Associate Professor in English Sociolinguistics

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NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus on professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 44,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

About the job

We have a vacancy for a full-time, permanent position as Associate Professor in English sociolinguistics at the Department of Language and Literature. The position encompasses research, teaching, administration, and outreach. The main focus of the position is on sociolinguistics, but candidates are also expected to contribute to teaching of formal and theoretical linguistics courses.

The English section of the Department of Language and Literature currently has 22 permanent employees within three broad areas of specialization—linguistics, literature, and cultural studies – of which 11 are permanent staff in linguistics. The linguistics group is actively engaged in individual and collaborative research projects within sociolinguistics, translation studies, first and second/third language acquisition, theoretical linguistics, and psycho- and neurolinguistics, including a number of active research groups and laboratories. The section offers bachelor’s and master’s education within a broad spectrum of courses in campus-based programs, and offers continuing education credits in a wide range of online courses. As many of our students are enrolled in the 5-year MA program in Language Studies with Teacher Education, school-related  topics are also highly relevant in teaching as well as supervision. Several courses, particularly at the MA level, both involve students from and are co-taught with other sections within the Department (e.g., Nordic, German, French, Center for Academic and Professional Communication). Further information concerning the academic profile of the department, management, and staff can be found on the department’s website.

The position reports to the Head of the Department of Language and Literature.

Duties of the position

It is expected that the employee will

• Pursue research within their field of specialization in English sociolinguistics and publish regularly in respected international outlets
• Teach relevant courses at all levels in BA/MA courses, the teacher training program, the MPhil in English Linguistics and Language Acquisition, and our distance and continuing education program Take Credit. The employee will also be expected to contribute to teaching of the general introductory English linguistics courses.  Individuals who can also contribute to courses which focus on formal linguistics perspectives at a higher level will be preferred.  The department puts weight on research-based teaching, but the employee must potentially be prepared to also teach outside of his/her research area, especially at the first-year undergraduate level
• Supervise in a wide range of topics, including school-related MA theses (e.g., curriculum, textbook, or classroom studies)
• Contribute actively to student recruitment and program quality development
• Actively work to establish externally funded research projects
• Take on administrative duties and, potentially, leadership roles in the Department

The language of teaching and supervision for this position is English. Administration in the department is predominantly conducted in Norwegian. 

Required qualifications 

You must have the qualifications required for the position of Associate Professor in the field of sociolinguistics, as outlined in the regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts 

The successful candidate must have

• A PhD within English sociolinguistics
• A strong track record of research and publishing in recognized international venues, as appropriate to the candidate’s career stage
• A strong track record of high-quality teaching at university level, as appropriate to the candidate’s career stage. Evaluation of these skills will be based on documented experience and relevant teaching qualifications.
• Excellent oral and written competence in English

You must document relevant basic competence in teaching and supervision at a university/higher education-level, as referenced in the Norwegian national Regulations. If this cannot be documented, you will be required to complete an approved course in university pedagogy within two years of commencement. NTNU offers qualifying courses. 

New employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language by appointment is required, within three years, to demonstrate skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level three of the course for Norwegian for speakers of other languages at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU.  

Preferred qualifications

• Knowledge of the Norwegian education system (at all levels), as well as the role of English in Norwegian education and society
• Experience in successfully applying for and working on externally funded research projects, and/or well-developed plans to apply for such funding
• Independent teaching and supervision experience, at various levels (undergraduate and postgraduate)
• Experience with course/curriculum development, especially within Universal Design frameworks
• Experience of public engagement and outreach 

Personal qualities

• High motivation for the position
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• The ability to contribute to an inclusive work environment

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities. 

We offer 

• Exciting and challenging tasks in a strong international academic environment 
• An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues 
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 
• Employee benefits

Application Process

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

Salary and conditions

As a Associate Professor (code 1011 ) you are normally paid from gross NOK 646.000,- – NOK 777.900,- per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. As required by law, 2% of this salary will be deducted and paid into the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.   

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work. 

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis. 

Preferred start date is August 2024.

About the application

Your application and supporting documentation must be in English. 

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

Your application must include:

• CV, certificates, and diplomas
• A teaching portfolio in which your teaching competence is compiled and presented systematically (see guidelines for applicants: Documentation of teaching qualifications in applications and appointments to academic positions at NTNU) and which includes a statement of your own teaching philosophy)
• Academic works—published or unpublished—that you wish to be considered during assessment of your application (up to 5 examples, max 300 pages; it is possible to submit parts of larger scientific works)
• A list of your previous works including information about where they are published, and a description of the academic works that you regard as most relevant and that you particularly want to be considered in the assessment
• An outline of a possible project for which you can apply for external funding (about 400 words)
• Details of the projects you have managed, with information about funding, duration, and scope
• Names and addresses of three relevant references

You are encouraged to use the Universities Norway’s NOR-CAM toolbox as a guide for  documentation of your competence.

Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. Our assessment of the pedagogical skills will be based on documented pedagogical material, forms of presentation in your academic works, teaching experience, PhD, and Masters supervision, and any other relevant pedagogical background. Both quality and scope will be taken into consideration, and an open scientific practice will be recognized.

NTNU is obliged by the evaluation criteria for research quality in accordance with The San Fransisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA and The obligations in the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment ( CoARA) on responsible assessment of research and recognition of a  wider range of academic contributions to science and society. This means that we will pay particular attention to the quality and academic range demonstrated by your scientific work to date. We will also pay attention to research leadership and participation in research projects. Your scientific work from the last five years will be given the most weight.

Your application will be considered by an expert committee. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview, and to deliver a trial teaching session.

General information

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality. 

Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must continually maintain and improve your professional development and be flexible regarding any organizational changes.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

For the sake of transparency, candidates will be given the expert evaluation of their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and is stipulated to rules of confidentiality.

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Susanne Mohr, e-mail susanne.mohr@ntnu.no or Lars August Fodstad, e-mail lars.fodstad@ntnu.no.

If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Hege Kissten, e-mail hege.kissten@ntnu.no

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. 

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Language and Literature

We conduct research and teaching in comparative literature, English, French, Spanish, German, Scandinavian studies, linguistics, phonetics, applied linguistics, sign language and interpreting, and cultural history. We are also responsible for the five-year master’s programmes in teacher education (lektorutdanning) in language subjects. The Department has an active research environment with responsibility for several large research projects. The Department of Language and Literature is one of six departments in the Faculty of Humanities.