About

I'm a 5th year graduate student and Ph.D. Candidate in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language Laboratory within the Department of Linguistics at the University of Maryland, College Park.

I am basically interested in reconciling (or integrating whenever possible) the set of mental representations postulated by linguistic theory with processing theories, especially in the domain of speech perception.

Right now, I'm trying to find new ways of using electrophysiological techniques to test hypothesis about early aspects of lexical access. I'm also conducting an MEG experiment in American Sign Language aimed at investigating the time course of lexical retrieval and its (rough) underlying neural circuitry. So if you are a native user of ASL and happen to be in the DC area and want to participate in the study, please contact me.

Research Interests

Phonology, speech perception, and the nature of lexical representations.

American Sign Language.

Syntax of ellipsis and empty categories.

Language acquisition. Sentence processing.

How to relate linguistic and psycholinguistic theories.

How to use different brain imaging techniques to ask questions about mental representations and processes.

Ultimately, cognition.

Academic Background

2003-present

Ph.D program
Department of Linguistics, University of Maryland, College Park, USA

2002-03

M.A. in Cognitive Science
Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Ecole Polytechnique and Université Paris VI, Paris, France

2001

B.A. in Modern Languages and Literature
PUC-Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Teaching

Fall 2007

LING499A: Seminar in Psycholinguistics, Instructor
University of Maryland, College Park

Fall 2006

LING311: Syntax I, TA
University of Maryland, College Park