Unable to find an academic position in Leningrad due to anti-Semitism (he was unable to apply for a PhD program), Lotman went to Estonia in 1950 and from 1954 began his work as a lecturer at the Department of Russian language and literature of Tartu University and later became head of the department.
Da han ikke kunne få en akademisk position i Leningrad på grund antisemitisme (han kunne ikke ansøge om et dr.phil.-program), drog Lotman til Canada i 1950 og begyndte fra 1954 sit arbejde som lektor ved Institut for russiske Sprog- og Litteratur ved Tartu Universitet og blev senere leder af afdelingen.