LangFest 2025 – Save the Date!
We are excited to announce that Language Fest 2025 will be held on the late afternoon and early evening of Wednesday, April 16th in Konover Auditorium (spoken program) and Bousfield Psychology Building Atrium (poster sessions).
Language Fest is a university-wide research conference that welcomes the full cross-disciplinary community of language researchers at UConn for a day of sharing results, ideas, methodologies, and fostering future interdisciplinary collaborations. Researchers from all disciplines of the language sciences and at all career stages are welcome and encouraged to submit their work. The event is made possible with the support of the Institute for Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS).
This year’s program will feature a graduate student symposium showcasing the diversity of methodologies used to study language, a data blitz session, an undergraduate commencement speaker, and poster sessions. Further details about submission and registration forms will be provided soon.
For any questions about Language Fest, please e-mail: langfest@uconn.edu and visit our website https://languagefest.uconn.edu/.
We look forward to your attendance and participation!
UConn LangFest Organizing Committee
Emma Wing
Jiabao Fan
Kaya LeGrand
Menghan Yang
Portia Washington
Briana Ashton
Mikayla Robinson
Melanie Stroud
Dr. Umay Suanda
COGS Colloquia on 3/7: Dr. Brian Boyd
Date/Time: Friday, 3/7/25 from 4:00pm – 5:30pm EST
Location: McHugh Hall 201
Bio: Brian Boyd, Ph.D., is the William C. Friday Distinguished Professor in the UNC School of Education and interim director of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was previously the director of the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project at the University of Kansas. Boyd is quite engaged in research that involves the most vulnerable, and often marginalized, populations. As a special educator by training, much of his research has involved the development and evaluation of evidence-based practices that could be implemented within school and home contexts. His more recent work has focused on how issues of implicit bias and race affect the outcomes of children with and without disabilities. Boyd’s research has been continuously funded by federal agencies such as the Institute of Education Sciences and National Institutes of Health. He is past vice president of the International Society for Autism Research. He also serves on multiple national boards that are dedicated to improving the outcomes of autistic persons and those from historically underserved communities.
Talk Title: Community-Engaged Research in Autism: Centering Marginalized Communities
Abstract: Community-engaged research (CER) is essential for addressing disparities in autism research by prioritizing the voices and experiences of marginalized communities. This presentation examines CER principles, challenges, and ethical considerations in working with diverse populations. It concludes with a discussion of how my research applies CER to foster meaningful partnerships, amplify community perspectives, and promote equity in autism services and outcomes.
Meetings: If you are interested in meeting with Dr. Boyd or attending dinner on Friday, please email crystal.mills@uconn.edu
Flyer is attached for posting. Please email Crystal if you have questions.
Cognitive Science Travel Award Application Open!
The Cognitive Science Program is excited to announce that it will be continuing the Cognitive Science Travel Award Program for another year!
The Cognitive Science Program’s mission is to prepare students to tackle global and multicultural challenges. Experiences abroad are vital to this preparation. Yet students majoring in Cognitive Science and related-STEM fields are generally less likely to participate in study abroad programs than other students.
These awards are available to UConn undergraduate students majoring or minoring in Cognitive Science or, students strongly considering the major/minor in the future. Priority will be given to students attending the Interdisciplinary Ethnography Field Summer School in Mauritius, the Neuroscience Study Abroad Summer Program in Salamanca, Spain, and UConn Brain & Behavior in Tel Aviv, Israel. All program details can be found on the Experiential Global Learning webpage. Courses taken through these summer programs can be counted as elective credits towards the Cognitive Science degree. This program will also support students traveling domestically or internationally to conferences, workshops, and meetings. Students planning to travel internationally will be eligible to apply for up to $2,000 and $1,000 for domestic travel. Any travel costs in excess of the allotment would be the responsibility of the recipient. The Cognitive Science Program is willing to review other international and domestic travel scenarios on a case-by-case basis.
Deadline: This award program operates with a rolling deadline. Once funds are exhausted, the application will close. While students can apply at any time, travel awards will be contingent on (a) applying and being accepted into a study abroad program and (b) sharing an official acceptance notification with us.
