at Seoul National University’s Biomimetic Materials and Stem Cell Engineering Lab. Her work will involve creating biomimetic scaffolds for pancreatic cell transplantation to treat type I diabetes. While in South Korea, Witham aims to improve her language skills and explore cultural sites and cities. At MIT, she worked in the Belcher Lab on nanoparticle formulations, was a tutor for MIT’s Women’s Technology Program, and volunteered as a Medlink. After her Fulbright fellowship, she plans to pursue a PhD in biological engineering.

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