Catherine Best
Also known as Cathi Best, Catherine T. Best
Catherine (Cathi) Best is known for the Perceptual Assimilation Model, her most significant theoretical contribution. She wrote a 1978 PhD thesis on infant speech perception, then worked at Columbia University from 1980 and Wesleyan University from 1984. At Wesleyan she received a highly competitive NIH Research Career Development Award, and she served as an ISCA Distinguished Lecturer for 2014–2015. Two new co-editors took over Phonetica from 2025, after her time as its editor in chief. As of October 2026, she is based at Western Sydney University, where she has been since 2004.
Timeline
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1978
A thesis on infant speech
Her 1978 PhD thesis examines consonant and vowel acoustic features in infant cerebral asymmetries for speech perception.
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1980–1984
A post at Columbia University
From 1980 to 1984 she works at Columbia University.
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1984–2004
Wesleyan years and an NIH award
Wesleyan University becomes her base in 1984, and during her Wesleyan years she is awarded a highly competitive NIH Research Career Development Award.
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1984–1995
The Perceptual Assimilation Model
Her Perceptual Assimilation Model, her most significant theoretical contribution, appears in papers from 1984 to 1995.
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December 1996
A paper in Hawaii
In December 1996 she presents a paper at an ASA meeting in Hawaii.
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2014–2015
An ISCA Distinguished Lecturer
She is an ISCA Distinguished Lecturer for 2014–2015, as Professor and Chair in Psycholinguistic Research at the University of Western Sydney.
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2025
Handing over Phonetica
From 2025 onward, two new co-editors edit Phonetica after her time as its editor in chief.
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As of October 2026
Based at Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University becomes her base in 2004, and as of October 2026 she is based there.
Sources and credits
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