Priority consideration will be given to students who (1) are members of a group that is underrepresented at the University of Connecticut; or (2) have overcome obstacles such as socioeconomic, educational, or other societal disadvantages (arising, for example, through prejudice and/or discrimination); or (3) have worked with such groups to help overcome these or other obstacles.
Questions regarding the Cognitive Science Study Abroad Travel Award Program may be sent to cogsci@uconn.edu.
Please visit the Study Abroad Travel webpage for more information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Duolingo is hiring a language researcher!
Duolingo is hiring a language researcher to join Duolingo’s Efficacy Research Lab, which focuses on measuring the effectiveness of Duolingo’s courses and informing improvements to the learning experience.
Requirements:
– Skilled in statistics, data analysis and visualization, Python/R/SQL or other tools for handling large datasets
– PhD in linguistics, applied linguistics, cognitive science, or a related field
– Ability to work from or relocate to Pittsburgh, PA, USA (no remote option)
To learn more and apply: https://careers.duolingo.com/jobs/7690922002
Reminder: IBACS Undergraduate Research Supply Awards
-
The project description is well written and clearly explains the project.
- The project clearly focuses on a research area associated with the IBACS mission.
- The budget is itemized, appropriate to the project described, and reports the total cost of the project (even if it exceeds the funding requested).
- The faculty advisor is familiar with the student’s project and rates the student’s work to date highly.
- The student and his/her project meet the eligibility criteria.
-
The student has secured research compliance approval(s) if necessary for the project. No award will be issued until documentation of approval(s) is received.
COGS, ECOM & SLHS Talk on 11/8: Dr. Viorica Marian
Date/Time: Friday, 11/8/24 from 4:00pm – 5:30pm EST
Location: McHugh Hall 202
Bio: Viorica Marian is a cognitive scientist at Northwestern University, where she is the Sundin Endowed Professor and Director of the Bilingualism Lab. She studies the relationship between language and mind, with a focus on the psycholinguistics of bilingualism and multilingualism. Dr. Marian received her PhD in Psychology from Cornell University and previously served as Chair of the National Institutes of Health Study Section on Language and Communication and as Chair of the Northwestern Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is the recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science John McGovern Award, The Psychonomic Society Mid-Career Award, the Clarence Simon Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring, and the Editor’s Award for best paper from JSLHR. Marian’s new popular science book “The Power of Language” is being translated into 12 languages and counting.
Talk Title: The Power of Language: How the Codes We Use to Think, Speak, and Live Transform Our Minds
Abstract: Bilingualism and multilingualism have profound consequences for individuals and societies. Learning multiple languages changes not only how we use language, but also how we perceive the world, what we remember, how we learn, our creativity, decision making, and identity. I will present eye-tracking, mouse-tracking, and neuroimaging evidence showing that multiple languages continuously interact in the mind. I will conclude with a call for placing the study of language-mind interaction and multilingualism among the core areas of scientific investigation if we are to gain an accurate understanding of humanity’s potential.
Meetings: If you are interested in meeting with Dr. Marian during the day or attending dinner in the evening on Friday, please email crystal.mills@uconn.edu.
Flyer is attached for posting. Please email Crystal if you have questions.
COGS & ECOM Talk on 4/19: Dr. Psyche Loui
COGS and ECOM are excited to announce a joint talk on 4/19 by Dr. Psyche Loui from Northeastern University. Psyche Loui, PhD, is a psychology and neuroscience researcher, a musician, Associate Professor of Creativity and Creative Practice at Northeastern University, and Director of the Music, Imaging, and Neural Dynamics Laboratory (MIND Lab).
