Finding a Common Ground: Reducing the Gap Between Linguistics and Genetics
An interdisciplinary BIP course, University of Turku (Finland)
In collaboration with University of Tartu (Estonia) and Uppsala University (Sweden)
Time and place
On-site: 14–18 September 2026, Turku
Online: 1–11 September 2026 and 21 September – 2 October 2026
About the course
This course is aimed towards early-career researchers (MA students, PhD students, and Postdoctoral researchers) interested in interdisciplinary research within the fields of linguistics and genetics. The course covers a range of topics in both disciplines and beyond, attempting to reveal similarities between linguistics and genetics in terms of data, research questions, methods, and interpretations, and promotes multidisciplinary collaborations. The course includes lectures, interactive sessions, and group discussions. During the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to speak about their previous work in a special poster session, as well as establish or strengthen contacts with other participants and researchers in a networking event.
Important dates
Application deadline: 8 June 2026 (23:59 Eastern European Summer Time)
Selection of the participants: 20 June 2026
Practical information
Language: English
Credits: 3 ECTS
Cost: The workshop is free of charge for all participants. Food and accommodation are not provided.
Note: The workshop will be held in person. The number of available spots is limited, and participants will be selected based on their application. The application should include a short motivation letter (max. 2000 characters) in English.
Please contact the organisers with any questions:
Tina Saupe: tina.saupe@utu.fi
Tatiana Kachkovskaia: tatiana.kachkovskaia@utu.fi
Lecturers
Sampsa Holopainen, University of Helsinki (linguistics)
Tatiana Kachkovskaia, University of Turku, University of Helsinki (linguistics)
Alena Kushniarevich, University of Tartu (genetics)
Thiseas Lamnidis, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (genetics)
Miina Norvik, University of Tartu (linguistics)
Lehti Saag, University of Tartu (genetics)
Elina Salmela, University of Turku (genetics)
Tina Saupe, University of Turku (genetics)
Outi Vesakoski, University of Turku (interdisciplinary)
Tentative schedule
Day 1 (9.00-17.00)
Key concepts in linguistics
Key concepts in genetics
Lunch break
Data in linguistics: Linguistic corpora and typological databases
Data in genetics: Human population genomics resources
Day 2 (9.00-17.00)
Key concepts in computational data science
Methods in computational linguistics
Lunch break
Current trends in Human Diversity (TBA)
Poster session
Day 3 (9.00-17.00
Methods in genetics, Part 1
Methods in genetics, Part 2
Lunch break
Methods in historical linguistics
Case studies in human diversity (group work), Part 1
Day 4 (9.00-17.00)
Inheritance and contact in genetics and linguistics
Invited lecture (TBA)
Lunch break
Case studies in human diversity (group work), Part 2
Round table: Q & A
Day 5 (9.00-15.00)
Networking event
Multidisciplinary research in human diversity
Lunch break
Invited lecture (TBA)