Nazarbayev University is a modern, English-language institution based on best practices drawn from partner higher education institutions in the US, UK and Singapore. The strategic partner for SSH and the Department is the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Department of Languages, Linguistics and Literature seeks a specialist whose research and teaching focus encompasses explorations of human capacity for language as an evolving structured system. While the position is in the field of linguistics generally defined, the ideal candidate will have an interdisciplinary focus whose work cuts across linguistic, regional, and disciplinary boundaries. We seek a candidate with an exemplary record of empirically based research. All qualified candidates are invited to apply, but candidates with specializations in the following subfields are preferred: psycholinguistics, phonology/phonetics, language acquisition, social and cognitive aspects of bi/multi-lingualism, corpus based linguistics,  and computational linguistics. 

The selected candidate will be committed to excellence in research-integrated teaching, program-building, and student mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels, possibly in a wide thematic range. It is expected that the candidate will be able to complement and build off of our department’s diverse strengths, spanning comparative literature and folklore studies, theoretical and applied linguistics, cognitive linguistics and discourse analysis. The successful candidate will be expected to teach a range of courses from introductory to upper level at the undergraduate level, as well as some advanced topics at the graduate level.

The applicant should also be able to demonstrate their willingness to help enhance the capacity for interdisciplinary research and teaching at Nazarbayev University, working with existing linguistics and anthropology faculty.

· PhD in linguistics from an accredited and recognized international university (ABD at the time of application will be considered, but PhD must be in hand at the time of appointment, and current PhD holders will be given priority);

· An active research agenda (as evident in peer-reviewed publications or demonstrated ability to publish immediately upon appointment);

· Teaching experience at university level;

· Experience in developing new courses and program curricula;

· Experience and readiness to supervise undergraduate capstone and graduate projects;

· Excellent communication and collaboration skills;

· Commitment to maintaining a collegial and inclusive work environment.

Responsibilities include 2/2 teaching load, research, and departmental and school service. The University offers opportunities for research support. The position is for a three-year term with the possibility of renewal.

The Department of Languages, Linguistics and Literatures (LLL) at the School of Sciences and Humanities currently has 14 full-time and 4 part-time faculty representing a variety of disciplines in the domain of languages, linguistics and comparative literature.

The LLL Department has one of the fastest growing major counts in the School and is adding an array of literature, linguistics and language course offerings in the 2022-2023 academic year. The LLL Department’s program “World Languages, Literature and Culture (WLLC)” is also integrated into the graduate program in Eurasian Studies, interdisciplinary MA and PhD programs, and thus, the ideal candidate for the position will have the ability to contribute to the Eurasian Studies graduate program both in teaching and advising.

 Applicants should send a CV, cover letter with teaching and research statements, names and contact information of three referees, and 2 samples of written work through this link (link in SmartRecruiters). For fullest consideration complete applications must be received by 15.12.2023 (position will be considered open until filled). Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

For inquiries regarding this position, please contact Gabriel McGuire ([email protected])

Nazarbayev University was launched in 2010 as a premier national and regional university, partnering with some of the most internationally recognized institutions of higher education. The School of Science and Humanities (SSH) partners with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Admission to NU is highly competitive, and the student body is selected from the top high schools throughout the country and the Central Asian region. SSH programs emphasise student-oriented learning, with a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 15:1. The language of instruction is English.

Nazarbayev University offers an attractive benefits package, including highly competitive compensation; housing based on family size and rank; relocation allowance; air tickets to home country twice per year; no-cost medical insurance with global coverage; and educational allowance for children, as well as the opportunity to apply directly for research grants administered by Nazarbayev University and the Kazakhstani state government.