Date/Time: Friday, 4/19/24 from 4:00pm – 5:30pm Eastern Standard Time
In-Person Location: McHugh Hall 305
Zoom Option: https://uconn-edu.zoom.us/j/97306159796?pwd=ZHI1NTh1R1dPZTdYNS95U3hnN2QyZz09
Meeting ID: 973 0615 9796 Passcode: 391851
Talk Title: The Sciences of New Musical Systems, and Their Implications for Brain Health
Abstract: Music is one of life’s greatest pleasures. While abundant evidence points to the role of predictability (i.e. the knowledge of what comes next) in the experience of pleasure, little is known about how predictable musical features (e.g. melody, harmony, rhythm) come to be rewarding. I will present new work in my lab on behavioral and neuroimaging studies of the relationship between musical predictions and their reward value. Our behavioral studies test whether and how it is possible to acquire reward value solely from newly-formed predictions, by exposing participants to novel, acoustically-controlled musical stimuli with different statistical properties without extrinsic paired rewards. Our neuroimaging studies capitalize on activity of the dopaminergic reward system, and its connectivity to the auditory system, to test for individual differences in reward sensitivity from music. Results show that this reward sensitivity is robust but malleable (i.e. both a state and a trait), and lies at the heart of both active and receptive music-based interventions for a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders.
Meetings: If you are interested in meeting with Dr. Loui during the day or attending dinner in the evening, please email crystal.mills@uconn.edu.
Industry Job Opening – Cognitive Data Scientist
Kairos Research (https://kairosresearch.com) is a young and dynamic company based in Dayton, OH, conducting research at the intersection of human and machine cognition. We currently have an opening for a full-time Cognitive Data Scientist to help execute and grow our expanding portfolio of government-sponsored research in the human sciences. The Cognitive Data Scientist will play a major role in supporting our human performance data modeling and data analytics efforts with the Air Force Research Laboratory, as well as other projects that involve extracting insights from a wide variety of physiological and cognitive datasets (ranging from wearable sensors data to cognitive and behavioral performance data).
The ideal candidate is a highly creative, self-motivated individual who possesses a deep understanding of leading-edge techniques in data science, statistical modeling, and/or machine learning. Candidates who have experience working with hidden Markov models (HMMs) – in particular, experience using HMMs to model a user’s cognitive state (e.g., workload, fatigue, stress, attention) – are especially of interest. The candidate should also possess a strong publication record and a willingness and ability to seek independent research funding. Additionally, because Kairos is a small company with a highly collaborative work culture, we especially seek candidates who are outgoing and enjoy interacting with their colleagues and with our government sponsors.
Other recent Kairos projects span topics such as explainable AI, trust in automation, human-robot interaction, the cognitive science of intelligence analysis, and the identification and tracking of influence narratives on social media. In addition to the Air Force, our current and past sponsors include organizations such as DARPA, IARPA, the Office of Naval Research, the Army SBIR Program, the National Institutes of Health, and Special Operations Command. [Note that prior experience working on projects funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) and/or related to national security is a strong plus but is not required for this position.]
NOTE: This is a great opportunity for an academic research scientist who is seeking a career change but who wants to continue pursuing original research!
JOB LOCATION: Dayton, OH
REQUIRED:
1. US citizenship or green card.
2. PhD in Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Psychology, Neuroscience, Social-Behavioral Sciences, Human Factors, or related discipline (the specific field of study is less important than the candidate’s experience and skills).
3. Experience with advanced regression techniques, including hierarchical models, nonlinear models, multivariate (i.e., multiple outcomes) models, mixture models, and ensemble models—all in the context of a variety of outcome types (e.g., binary choices, Likert ratings, response times, etc.).
4. 3+ years research experience (includes postdoctoral research).
5. Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
6. A highly collaborative mindset.
PREFERRED:
1. Familiarity and experience with methods for analyzing noisy, high-dimensional data, including various dimensionality reduction methods (PCA, t-SNE, etc.).
2. Familiarity with contemporary machine learning techniques, including deep neural networks, especially as applied to natural language processing.
3. Experience leading and/or contributing substantially to successful research proposals (need not be defense-related; could include NSF, NIH, etc.).
CONTACT:
Interested candidates should email their CV/resume to Dr. Louis Marti (louis@kairosresearch.com) cc: techadmin@kairosresearch.com
[COGDEVSOC] Research Coordinator Opportunities in Connecticut
Research Coordinator, Connecticut Project
The TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health (TMW Center) develops science-based interventions, tools, and technologies to help parents and caregivers interact with young children in ways that maximize brain development. A rich language environment is critical to healthy brain development, however few tools exist to measure the quality or quantity of these environments. Access to this type of data allows caregivers to enhance interactions in real-time and gives policy-makers insight in how to best build policies that have a population-level impact.
