Hello [ˈhɛ.loʊ]!

My name is Mary "Katie" Kennedy (she/her/hers). I am a PhD graduate from the University of Southern California, advised by Professor Khalil Iskarous. 

I am a computational linguist with specialization in syntax, natural language processing (NLP), large-language models (LLMs), and psycholinguistics. My research interests focus on ways in which linguistic knowledge can inform and improve how we design, train, and evaluate language models. 

I've interned with Disney Research, working with Erika Varis Doggett (2024). Previously, I studied at Arizona State University where I received my BA in English with a concentration in Linguistics, my BA in East Asian Languages with a concentration in Chinese, and my MA in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. 

When I'm not working on my research, I can be found reading a book, doodling and painting with watercolors, exploring a museum (especially natural history, science, and botanical museums), or futzing with my Walstad fish tank.