Junior Vargas

My research interests include, but are not limited to, language learning and processing (production and comprehension), bilingualism and multilingualism. I am passionate about the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying language functioning. I have experience in planning, designing and developing experimental projects aimed at understanding processes such as lexicalization and lexical competition, using behavioral and neuroimaging (i.e. EEG) techniques. Currently, I am part of the language team of SCALab at the University of Lille. Since my arrival in France, I have been working under the supervision of Professor Severine Casalis to conduct experiments aimed at understanding how language works in humans.

My thesis addresses vocabulary learning and the impact of this ability on reading comprehension. It belongs to a French national effort to improve educational policies and practices. The main objective of Action 6 in which our project is involved is  "Designing a repertory of inclusive pedagogical resources". For this reason, at the end of the thesis, the aim will be to design a pedagogical tool that will improve the reading skills of students from low-income background.
I am working under the mentorship of Severine Casalis and Ludivine Javourey.