NSF REU Site: Increasing American Indian/Alaska Natives perspectives in field and experimental linguistics –A Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at the University of Oregon Linguistics Department
Welcome !
The University of Oregon (UO) Linguistics REU site is an 8-week, fully funded summer program designed for American Indian/Alaska Native students. At this site, students gain research experience in two research areas Linguistics: Experimental Linguistics and Descriptive Linguistics. This program is also designed to provide an introduction to STEM and higher education more broadly. Linguistics is an ideal gateway to STEM because linguistics and language science interface with many different disciplines, such as education and second-language (L2) instruction, psychology, and cultural anthropology, among others. This program is designed to incorporate participants’ own experiences with Indigenous languages and language revitalization into hands-on research in Linguistics that is both culturally and professionally meaningful. This program is funded by the National Science Foundation (award #2050429).
The UO Linguistics Department is an ideal place for such a program. The UO Linguistics Department and its partners have developed long-standing relationships with Indigenous language communities which aim to strengthen communities’ capacity for documentation, description, and revitalization of Indigenous languages. Further, UO Linguistics has an especially diverse breadth of expertise ranging from field linguistics, experimental linguistics, and applied linguistics that mirrors the cross-disciplinary potential of Linguistics. Learn more about the UO Linguistics Department here.
At the UO Linguistics REU site, participants will carry out hands-on research through the department’s Language Revitalization Lab and the Speech Perception and Production Lab. The 8-week program includes instruction on topics in descriptive linguistics and experimental linguistics, equivalent to two 300-level (non-credit bearing) undergraduate courses. Students will attend academic development workshops including one each week on careers in science research.
The UO Linguistics REU Site includes a cultural component in response to a demonstrated need to grow the presence of Indigenous scholars in the field of Linguistics. As part of the program, participants will gain understanding of how the UO, Tribal communities, and Indigenous researchers work to meet community-based language revitalization and research goals. Through the REU workshops, projects, and instruction, participants will benefit from the presence and input of local Indigenous educators and researchers.
Selected students are fully funded to participate in this program with support for travel expenses, fully-funded on-campus housing, and a weekly stipend throughout the 8-week program. Deadline to apply: November 15, 2023!
Check out this video from the program Co-director, Dr. Gabriela Pérez Báez.
For more details on the UO Linguistics REU site Increasing American Indian/Alaska Natives perspectives in field and experimental linguistics, visit the Program Description page. For information on how to apply, visit the How to Apply page.