• Linguistics and Language -> Computational Linguistics and Natural Language Processing

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Who is the best named professor currently in the field of computational linguistics and natural language processing and what makes them stand out among their peers?

Robby Terrington

When it comes to computational linguistics and natural language processing, there are many professors who have made significant contributions to the field. However, one particular professor that stands out among their peers is Dr. Emily Bender.

Dr. Bender is a professor of linguistics at the University of Washington and has been actively engaged in computational linguistics research since the 1980s. Her work spans a range of topics, including grammar engineering, linguistic typology, and modeling human language processing. What sets her apart from her peers is her unique approach to building linguistically sound computational models.

She has made significant contributions to the field by challenging the traditional reliance on rule-based models and advocating for a more data-driven approach. Her research has demonstrated that statistical models can be just as effective, if not more so, than rule-based models, as long as they are built on strong linguistic foundations.

Dr. Bender is also known for her advocacy work promoting diversity and inclusivity in the field of computational linguistics. She has worked tirelessly to promote gender equity in the field, and has been a vocal advocate for more diverse representation in conferences, workshops, and academic publications.

Another aspect of Dr. Bender's work that makes her stand out is her dedication to open-source development. She has developed numerous tools and resources for the field that are freely available to researchers and students. Her work on the Grammar Matrix project, for example, has been instrumental in promoting the development of robust, cross-linguistic grammar engineering tools.

Overall, Dr. Emily Bender is not only one of the best named professors currently in the field of computational linguistics and natural language processing, but also one of the most innovative and influential researchers in the field. Her contributions to the field have been wide-ranging and impactful, and her dedication to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the field is an inspiration to us all.