Dr. Svenja Völkel | Linguistics | Best Researcher Award

academic staff member at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany

Dr. Svenja Völkel is an accomplished linguist with a PhD in Language Typology from Johannes Gutenberg University. Her academic career spans over two decades, including roles as a scientific assistant, lecturer, and postdoctoral researcher at prestigious institutions such as Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg. Her research focuses on ethnolinguistics, cognitive linguistics, language typology, and language contact, with a particular interest in Oceania, especially Tonga and Polynesia. She has a substantial fieldwork experience in the Pacific region and has received numerous grants, including funding from the German Research Foundation and the Gutenberg Teaching Council.

professional profile

Scopus Profile

Education

Dr. Svenja Völkel completed her Magistra Artium (MA) in General Linguistics, Cultural Anthropology, and Media Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, in 2000. Her passion for languages and culture led her to pursue supplementary MA courses in African and German Studies. She further honed her academic skills with a PhD in Language Typology, awarded in 2007 from Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz. Additionally, she participated in a study abroad program in linguistics at the University Paul Valéry, Montpellier, France, from 1998 to 1999, and has completed professional leadership training through the ZQ certificate program. Her educational journey is marked by internships in international settings, notably at Hoechst Marion Roussel in Barcelona, Spain. Dr. Völkel’s comprehensive academic background is complemented by her interdisciplinary approach to linguistics, incorporating cultural and cognitive perspectives in her research and teaching.

work Experience

Dr. Svenja Völkel has held various academic roles at prestigious institutions. Since 2006, she has served as a scientific assistant at the Institute of Language Typology at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz. She has also been a lecturer at the Ruprecht Karls University, Heidelberg, and has taught numerous courses in linguistics and cultural anthropology. Her international experience includes a visiting scholar position at the University of Otago, New Zealand, in 2023, and fieldwork across Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia. Dr. Völkel’s research focuses on the linguistic and cultural dynamics of Oceania, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary studies. She has been involved in multiple collaborative projects, notably co-editing the “Anthropological Linguistics” book series and leading working groups on language and cognition. Her leadership extends to curriculum development, supervising theses, and contributing to various academic committees and research centers.

Research Focus

Dr. Svenja Völkel’s research focuses on ethnolinguistics, language typology, and cognitive linguistics, with a particular interest in the linguistic and cultural dynamics of Oceania, especially Tonga and Polynesia. Her work explores the intricate relationships between language, culture, and cognition, with specific research areas including person reference (onomastics, honorifics, and kinship terminology), spatial descriptions, possessive constructions, and word classes. She is fascinated by the way language reflects and shapes social structures, cognitive processes, and cultural identities. Dr. Völkel’s interdisciplinary approach often integrates cultural anthropology, resulting in significant contributions to understanding how language functions in diverse social and cognitive contexts. Her research is fieldwork-driven, having conducted extensive studies across the Pacific region, including in Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia. Through her work, she has established herself as a leading figure in anthropological linguistics and continues to explore new ways in which language and culture intersect.

Awards and honors

Dr. Svenja Völkel has received numerous accolades for her contributions to linguistics and anthropology. She was awarded the prestigious Gutenberg Research Funding in 2018-2019, which provided start-up funding for her grant applications. Her commitment to innovative teaching was recognized with the Gutenberg Teaching Council (GLK) grant for research-oriented teaching from 2014 to 2016. Earlier in her career, she received multiple fellowships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), including Graduate Fellowships I and II during her PhD studies from 2002 to 2004, which facilitated her extensive field research in Oceania. In 2007, the German Research Foundation (DFG) awarded her travel funding for her research in the Pacific. Additionally, Dr. Völkel received a European Commission-Socrates/ERASMUS grant for her study exchange at the University Paul Valéry, Montpellier. These honors reflect her academic excellence and commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research in language, culture, and cognition.

Conclusion

Dr. Svenja Völkel is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to her long-standing and impactful contributions to the fields of ethnolinguistics and language typology. Her in-depth fieldwork in Oceania, extensive academic experience, and leadership in collaborative research projects make her deserving of this recognition. With some additional focus on expanding her research beyond Oceania and increasing her engagement with the global linguistics community, she could further solidify her standing as a leading researcher in her field.

Publications to Noted

Naming and Labelling Contexts of Cultural Importance in Africa
Authors: Völkel, S., Ndlovu, S., Nassenstein, N.
Citations: 0
Year: 2023
Journal: International Journal of Language and Culture, 10(2), pp. 145–150

Named Entities, Naming Practices, and Their Meanings – Linguistic Types and Cultural Contexts
Author: Völkel, S.
Citations: 0
Year: 2023
Journal: International Journal of Language and Culture, 10(2), pp. 151–175

Introduction: The Cultural Aspect of Personal Names
Authors: Ndlovu, S., Völkel, S.
Citations: 0
Year: 2023
Book: Personal Names and Naming from an Anthropological-Linguistic Perspective, pp. 1–11

Personal Names and Naming in Tongan Language and Culture
Author: Völkel, S.
Citations: 1
Year: 2023
Book: Personal Names and Naming from an Anthropological-Linguistic Perspective, pp. 301–321

Approaches to Language and Culture
Authors: Völkel, S., Nassenstein, N.
Citations: 2
Year: 2022
Book: Approaches to Language and Culture, pp. 1–558

Studying the Relationship of Language and Culture: Scope and Directions
Authors: Nassenstein, N., Völkel, S.
Citations: 4
Year: 2022
Book: Approaches to Language and Culture, pp. 3–29

