Alexander L. Francis @ Purdue

Alexander L. Francis
FrancisA@purdue.edu

EMPLOYMENT

I am currently an associate professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

In addition, I am a Faculty Associate in the Center on Aging and the Life Course, I am a Program Faculty member in Linguistics, and I hold a courtesy appointment in Psychological Sciences.

EDUCATION

Before coming to Purdue, I was a Post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Hong Kong, working primarily with Valter Ciocca.

Before that I received my PhD from the University of Chicago in Psychology and Linguistics under the supervision of Howard Nusbaum in Psychology and Karen Landahl in Linguistics. I also worked with Terry Regier, Steve Shevell, David McNeil, and Janellen Huttenlocher.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research investigates factors that affect how listeners identify and make use of linguistically relevant acoustic properties (cues) in the speech signal. One aspect of this research focuses on the role of linguistic experience, examining the effects of both long-term experience during the acquisition of a native language and short-term experience from laboratory training or preceding context. The other component of my research investigates how the processing of acoustic cues is affected by age-related changes in hearing, alone and in combination with age-related changes to cognitive mechanisms such as working memory and selective attention. I have also studied the production, perception and learning of Cantonese lexical tones, and factors contributing to the intelligibility of synthetic speech. I regularly teach courses in aging and communication, acoustics, and phonetics, and occasionally in research methods and attention.

After many years of sloth I joined the Wabash River Runners' Club. I particularly enjoy multi-sport events (triathlons and duathlons). Here are some of the races I have done. Life has taken its toll on my training and racing, but I hope to get back to it soon...

CONTACT ME

francisa@purdue.edu
(765) 494-3815
Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
Heavilon Hall
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907
USA

last updated September 4, 2012.