Associate Professor or Professor of Linguistics

The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for the position of Associate Professor or Professor of Linguistics.

The position is permanent and full-time.

Applicants may apply for only one of the advertised positions and must state in their application which position they are applying for. Applications that do not specify the position will not be considered.

The appointment will commence on 1 February 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and welcomes all qualified applicants, regardless of their background.

The position

Depending on their research profile, the successful applicant will be based in either the Department of Scandinavian Studies and Experience Economy or the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics. Both departments are among the nine departments in the School of Communication and Culture. The Department of Scandinavian Studies and Experience Economy focuses on Danish and Scandinavian literature, language and media, media consumption, event culture and cultural analysis. The Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics focuses on cognitive, functional, and usage-based approaches to documenting, describing, and analysing language and social interaction, as well as on experimental and computational modelling of human cognition and behaviour.

We are seeking an applicant who can contribute to research and teaching in the departments’ language sections. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to research in cross-departmental programmes, such as the research programme for Language and Communication and the research programme for Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics, as well as to research in relevant centres, such as the Peter Skautrup Center for Jutlandic Dialect Research.

Overall, we are seeking an innovative and dedicated applicant who will enhance the departments’ linguistic research and teaching profiles nationally and internationally and contribute to Aarhus University’s core activities in research, teaching, supervision, talent development and knowledge exchange.

Research

The Department of Scandinavian Studies and Experience Economy and the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics have a strong national and international profile and a robust research network.

The departments’ linguistic research covers a wide range of topics, including language variation and dialects, Danish language history, grammar, digital literacies and digital media, contact languages and language change, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, language in interaction and computational linguistics.

We are seeking an applicant who will support and expand the current research profiles across the departments and who has experience in one or more of the following areas:
 

• Outreach and collaboration with external partners
• Digitalisation
• Language variation
• Sociolinguistics
• Contact languages and language change

The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to linguistics research by publishing original peer-reviewed research internationally and making scholarly contributions to the field. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to research initiatives in linguistics and within the departments’ research community, including participation in new collaborative projects with internal and external partners and engagement in securing external research funding.

The successful applicant for the full professor position will be expected to demonstrate research leadership and to lead applications for international research funding and the development of international research networks.

Teaching and supervision

We are seeking an applicant with teaching and supervision experience at university level. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the departments’ teaching and supervision activities and to teach and supervise on the department’s bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes, particularly the degree programme in Scandinavian Languages and Literature (Danish) and the degree programme in Linguistics. Please indicate in your application which courses you could teach. The successful applicant will also be expected to apply innovative teaching methods.

It is an advantage if the applicant can teach on more than one of the programmes mentioned above.

The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to the ongoing development of curricula and degree programmes in Scandinavian Studies and Linguistics. Experience in degree programme and curriculum development at universities or similar institutions will be an advantage.

The successful applicant will be expected to supervise and support the development of early-career researchers and to recruit and supervise PhD students, as well as to participate in the development and implementation of PhD courses in the field.

The successful applicant for the position of full professor will also be expected to be the driving force behind the ongoing development of degree programmes in Scandinavian Studies and Linguistics. Experience of degree programme development at universities or similar institutions will be an advantage.

The programmes in Scandinavian Languages and Literature and in Linguistics are taught in Danish, and the successful applicant will be expected to teach in Danish.

The successful applicant will also be expected to be able to teach in English.

Knowledge exchange

The successful applicant will be expected to engage in knowledge exchange, for instance through research collaboration with private companies, government consultancy, collaboration with civil society and public dissemination of knowledge.

The successful applicant will have excellent opportunities to engage in relevant collaborative initiatives with partners both within and outside Aarhus University.

Qualifications

Associate professor

Applicants for the position of associate professor must hold a PhD or equivalent qualifications in linguistics, Scandinavian studies or a related field and must provide documentation of teaching and research experience commensurate with that attained during an assistant professorship. Applicants must document:

• an internationally oriented research profile, demonstrated by a strong international peer-reviewed research publication record

• participation in international research projects as well as national and international research networks

• experience of knowledge exchange

• teaching and supervision competences and experience at BA and MA level, including curriculum development, documented in a teaching portfolio that includes a teaching statement in the form of a short personal essay describing the applicant’s approach to teaching, with practical examples illustrating their philosophy

• completion of a teacher-training programme for university teaching or an equivalent pedagogical qualification.

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document:

• time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions
• experience of applying for external research funding.

Full professor

Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent qualifications in linguistics, Scandinavian studies or a related field and must provide documentation of teaching and research experience commensurate with that attained during an associate professorship. Applicants must document:

• a record of original peer-reviewed research publications at the highest international level that have contributed to developments in the field
• a record of achievement in research management and in attracting external research funding
• participation in international research collaboration
• participation in both national and international research networks
• extensive teaching and supervision experience at BA, MA and PhD level, as well as experience in curriculum development, documented in a teaching portfolio that includes a teaching statement in the form of a short personal essay describing the applicant’s approach to teaching, with practical examples illustrating their philosophy
• completion of a teacher-training programme for university teaching or an equivalent pedagogical qualification
• extensive experience in supervising and mentoring early-career researchers (PhD students, postdocs and assistant professors), as well as experience in PhD curriculum development
• a significant record of achievement in knowledge exchange
• a significant record of institutional leadership, management and responsibility for curriculum development.

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document:

• time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions.

For both positions, a research plan for the next 3-5 years is required. The plan must detail how the applicant intends to contribute to the field and to the department’s strategic profile, including specific plans for publication, funding acquisition and external partnerships.
Important: Although the application system allows submission without attachments, applications that do not include the required publications (a maximum of 5) and a teaching portfolio will not be considered.

Although the application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, applicants are asked not to include them with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.

Work environment

Active participation in the department’s daily life is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of strong working relationships among colleagues and with students. To sustain and further enhance the department’s excellent teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to maintain a regular and active presence within the department.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment that supports it. You can read more about family and work-life balance in Denmark.

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to read about the attractive working conditions and benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a range of services for international researchers and accompanying family members, including a relocation service and an AU Expat Partner Programme. You can also find information about the taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment.

An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire proficiency in Danish sufficient to manage tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the School of Communication and Culture within approximately three years of commencing the appointment. These include, but are not limited to, reading work-related texts and taking part in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.

The departments

For more information about the Department of Scandinavian Studies and Experience Economy, please see the department’s website.

For more information about the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics, please see the department’s website.

The place of employment will be Jens Chr. Skous Vej 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

School of Communication and Culture

The school is part of the Faculty of Arts. You will find information about the school and its research programmes, departments and various activities on its website.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact Joshua Charles Skewes, Head of the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics, by tel.: +45 8716 2653 or by email: filjcs@cc.au.dk.

If you need help uploading your application or have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by email: hsi@au.dk.

If you have a profile within associate professor please apply online HERE.

If you have a profile within full professor please apply online HERE.

Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

• Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
• Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .
• Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.
• The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, research plan, copies of degree certificates and no more than five examples of academic production (mandatory). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

About Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of Northern Europe’s most significant faculties for research and higher education in the humanities, theology and education. Within this broad academic scope, the faculty comprises approximately 700 researchers, 200 PhD students, 9,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, and 1,500 further and continuing education students. We believe that the best ideas arise when different perspectives meet – and that research, teaching and innovation are best developed in dialogue with the surrounding society.

You can find more information here: Faculty of Arts | Aarhus University

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/