Athulya, MIT professor, focuses on the study and acquisition of language. She also helps students to acquire the skills they need to succeed in the field.
Aravind, an assistant professor of linguistics at MIT, is the co-director the Language Acquisition Lab. She studies the development of children’s understanding of what structures are permissible in their language, how these structures are interpreted and how they can be used in conversation.
Guidance in research or the field
Aravinds mentorship role is based on giving advice and feedback to her students as a colleague. This principle was clearly stated by her. Aravinds students are grateful for her commitment to their research. She offers constructive criticism to help them improve.
Her students appreciate her willingness and ability to engage with them in their research. One nominee wrote that Athulya always gave me specific suggestions to work on. [in order]She wants to be a better researcher and helps her students identify key research questions that they need to answer in their work.
Aravind offers her advisees robust feedback and gives them the freedom to explore research topics that interest them. One nominator stated: Athulya will always listen and respect my decision about how to proceed, even when we disagree on the future direction of our collaboration work.
Aravind cares deeply about her group’s academic and professional growth and works tirelessly to help them succeed.
A learning environment that is supportive, compassionate, and open-minded
Aravind takes pride in helping her students succeed academically. She also makes herself available to them for any personal issues related to academia.
Aravind believes in creating an open learning environment where students can share their struggles without fear of retribution. Aravind’s nominees recalled times when they felt comfortable sharing sensitive and personal issues with her and were grateful for her guidance and comfort.
Aravind, in particular, has demonstrated her willingness and ability to engage with students on issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. One nominee wrote that they had many intimate conversations with Athulya regarding issues related to political developments, racial inequities and other topics. The student then spoke out to say how grateful they are for Aravind’s openness and willingness to engage with these important, but difficult topics.
Aravind makes it clear that she is committed to building a compassionate, understanding and diverse learning community. She summarizes it thus: Graduate students need to feel connected and part of a community that allows them to solve the problems they are interested in. Since its inception, MIT Linguistics has strived to create such an environment.
