Christopher Nuttall

Background

About Christopher Nuttall

I’m a researcher, educator, and curriculum developer with a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Iowa State University. My research focuses on linguistic variation in academic and scientific discourse, particularly NSF grant proposal abstracts and project summaries. Using corpus-based methods such as multi-dimensional analysis, lexical frame analysis, and rhetorical move analysis, I investigate how disciplinary differences shape language use. My work has been presented at conferences including AACL and the Corpus Linguistics Conference in Ireland, and published in Applied Corpus Linguistics, The Cambridge Handbook of English Corpus Linguistics (forthcoming), and The Routledge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition and Discourse. I bring over a decade of experience in teaching and curriculum design across higher education and international EFL contexts. I’ve taught academic writing, first-year composition, and a descriptive grammar course covering morphology, phraseology, and syntax. I’ve supported student learning through one-on-one writing consultations, graduate writing workshops, peer review groups, and writing accountability groups. Additionally, I developed genre-based and project-based curricula to support academic reading and writing skills. I also led a team to create English curriculum and an instructional handbook for novice teachers in Mongolia based don ACTFL standards of proficiency. I’m passionate about helping learners and researchers build strong academic literacy skills. Whether through designing effective instruction, analyzing linguistic data, or mentoring students and instructors, I focus on empowering others with clear, evidence-based tools for communication and learning. My academic path has been supported by awards totaling over including Iowa State’s Graduate College Scholar Award, the Freda Huncke Teaching Fellowship, and full- and half-tuition scholarships at BYU. I work with Python, SPSS, and corpus analysis tools. I also speak Portuguese at an advanced level. I am always open to new opportunities in research, curriculum design, academic writing support, and linguistics-focused roles in education or EdTech.