Tongan Honorifics and Their Underlying Concepts of Mana and Tapu: A Verbal Taboo in Its Emic Sense
Author: Völkel, S.
Citations: 6
Year: 2021
Journal: Pragmatics and Cognition, 28(1), pp. 25–56

Word Classes and the Scope of Lexical Flexibility in Tongan
Author: Völkel, S.
Citations: 5
Year: 2017
Journal: Studies in Language, 41(2), pp. 445–495

Tongan-English Language Contact and Kinship Terminology
Author: Völkel, S.
Citations: 5
Year: 2016
Journal: World Englishes, 35(2), pp. 242–258

Tongan Kinship Terminology and Social Stratification
Author: Völkel, S.
Citations: 1
Year: 2015
Book: Living Kinship in the Pacific, 4, pp. 107–127

Dr. Berenice Darnault | language learning | Best Researcher Award

Research and Teaching assistant at University of Southern Brittany, France

Dr. Berenice Darnault is a promising early-career researcher in applied linguistics with a PhD in Cognitive Science and Language from the University of Barcelona. Her research interests include second language acquisition (SLA), the psychology of language learning, and narrative studies, with a focus on lifelong language learning and senior learners. She has a strong academic background, multiple publications, and has actively participated in international conferences. Additionally, Dr. Darnault has experience in project management, teaching, and administration.

professional profile

ORCID

Education

Dr. Berenice Darnault holds a PhD in Cognitive Science and Language from the University of Barcelona, awarded with distinction (Cum Laude) in 2023. Her doctoral thesis explored lifelong learning motivational ecologies through the narratives of senior language learners. She earned a Master of Arts (MA Honours) in Modern and Medieval Languages from the University of Cambridge in 2014, following a previous Master’s in European Studies (Distinction) from King’s College London in 2013. Dr. Darnault also holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Modern and Medieval Languages from the University of Cambridge, completed in 2011 with a focus on language acquisition and linguistics. Her academic journey reflects a strong foundation in linguistics, language learning, and cognitive science, which underpins her research and teaching work in applied linguistics and SLA.

work Experience

Dr. Darnault’s academic career includes her current role as a Research and Teaching Assistant at the University of South Brittany, France, where she lectures on negotiation, international business, translation, and professional communication. Since 2015, she has worked as an English teacher and coach, mentoring university students and professionals in language acquisition. Previously, Dr. Darnault gained international teaching experience as an English and French Teaching Assistant at Escuela Virgen de Mirasierra in Madrid. In addition to her academic roles, she held key positions in administration and communication within the European Commission and the healthcare sector. Her experience across academic and non-academic sectors highlights her leadership, project management, and cross-cultural communication abilities.

Research Focus

Dr. Darnault’s research focuses on second language acquisition (SLA) and the psychology of language learning, with a particular interest in motivational ecologies. Her work explores how personality, intelligence, emotions, and motivation influence language learning, especially among senior learners. She draws on theoretical frameworks like the L2 Motivational Self System, self-determination theory, and dynamic systems theory to investigate how learners engage with languages across their lifespan. Additionally, Dr. Darnault is interested in lifelong language learning and the age-related effects on language acquisition. Her research also extends into socio-cultural perspectives in English language teaching (ELT) and the learner-teacher dynamic in communities of practice, making her contributions valuable to both SLA and applied linguistics fields.

Awards and honors

Dr. Berenice Darnault has been recognized for her academic and research contributions with several awards. In 2024, she received a prestigious European Second Language Association (EuroSLA) Workshop Grant from the EuroSLA Executive Committee, supporting her research in applied linguistics. She was also awarded the King’s Leadership Award at the University of King’s College in 2013 for her exemplary leadership in academic and extracurricular activities. During her undergraduate studies at the University of Cambridge, she was the recipient of the Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust Scholarship, which provided £6,000 annually for the duration of her studies from 2007 to 2011. These honors reflect her commitment to excellence in research and leadership in linguistics and education.

Conclusion

Dr. Berenice Darnault is a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award, particularly as an emerging scholar in applied linguistics. Her research on lifelong language learning and motivational ecologies, along with her interdisciplinary teaching and project management experience, make her a valuable asset to the academic community. However, to strengthen her candidacy, further expansion of her research scope and deeper leadership involvement within academic institutions could elevate her overall profile.

Publications to Noted

Innovative Use of Narrative Inquiry for Motivation Research (2025)
Authors: Consoli, S. and Darnault, B.
Citation: Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, Special Issue, Forthcoming 2025.

Lifelong Motivation and Foreign Language Learning: Perspectives from Later Life (2025)
Author: Darnault, B.
Citation: Bristol: Multilingual Matters, Forthcoming 2025.

Motivation et bien-être dans l’apprentissage des langues chez les seniors (2024)
Author: Darnault, B.
Citation: Les Langues Modernes, Forthcoming 2024.

Tracing the dynamics of motivational self-constructs across the lifespan: Tales from senior learners of English (2024)
Authors: Darnault, B., Tragant, E., and Lasagabaster, D.
Citation: System, Vol. 126, 103487, November 2024.

Svenja Völkel | Linguistics | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Svenja Völkel | Linguistics | Best Researcher Award

professional profile

Education

work Experience

Research Focus

Awards and honors

Conclusion

Publications to Noted

Berenice Darnault | language learning | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Berenice Darnault | language learning | Best Researcher Award

professional profile

Education

work Experience

Research Focus

Awards and honors

Conclusion

Publications to Noted

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