Visiting Assistant Professor of Technical Communication

The Department of English at the University of Memphis invites applications for a non-tenure track visiting assistant professor position in Technical Communication to begin Fall 2024 with a contract until the end of Spring 2025. We seek an applicant to join our undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication with research interests and teaching experience in technical communication. Ideal candidates will have technical writing and editing, as well as grant writing experience and/or have taught grant writing courses. Additional teaching and research emphases in website design, user experience and design, social justice, and technical edition are welcome. Given our growing online offerings and the recent development of an online MA in Technical Communication, interest in and knowledge of online teaching is required.

The Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication (WRTC) concentration within the Department of English provides students in our BA, MA, and PhD programs with courses that address technical communication, digital media, document design, editing, web design, user experience, rhetorical theory, composition, health communication, and engineering communication.  We welcome candidates to help build our focus in technical communication. Experience teaching online courses is preferred as our online MA in Technical Communication program launched in 2019 continues growing. We are a program and department committed to antiracist pedagogies and curricular interventions, and we seek a colleague who will contribute to facilitating constructive dialogues in the classroom and community to inspire responsible, socially-engaged citizenship.

Located in Memphis, a vibrant, friendly, affordable major city in the Mid-South and home to essential Civil Rights histories as well as multiple healthcare, logistics, and technology headquarters, the Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication program within the Department of English is uniquely positioned for community engagement and industry partnerships. The University of Memphis is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

The teaching load for this position is 3/3. Salary is competitive and based on experience.

Qualifications:  Requirements include a PhD in Technical Communication, Rhetoric, User Experience, Writing Studies, or related field. PhD must be in hand or secured by July 2024.

Additional qualifications include:

• Evidence of excellent teaching in technical communication or related area, especially in online settings
• A focused research agenda that includes publications or potential for publication in the field of technical communication
• A commitment to serving the needs of a diverse student population
• A collegial attitude for department and university service

Applications will be enhanced by demonstrated expertise in online course development and teaching. Candidates whose research focuses on social justice, environmental rhetoric, grant and scientific writing, online communication, and/or community engagement preferred.

Applications will be managed through the University’s online applications system, WorkForUM, available at https://workforum.memphis.edu/postings/39586

To Apply, candidates should submit the following, initial materials:

• Cover letter
• Current CV

Candidates will be asked for the following materials at a later round:

• Teaching Philosophy
• Writing Sample (15-20 pages)
• Transcripts
• Reference list

Deadline: Review of applications will begin on April 8 and continue until position is filled.