Curriculum Vitae
Michelle Kamigaki-Baron
Education
2020 - present
Doctor of Philosophy
Linguistics, University of British Columbia
Supervisor: Molly Babel
All but dissertation (ABD); Expected graduation: May 2026
2018 - 2020
Master of Arts
Linguistics, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Advisor: Katie Drager
2011 - 2014
Bachelor of Arts
Biological Sciences (Genetics), University of Southern California
Political Science
Advisor: Dr. Simon Gayther
Thesis: Investigated the function of ovarian cancer risk–associated SNPs located in the 3′ and 5′ UTRs of protein-coding genes.
Current Employment
Sessional Instructor | Simon Fraser University
LING 190: Science of Speech (Fall 2025 – present)
Teaching Assistant | University of British Columbia
LING 100: Introduction to Language and Linguistics – Dr. Eva Csipak (Fall 2025 – present)
Research Assistant | University of British Columbia
Supervisor: Dr. Molly Babel (Fall 2020 – present)
Primary Investigator | University of British Columbia
Secwepemctsín Structure and Sound group at UBC (2023 – present)
Relevant Previous Employment
Teaching Assistant | University of British Columbia
LING 101: Languages of the World – Dr. Strang Burton (Summer 2025)
LING 209: Clinical Topics of Speech Sciences – Dr. Molly Babel (Spring 2024, Spring 2025)
LING 313: Introduction to Phonetics & Speech Science – Dr. Molly Babel (Fall 2023)
LING 313: Introduction to Phonetics & Speech Science – Dr. Amanda Cardoso (Fall 2022)
LING 313: Introduction to Phonetics & Speech Science – Dr. Jahurul Islam (Spring 2022)
LING 200: Introduction to Phonetics & Phonology – Dr. Anne-Michelle Tessier (Fall 2021)
Teaching Assistant | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
LING 102: Introduction to the Study of Language – Dr. Kamil Deen (Spring 2020)
LING 150: Language in Hawaiʻi and the Asia-Pacific – Dr. Grant Muagututia (Fall 2019)
LING 105: Language Endangerment, Globalization, and Indigenous Peoples – Dr. Grant Muagututia (Fall 2019)
LING 102: Introduction to the Study of Language – Dr. Grant Muagututia (Fall 2019)
Phonetics Laboratory Assistant | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (Spring 2018 – Spring 2020)
English Teacher | Education First (Guangzhou, China) March 2016 – March 2018
Research Assistant | USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (Los Angeles, CA) Sep 2013 – Sep 2015
Volunteer Work
Co-chair, Community Outreach Committee – Green College, University of British Columbia (2024 – present)
Co-chair and Moderator, Members’ Series – Green College, University of British Columbia (2022 – 2024)
EDI PhD Representative – Department of Linguistics, University of British Columbia (2023 – 2024)
Tutoring – Department of Linguistics, University of British Columbia (2021 – 2023)
Linguistics Society of Mānoa – Fundraising Chair University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2019 – 2020)
Linguistics Society of Mānoa – Secretary University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2019 – 2020)
English Teacher - Department of Education, National Pingtung University (2010)
Published Works
Grama, J., Kamigaki-Baron, M., Drager, K. (in press). Pidgin and English in Hawai’i. In R. Hickey and K. Burridge. New Cambridge History of the English Language Volume VI: English in Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Pacific. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Babel, M., Kamigaki-Baron, M., Soo, R. (in press). Bilingual speech and exemplar theory. In M. Amengual The Cambridge Handbook of Bilingual Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kamigaki-Baron, M. (2021). Acoustic Description of Secwepemctsín Vowels. The 56th Annual International Conference on Salish and Neighbouring Languages (ICSNL56)
Nastevski, A.L, Yu, B., Liu, S., Kamigaki-Baron, M., De Boer, G., Gick, B. (2021). How do masks affect the way we speak? Canadian Linguistic Association (CLA).
Lo, R., Wang, M., Kamigaki-Baron, M., Luntzlara, N., Sóskuthy, M. Vowels are "stretchier" than consonants: A cross-linguistic corpus study of the segmental implementation of articulation rate (LabPhon18).
Public Engagement
Hawaiʻi Public Radio (NPR): Linguist explores if Pidgin speakers have an advantage in learning Hawaiian – March 28, 2024
Swarthmore University: Documenting Creoles and Indigenous Languages – April 8, 2024
University of Victoria: Investigating the Psycholinguistic Connections between Pidgin and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi – March 11, 2024
Moana Nui Podcast: The Value of Pidgin – February 1, 2024
Moana Nui Podcast: Let's Talk About "Paradise" – December 5, 2023
Green College UBC: Learning a New Language by Utilizing Your First Language – November 20, 2023
UBC Colloquium Series: Understanding the Psycholinguistic Connections between Pidgin and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi – April 12, 2023
Fieldnotes Podcast: On Pidgin and Secwepemctsín Research – January 31, 2023
Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo: Community Presentation: Understanding the Psycholinguistic Connections between Pidgin and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi – February 22, 2023
Green College UBC: Language as Colonialism – October 1, 2022
Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc: Understanding Stress and Schwa in Secwepemctsín – September 11, 2022
Conference Talks
LinguisticsNEW 2025, UBC: Evidence of Ambient Learning of an Indigenous Language in the Pacific with Applications to the First Nations Context in Canada — May 16, 2025
University of Saskatchewan, Bilingualism and Multilingualism (BAM II): Evidence of Ambient Learning of an Indigenous Language in the Pacific with Applications to the First Nations Context in Canada — May 10, 2025
International Conference on Language Documentation & Conservation (ICLDC), University of Hawai’i Mānoa: Access to ʻŌlelo Hawai’i Education for Kānaka Maoli Living in the Diaspora — March 9, 2025
International Conference on Language Documentation & Conservation (ICLDC), University of Hawai’i Mānoa: Proto-lexical Advantage for ʻŌlelo Hawai’i Acquisition for Pidgin Speakers in Hawai’i and in the Diaspora — March 8, 2025
New Ways of Analyzing Variation (NWAV 52), Miami Beach: Exploring the Social and Linguistic Connections between Pidgin and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi — November 8, 2024
Pacific (Re)Orientations 2023-4 Conference, UBC Vancouver: — April 15–16, 2024
Bilingualism and Multilingualism Conference, UBC Okanagan: Understanding Stress and Schwa in Secwepemctsín — May 14, 2023
56th Annual International Conference on Salish and Neighbouring Languages (Virtual): Acoustic Description of Secwepemctsín Vowels — August 21, 2021
Canadian Linguistic Association (CLA, Virtual): How Do Masks Affect the Way We Speak? — June 4, 2021
Language and Technical Skills
Relevant Honors & Grants
Most Impactful Paper Award – International Conference on Language Documentation & Conservation (2025)
Public Scholars Initiative Recipient – University of British Columbia (2023–2025)
Dean of Arts Graduate Student Research Award – University of British Columbia (2023)
Ian McMillian/Māhealani Dudoit Arts Residency (2020)
Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship – University of British Columbia (2020–2024)
International Tuition Award – University of British Columbia (2020–present)
President’s Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award – University of British Columbia (2020–present)
JRF Group Grant, Primary Investigator – University of British Columbia (2023–present)