Djuddah Arthur Joost Leijen is an Associate Professor of English Language at the University of Tartu's Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures since May 2022, and an Affiliated Researcher at Malmö University since November 2023. With a Doctoral Degree in Estonian and General Linguistics from the University of Tartu (2016), his career spans over 15 years of dedicated work in academic writing research, rhetoric and composition, and language education across Baltic and Nordic contexts. His educational background includes: Doctoral Degree in Estonian and General Linguistics, University of Tartu (2010-2016) Annual Dartmouth Summer Seminar for Composition Research (2013) MSc in Education Training and Systems Design, University of Twente, The Netherlands (2003-2004) Leijen's research focuses on academic writing traditions across cultures, metadiscourse analysis, peer review processes, and the application of AI in writing instruction. His cross-linguistic studies examine rhetorical structures and metadiscourse patterns in Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian academic texts, revealing both disciplinary similarities and language-specific features. Recent work increasingly addresses AI competence in higher education, exploring how generative AI tools impact academic writing practices while developing systematic approaches for integrating these technologies responsibly into writing instruction. His publication record demonstrates a clear progression from foundational work on peer review and second language writing to sophisticated cross-linguistic analyses and cutting-edge research on AI in academic communication. Recent publications like 'Decoding Metadiscourse Markers in Estonian Academic Texts' (2025) and 'AI Competence Frameworks and Policies in Higher Education' (2025) showcase his dual expertise in linguistic analysis and educational technology. Leijen has received recognition through significant editorial appointments including: European Editor for editorial teams (2024-present) Member of Kalbotyra Editorial Board (2023-present) Member of Journal of Academic Writing Editorial Board (2022-present) Chair of the European Association of Teaching Academic Writing (2017-present) Chair and founder of NB!Write (The Nordic and Baltic Network for Writing in Higher Education) (2016-present) As a supervisor and grant leader, Leijen has secured substantial funding including the €424,110 Estonian Research Council grant for 'Academic Writing in the Baltic States' (2020-2024) and currently leads the 'STARS: Self-Regulated Learning Tool for Academic Success' project (2024-2026, €62,941). His supervision portfolio includes doctoral candidates researching metadiscursive perspectives of Estonian academic text and master's students examining tabletop games in EFL instruction. Leijen co-founded Keelekord OÜ, a University of Tartu spin-off company, and hosts the 'Communicating Science Podcast,' which engages practitioners, students, and experts in dialogue about science communication in the Estonian context. Through these initiatives, he has developed comprehensive learning experiences that extend beyond traditional classroom boundaries to serve the entire university community and beyond.









