Description

Position Summary

The Department of English in the School of Liberal Arts at IU Indianapolis invites applications for the Barbara E. and Karl R. Zimmer Scholar in Intercultural Communication at the rank of Associate Professor, with an expected appointment start date of August 1, 2026. The Zimmer scholar will have research and teaching interests in linguistics, rhetoric and/or English language teaching. The successful candidate will have a sustained, impactful, and nationally recognized research agenda that clearly warrants the awarding of tenure and meets expectations for a titled professorship. The particular areas of research contribution will depend on the focus of the faculty hired. Expertise in linguistics and rhetoric will align with many current School and IU Indianapolis research initiatives, such as the Ray Bradbury Center , The Polis Center , the Artificial Intelligence Consortium and Informatics Consortium , Institute of Human Health & Wellbeing , as well as with other Centers and Institutes at IU Indianapolis . Experience with corpus linguistics and/or the application of artificial intelligence is particularly welcomed.

The person in this position will be expected to be an engaging teacher committed to high-impact practices and able to teach a range of courses - from first-year freshman to graduate courses - in support of some or all of the following: the Professional and Public Writing Program (e.g., Business and Administrative Writing, Theories and Practices of Editing, Technical Writing), the Writing Program (e.g., Writing in the Sciences, Professional Writing Skills), Applied Linguistics/ TESOL courses (e.g., second language development, TESOL methods, sociolinguistics, history of English language), and the English for Academic Purposes ( ESL ) Program (e.g., Academic Writing, Communication Skills for ITAs). There also may be opportunities to teach courses in the Department of Communication, including Intercultural Communication and rhetoric courses.

Applicants are expected to have a PhD in Applied Linguistics, TESOL , Rhetoric & Composition, or a closely related field. The faculty position is a 10-month appointment; appointment with tenure as well as the title of Zimmer Scholar require approval by the Indiana University Board of Trustees and includes an additional salary supplement. After initial appointment, scholarly productivity is reviewed every five years, with reappointment as Zimmer Scholar contingent on maintenance of high scholarly productivity and teaching excellence. Appointment as Zimmer Chair is possible upon promotion to professor after at least two years at IU Indianapolis.

As the state's premier urban research institution, IU Indianapolis is a dynamic campus of over 20,000 students and has been recognized for excellence in civic engagement and community partnerships. IU Indianapolis is committed to being a welcoming campus community and we seek candidates whose research, teaching, and community engagement efforts contribute to robust learning and working environments for all students, staff, and faculty.

Basic Qualifications

Required qualifications: PhD in Applied Linguistics, TESOL , Rhetoric & Composition, or a closely related field. Evidence of ongoing scholarly research appropriate for rank; effective teaching at the university level; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to communicate effectively with diverse professional, community, and student populations.

Department Contact for Questions

Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to Thomas Upton, search committee chair, tupton@iu.edu

Additional Qualifications

Preferred qualifications:Knowledge and skill with corpus linguistics and AI.

Salary and Rank

Associate professor; salary: $70,000 plus Zimmer Scholar stipend as long as the faculty retains the title

Special Instructions

Applicants should submit (1) cover letter outlining research agenda, (2) vita, (3) statement of teaching philosophy, and (4) names and contact information for four references at: https://indiana.peopleadmin.com. Review of applications will begin January 2, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Transcripts and at least four letters of reference will be required if invited to be a finalist.