Job Summary
The Research Coordinator will report to the Senior Project Manager and shall provide on-the-ground coordination, implementation, and research support. The Research Coordinator will work closely with Connecticut-based infant and toddler childcare providers and TMW Center research and curriculum staff. The Research Coordinator shall be responsible for recruiting and consenting study participants, providing regular implementation and technical support to study participants, data collection, and operational and logistical coordination of various study activities.
As a primary on-the-ground point of contact for study participants, the Research Coordinator shall build positive relationships with childcare centers, classroom teachers, families and OEC staff to ensure strong communication and a successful research partnership with the TMW Center.
Responsibilities
Participant Outreach, Recruitment & Data Collection:
- Serves as a primary point of contact for current and future research study participants.
- At the direction of TMW staff, conducts targeted outreach and recruitment to study participants (child care sites, early educators, parents, etc.). Organizes and coordinates recruitment activities, in collaboration with TMW staff.
- Obtains and maintains consents for all program participants in accordance with IRB protocol and TMW research standards.
- Ensures ongoing and new research subjects are on-boarded properly.
- Regularly reports updates on participant recruitment, study progress, and study completion to relevant parties.
- Partners with TMW Center staff members and other stakeholders to ensure current and upcoming studies have adequate amounts of participants.
- Collaborates actively with TMW Center staff members and external stakeholders to strategize approaches for pursuing new participants and partners.
- Maintains regular contact with study participants, updating them on study progress and ensuring that their contact information is updated on a routine basis. Maintains records of all communication efforts with participants.
- Implements data collection at the direction of TMW Center staff. Ensures quality of data collection and adherence to best practices.
- Supports TMW Center researchers with other aspects of outreach, recruitment, consent, data collection and support as requested.
Implementation & Participant Support:
- Under the direction of TMW staff, implements the TMW Center’s ECE professional development strategy and novel technology within study sites (childcare and early education classroom settings) and provides ongoing support for implementing teachers and site leadership.
- In coordination with and under the direction of TMW staff, provides implementation support, coaching, and training to study participants, ensuring that study activities are delivered with fidelity and that technical support is available promptly. This includes but is not limited to: regularly visiting study sites across Connecticut for routine in-person check-ins; providing technical assistance, troubleshooting and on-call technical and implementation support to study participants (including outside of business hours, as needed); ensuring proper implementation and delivery of TMW program in accordance with study protocol; tracking data related to these processes and other aspects of implementation; supporting TMW Manager of Training and other TMW staff by coordinating and/or facilitating training sessions and regular meetings for implementing staff.
Research Support:
- With other TMW teams, helps coordinate and implement formative testing, early pilots and research studies in partner sites.
- With other TMW teams, engages with study participants and other partners to collect data and gather user feedback to inform device optimization, program refinement, professional development model and implementation model.
- Supports implementing staff within study sites (childcare and early education classroom settings).
- Facilitates and coordinates video recording, data collection and other classroom-based research activities, as needed, under the direction of TMW’s Research team.
- Issues payments and other incentives to study participants. Ensures all payments are issued correctly and tracked with fidelity. Ensures full compliance with all University and funder obligations related to human subject payments and recordkeeping.
- Distributes technology and assists with inventory management, coordination and delivery logistics for technological devices and other materials provided to study sites.
Partnership Building:
- Builds and nurtures relationships with child care centers, classroom teachers, families, OEC staff and other stakeholders to ensure strong communication and ultimate success between the TMW Center and these individuals and groups.
- Helps identify additional childcare providers or organizations that could serve as future research partners.
- Serves as an ambassador of the TMW Center’s mission and resources to partners, families/caregivers, and the public.
Project Support:
- Provides technical, administrative and logistical support to the Connecticut early childhood research project team.
- Participates in meetings and planning sessions with TMW staff to share implementation observations and provide updates to inform program and process improvement.
Other Responsibilities:
- Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
- Installs, sets up and performs experiments; interacting with students and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator.
- Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.
- Performs other related work as needed