Assistant Professor of Computational Linguistics

Rochester Institute of Technology

Detailed Job Description

The Department of Psychology and Department of Modern Languages and Cultures at the Rochester Institute of Technology jointly invite applications for a full-time, 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor of Computational Linguistics, beginning in August 2025. Candidates are expected to have an earned doctoral degree (in hand by August 2025) in Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, or a related field.  

Successful candidates should demonstrate computational expertise, strong research talent, and initiative in grant writing. Candidates should also have a plan for excellence in teaching and student mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Applicants must be able to teach our courses in language technology, natural language processing, and/or speech processing. In addition, applicants should be able to teach foundational linguistics from a cross-linguistic perspective, as well as courses in one or more linguistics or cognitive science subfields. Proficiency in a language other than English is preferred, and we welcome research or teaching experience involving language learning. The position requires a strong commitment to teaching and mentoring, active research and publication, and a strong potential to attract external funding. Research and teaching are priorities for faculty at RIT, and all faculty are expected to mentor students through advising, research, and in-class experiences.  

The computational linguistics-related programs at RIT serve a rapidly expanding student population at a technical university. We are particularly looking for a faculty colleague who can also contribute to the interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Cognitive Science and the M.S. in Artificial Intelligence. In addition, RIT provides many opportunities for collaborative research across the institute in areas such as linguistics of sign languages and languages other than English, artificial intelligence, human-centered computing, and cybersecurity. RIT faculty have access to extensive research computing resources.  

We are seeking an individual who has the ability and interest in contributing to a community committed to student centeredness; professional development and scholarship; integrity and ethics; respect, diversity and pluralism; innovation and flexibility; and teamwork and collaboration. Select to view links to RIT’s core values, honor code, and diversity commitment.   

Department/College Description

The Department of Psychology at RIT offers B.S. and M.S. degrees, Advanced Certificates, minors, immersions, electives, and co-supports interdisciplinary graduate degrees including the Ph.D. program in Cognitive Science and the M.S. program in Artificial Intelligence. It also contributes to joint undergraduate degrees in Human-Centered Computing and Neuroscience.  

The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures offers a B.S. in Applied Modern Language and Culture with tracks in Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish, in addition to minors, immersions, and general education courses in Language Science, American Sign Language and Deaf Cultural Studies, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latino/Latina/Latin American Studies, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. The Department houses a Modern Language Technology Center where faculty and students actively integrate technology into language teaching and learning. 

The College of Liberal Arts is one of nine colleges within Rochester Institute of Technology. The College has over 150 faculty in 13 departments in the arts, humanities and social sciences. The College currently offers fourteen undergraduate degree programs and five Master degrees, serving over 800 students. The Ph.D. program in Cognitive Science, with language as one of the areas, is interdisciplinary with multiple partner units across the university. The College also jointly delivers the M.S. in Artificial Intelligence with other colleges of the university. 

We encourage the creation, development, dissemination, and application of human knowledge in the arts, humanities, and social sciences by promoting innovative teaching, scholarship, and research, thus providing a comprehensive education for all RIT students. We strive to prepare students for a lifetime of personal growth and responsible citizenship in an increasingly technological and rapidly changing society by maintaining and promoting the intellectual climate on campus, contributing to students’ awareness and understanding of diversity, and enhancing students’ abilities to reason critically and communicate effectively. We value a rigorous liberal arts education that encourages innovative experiential learning and active scholarship, the highest ethical standards, the educational and social benefits of diversity and global awareness, an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment of openness and academic freedom, a working environment in which all staff and faculty enjoy respect and recognition, and the active and meaningful participation of all members of the College community. 

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. (in hand by August 2025) in Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, or a related field. 

• Have demonstrated ability to conduct independent research in computational linguistics.   

• Have consistently and recently published. 

• Demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching language technology, natural language processing, and/or speech processing. 

• Demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching foundational linguistics from a cross-linguistic perspective, as well as courses in one or more linguistics or cognitive science subfields. 

• Demonstrate potential for excellence in supervising student research. 

• Demonstrate potential for external research grant attainment. 

• Show a career trajectory that emphasizes a balance between research and teaching. 

• Ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the College’s continuing commitment to cultural diversity, pluralism, and individual differences. 

How To Apply

Apply online at http://careers.rit.edu/faculty; search openings, then Keyword Search 9260BR. Please submit your application, curriculum vitae, cover letter addressing the listed qualifications and upload the following attachments:  

* A research statement that includes information about previous grant work, the potential for future grants, and information about one-on-one supervision of student research 

* A brief teaching philosophy

* The names, email addresses, and phone numbers of three references

* Contribution to Diversity Statement 

You can contact the co-chairs of the search committee, Cecilia Alm, Ph.D. and Zhong Chen, Ph.D., with questions on the position at: cecilia.o.alm@rit.edu and z.chen@rit.edu. 

Review of applications will begin November 15, 2024 and will continue until an acceptable candidate is found. 

RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity, pluralism and inclusion in the work place. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientations, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities.