Associate Professor: Natural Language Processing

Stellenbosch University; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Stellenbosch University invites applications for an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, split between Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. The role focuses on NLP/ML, curriculum renewal, and postgraduate leadership on the Stellenbosch Campus.

The post emphasizes international scholarship, research funding, and collaboration, with supervision of MSc/PhD students and a commitment to excellence in teaching and research impact.

Qualifications

• PhD in computer science, applied mathematics, or closely related discipline.
• Established, internationally recognised research profile in NLP.
• Sustained publication record with high-quality outputs for Associate Professor.
• Distinctive, internationally competitive NLP/ML research programme.
• Proven supervision of MSc and PhD students to completion.
• Experience attracting external funded research as PI/Co-PI or contributor.
• University-level teaching in NLP/ML/AI and core CS modules.

Responsibilities

• Teach core and specialised undergrad/postgrad modules across CS and applied mathematics.
• Publish high-quality NLP/ML/AI research in international venues.
• Recruit and supervise postgraduate students; support MSc/PhD completions.
• Provide research leadership and collaboration across CS and applied maths.
• Seek external research funding from national/international sources.
• Contribute to curriculum renewal and advanced courses in NLP/ML/LLMs.
• Develop productive collaborations with universities, industry and government.

Skills

NLP

ML

Research leadership

Academic communication

Education

PhD in computer science

PhD in applied mathematics

Job description

Department Description/Departement Beskrywing

Faculty of Science

Department of Mathematical Sciences (50% Division of Computer Science / 50% Division of Applied Mathematics)

Associate Professor: Natural Language Processing

(Stellenbosch Campus)

Ref. NW08/376/0926

The Faculty of Science at Stellenbosch University (SU) is research-intensive and committed to excellent teaching, postgraduate development and research with impact, underpinned by ethical science in service of society. This position is a Faculty strategic appointment in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, shared equally between the Divisions of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. The joint appointment reflects the interdisciplinary nature of modern Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML). This appointment will strengthen research and postgraduate capacity in NLP, and contribute to existing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including the MSc in ML and AI.

Duties/Pligte

• Teaching core and specialised undergraduate and postgraduate modules across computer science and applied mathematics, including advanced courses in NLP, ML and AI.
• Publishing sustained, high-quality research in reputable international peer-reviewed journals and conferences in NLP, ML and AI.
• Recruiting and supervising postgraduate students, with a strong focus on successful MSc and PhD completion, and contributing to the development of postdoctoral fellows and emerging researchers.
• Providing research leadership in the development of a strong collaborative research group across computer science and applied mathematics, and connecting with complementary AI expertise across Stellenbosch University.
• Seeking and securing competitive external research funding, individually and collaboratively, from national, international and, where appropriate, industry sources.
• Contributing to curriculum renewal and the further development of advanced courses in NLP, ML, LLMs, trustworthy AI and related areas.
• Developing productive research collaborations with other universities, research organisations, industry, government and other appropriate partners, and contributing to relevant departmental and Faculty academic activities.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes

• PhD in computer science, applied mathematics, or a closely related discipline.
• An established, internationally recognised research profile in NLP.
• A sustained publication record over a number of years, with high-quality research outputs appropriate to appointment at Associate Professor level.
• Developing and sustaining a distinctive, internationally competitive research programme in NLP and ML, with scope for foundational, theoretical or mathematically rigorous research.
• A proven record of successful supervision of both MSc and PhD students to completion.
• Demonstrated success in attracting externally funded research funding, either as principal investigator, co-investigator, or a substantive contributor to funded research.
• Appropriate university-level teaching experience in NLP, ML or AI, with the ability to contribute to teaching across Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. This includes the ability and willingness to teach at least one of the following core third-year computer science modules: concurrency, computer networks, databases or software engineering.
• Evidence of international academic recognition, for example through invited presentations, research collaborations, conference or professional-society activities, awards or comparable scholarly contributions.
• Excellent academic communication skills in English.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling

• Research expertise in low-resource NLP.
• Experience in interdisciplinary research connecting computer science, applied mathematics or related quantitative disciplines.
• Experience in curriculum development.
• Experience in industry or public-sector collaboration, particularly where AI has demonstrable scientific or societal relevance.

Enquiries/Navrae

Enquiries about this post: Prof Brink van der Merwe, HOD Mathematical Sciences, on 021 808 4232, or at [e-mail]

Enquiries about remuneration/benefits and technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre on 021 808 2753 (Stellenbosch),

or 021 938 9636 (Tygerberg), or at [e-mail]