Association canadienne de linguistique Canadian Linguistic Association

Job advertisement: Limited-term appointment, Saint Mary’s University

The Program in Linguistics at Saint Mary’s University invites applications for an eight-month contractually limited term appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, to commence 1 September 2021.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have completed a Ph.D. in linguistics or a very closely related field, and will have a demonstrated ability to teach linguistics effectively at the undergraduate level, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and language and cognition. Applications will also be considered from candidates who are ABD and close to completing a Ph.D. in linguistics, if they have relevant teaching experience. Candidates should also have a record of scholarship in linguistics or a closely related field. Applications from candidates who can contribute to the Indigenization and/or decolonization of the University and its curriculum are particularly welcome.

Duties

The primary responsibility of the successful candidate will be to teach a standard load of 2.5 full course equivalents (FCE) at the undergraduate level, as listed below. The successful candidate will also be expected to hold regular office hours (on campus and/or online), to engage in scholarship, and generally to be an active member of the Linguistics Program and of Saint Mary’s University.

Fall 2021

1.0 FCE, consisting of the following two half-year courses:

• LING 2309 – Phonetics
• LING 3350 – Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Linguistics

  The exact topic of this course changes from year to year, with the unifying theme being the exploration of linguistic questions from a range of analytical perspectives and (sub)disciplines. The topic scheduled for fall 2021 is language and cognition. Candidates are encouraged to provide a brief description of what kinds of perspectives they might bring to this topic.

Winter 2022

1.5 FCE, including:

• LING 4515 – Topics in Applied Linguistics

  The specific topic scheduled for this course in winter 2022 term is language acquisition. Candidates are encouraged to provide a brief description of how they would approach this topic.

...plus any two of the following:

• LING 1200 – Introduction to Linguistics (second half)

  This is the second half of a two-semester course, and the instructor will need to coordinate with the person teaching the first half in the fall term. The division of topics between the two semesters can be determined based on the successful candidate’s research interests and teaching strengths. The textbook normally used in this course is Language Files (OSU Press).

• LING 2340 – Semantics
• LING 4424 – Topics in Linguistic Theory

  The specific topic for this course for winter 2022 has not yet been chosen. Candidates interested in teaching this course are encouraged to provide a brief proposal for a topic.

Course descriptions can be found in the academic calendar at https://smu-ca-public.courseleaf.com/undergraduate/courses-az/ling/.

Mode of course delivery

Saint Mary’s University is currently planning for a mixture of online and in-person course delivery in 2021–22, with courses being taught on campus to the extent possible, but with accommodations for students who are unable to be physically present.

Of the courses listed above, LING 2309 (Phonetics) is currently scheduled to be taught online; all the others are scheduled to be taught on campus. Although the Linguistics Program would prefer to be able to deliver as many courses in person as possible (particularly in the winter 2022 term), consideration will also be given to candidates who are not able to be present on campus. Candidates should also be aware that changes to the public health situation may require courses currently scheduled to be taught on campus to be moved online.

How to apply

Candidates should submit the following materials by e-mail to linguistics@smu.ca:

• a letter of application outlining their qualifications for the position and the specific combination of courses they propose to teach;
• a curriculum vitæ;
• a transcript (unofficial) of their postgraduate studies;
• names and contact information of three referees who will be able to comment on the candidate’s teaching and/or scholarship

All materials should be attached as .pdf files; multiple files may be combined into a .zip or .gz archive. Reference letters need not be sent at the time of application; referees will be contacted directly if their input is required.

All applications must be submitted on or before 28 May 2021.

Inquiries may be directed to the program coordinator, Dr. Daniel Currie Hall, at daniel.hall@smu.ca.

Employment policies

At Saint Mary’s University equity and diversity are integral to excellence and enrich our community. As an institution committed to fostering an environment of inclusion and respect, we welcome applications from women, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/visible minorities, persons with disabilities and others who might contribute to the growth and enrichment of our community.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at hr@smu.ca.

Salary, benefits, and conditions of employment will be governed by the collective agreement between Saint Mary’s University and the Saint Mary’s University Faculty Union (SMUFU). A copy of the current collective agreement can be found at https://www.smu.ca/about/collective-agreements.html.

Additional information about working at Saint Mary’s can be found online at https://www.smu.ca/about/working-at-smu.html.

About Saint Mary’s University

Saint Mary’s is a public university with over 7,000 students, offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees. Our university is committed to serving the local, regional, national and international communities, and integrating such activity as part of the learning environment for undergraduate and graduate students. Saint Mary’s is located in the historic and affordable port city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a vibrant urban community and major educational centre in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

More information about Saint Mary’s can be found online at https://www.smu.ca/about/welcome.html.