University of Waterloo: Writing Studies

Applications are invited for an open rank (tenured or tenure-track) position in Writing Studies. We are looking for a colleague with expertise in writing studies and composition theory who will contribute to our research and teaching in this area. Specific expertise in workplace and technical writing, intercultural rhetoric, global Englishes, or digital rhetoric would be an asset. Applicants for this position should have a record of outstanding research achievement commensurate with their experience and a strong teaching record; a proven history of securing external research funding will also be considered an asset. The successful candidate will be offered a wide range of teaching experiences, from first-year undergraduate courses through to graduate teaching and supervision of doctoral students.

In addition to undergraduate programs in Literature and in Rhetoric and Professional Writing, the Department (www.english.uwaterloo.ca) offers new undergraduate specializations in Digital Media Studies and in English Literature in a Global Context. We also offer a new MA in Experimental Digital Media (XDM), in addition to our innovative MA programs in Literary Studies and Rhetoric and Communication Design. Our unique PhD program integrates literary studies with fields of media theory and design, composition, rhetoric, and discourse and text analysis. Since the Department enjoys an integrated research culture, competence in a second area, such as critical theory, semiotics, linguistics, or a field of literary study, is also welcome. The current teaching load is 2 + 2, which normally includes one graduate course.

The successful candidate will regularly teach relevant courses in new Faculty-level, professional masters degrees in Public Service (MPS) or Digital Experience Innovation (MDEI) as well as graduate and undergraduate courses in English. The MPS degree prepares students from different undergraduate backgrounds to be effective public service employees at the federal, provincial or municipal level (www.mps.uwaterloo.ca). The MDEI degree is a project-based, interdisciplinary program that trains future leaders in digital media industries (www.stratfordcampus.uwaterloo.ca/programs/mdei). The successful candidate will be invited to help shape one or the other of these programs. The University of Waterloo is a research-intensive public institution, with the largest and most successful Co-operative education program in North America. In the Maclean’s Magazine national reputational survey, the University of Waterloo has ranked as the ‘Best Overall’ university in Canada for 18 out of the last 20 years.

Please send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and a writing sample and/or electronic portfolio, and arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to: Dr. Fraser Easton, Chair, Department of English Language and Literature, University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON N2L 3G1 Canada. Email: englishchair@uwaterloo.ca. Consideration of applications will begin on October 15th, 2012. An appointment date of July 1st, 2013 is preferred. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Waterloo encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, members of visible minorities, Native peoples and persons with disabilities. This appointment is subject to the availability of funds.