Assistant Professor of Syntax and Artificial Intelligence

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Assistant Professor of Syntax and Artificial Intelligence

Department of Linguistics

College of Arts and Sciences

Position Overview

The Department of Linguistics in the College of Arts and Sciences at The Ohio State University seeks to hire a tenure-track faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor who specializes in syntactic theory, with additional interest in artificial intelligence. We are interested in candidates who apply a mathematically rigorous (e.g., logical or statistical) approach to hypothesizing about empirical syntactic data. While theoretical syntax is the primary focus of the position, we welcome applications from candidates whose research engages with large language models (LLMs) -- particularly as related to evaluating the possibilities and limitations of LLMs in connection with syntactic architecture or issues of syntactic processing or learnability.

Performance Objectives

The prospective hire will:

• Develop and maintain a productive, high-quality research program;
• Provide high-quality supervision of graduate and undergraduate research;
• Develop and teach high-quality graduate and undergraduate courses in syntax and other area(s) of expertise, including potentially in the departments general education curriculum;
• Support departmental operations through administrative roles and/or service on committees as assigned; and
• Contribute to the scholarly community via peer reviewing and/or other professional service.

Education and Experience Requirements

Required : A Ph.D. in Linguistics or doctoral degree in a related field is required prior to the start position date of August 15, 2026. ABDs are welcome to apply.

Desired : Ideal candidates will complement other areas of expertise in the department, methodologically and/or in terms of secondary specialization. The linguistic comprehension of LLMs is an active area of research in our department, offering the potential for collaboration. Other areas of particular interest are semantics/pragmatics, linguistic typology, morphology, and psycholinguistics. Ideal candidates will have the potential to strengthen the departments existing collaborations across units and colleges and/or to foster new ones.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits package .

How to Apply

Application period closes November 1, 2025. Application materials submitted in Workday must include:

• Attachment 1: Cover Letter: 1-2 page letter, which should include a brief summary of your academic background and why you are interested in this opportunity.
• Attachment 2: CV (Curriculum Vitae): Detailed overview of your scholarly experience, including your research experience, teaching and mentoring experience, service, funding, and publications.
• Attachment 3: Research Statement: 1-3 page summary of your past research accomplishments, current work/research, and proposal for your future research plan as a faculty member.
• Attachment 4: Teaching Statement: 1-2 page summary of your approaches, experience, accomplishments and philosophy regarding your teaching, learning, and mentoring, and how you plan to contribute to the departments programs of study as a faculty member.
• Attachment 5: A writing sample.

Candidates selected to move forward in the process will be asked to provide three letters of reference.

The College

With more than 80 majors and 100 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the university. The Arts and Sciences provides extraordinary opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, blending creativity and analysis to truly be at the forefront of thought. The breadth and depth of knowledge in the college gives students and researchers the critical thinking and adaptability essential for a lifetime of success.

Department Information

The Department of Linguistics at The Ohio State University has a highly rated graduate (Ph.D. primarily) program and a large and vibrant undergraduate program. We pride ourselves on providing comprehensive coverage of the field with world-class faculty in all of the key areas, on producing Ph.D.s who are both well-rounded and have considerable depth in their respective areas of specialization, and on offering undergraduates a stimulating research-rich environment for learning about our field. The Department is housed in a recently renovated building with state-of-the-art office, meeting, and lab spaces. Faculty have many existing collaborations across units and colleges, including with linguists and others in the Departments of Computer Science and Engineering, Philosophy, Psychology, and English; OSUs world languages and cultures departments; as well as within the Buckeye Language Network, the Translational Data Analytics Institute, the Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, and the area studies centers.

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of Americas leading academic health centers. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

Grounded in Ohio State Universitys Shared Values , our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established central resources to focus on offering support to new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual career partner consultation, potential employer and/or employment opportunity identification, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are available. More information about dual career and faculty recruitment can be found here .

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is a member of the Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia HERC.

Located in Ohios capital city, Ohio States Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and vibrant metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here . Beyond its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit, which could include drug and health screenings, as well as faculty misconduct checks depending on the rank of the position.

The Ohio State University believes in diversity in people and ideas. What Ohio State does matters. And how we do it matters. When we are at our best, we make a real difference to people. Our size, breadth, geography, history and standard of excellence position us to drive the future of higher education. We believe that the university should be a place where people can work and learn together in a safe environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. As such, finalists for any faculty position that carries tenure must sign an authorization and disclosure form, which will allow current or prior employer(s) to share information to the University regarding any findings of employment-related misconduct or disciplinary proceedings against a candidate and/or any pending investigations related to alleged misconduct. Such information shall include findings and pending investigations with respect to sexual harassment, violence, or harassment; research misconduct; financial fraud or misconduct; foreign influence violations, grant misuse or misconduct; and/or any other type of finding or pending investigation relating to a candidates employers policies and rules governing faculty conduct that may reasonably be expected to affect a candidates appointment. If the University becomes aware of any past finding of misconduct or pending investigations that were not disclosed, Ohio State will treat that as a serious omission and reserves the right to rescind an offer or terminate employment.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions .

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.

As required by Ohio Revised Code section 3345.0216 , Ohio State will: educate students by means of free, open and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth; equip students with the opportunity to develop intellectual skills to reach their own, informed conclusions; not require, favor, disfavor or prohibit speech or lawful assembly; create a community dedicated to an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the autonomy of each member, supports individual capacities for growth and tolerates differences in opinion; treat all faculty, staff and students as individuals, hold them to equal standards and provide equality of opportunity with regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.