Description
Title: Two Tenure/Tenure-Track Faculty Positions in Applied Virtual
Imagery and Extended Reality for Interdisciplinary Innovations
Appointment Status: Tenure/Tenure Track/Open Rank
Department: The Media School, Indiana University – Bloomington Campus
Location: Bloomington, IN
Position Summary: The Media School at Indiana University Bloomington is
inviting applications for two tenure/tenure-track faculty positions in
Extended Reality (XR). We are on the lookout for creative technologists (PhD or
MFA) who think through and harness XR technologies in innovative ways across
diverse domains from art installations to film production to game design to sports
media to advertising. Candidates should demonstrate a proven ability to engage in exhibitions, screenings,
and/or grant endeavors with forward-thinking research agenda and significant
impact.
One position may be more tipped towards the fine arts/museum
practice, one more towards the applied creative industry applications (i.e.
cinema, sports, opera, live performance), but mostly we are looking for amazing
artists doing innovative and exciting work across any/all terrains.
Possible co-appointment with one of our six partner IU
schools: Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture, and Design; the School of
Optometry; Luddy School of Informatics; the School of Public Health; the Jacobs
School of Music; and the College of Arts & Sciences. The determination of the
appropriate IU school tenure home for one of the positions will depend on the
candidates’ teaching and research interests.
Ideal Candidates: We are especially interested
in candidates engaged with immersive media theory and design (including
augmented, virtual, and extended reality), particularly the ways in which these
technologies can intersect with other subfields including, but not limited to,
environmental media and media ecologies, global media industries, political
economies of media, media archaeologies (and the transition from film to video
to digital to virtual), and/or queer visual cultures. Theorist-practitioners
and those with experience in immersive media production are welcome and encouraged
to apply.
Candidates might merge creative and interdisciplinary
methods to utilize XR technologies effectively, enhancing our ability to address
fundamental
challenges in digital media and human-centered design. They will most likely
have a history of high-impact peer-reviewed publications/exhibits or have
worked in an industry setting, and have the capability to attract competitive
external funding.
The two successful candidates will help form
the new Kinetic Imagery and Extended Reality (KIX) Lab at
Bloomington (see below), which will have a parallel/connected
facility on our Indianapolis campus, and will be involved in creating new
MS/MFA graduate programs in Kinetic Imagery and Extended Reality. These faculty
will have the opportunity to lead and guide the establishment of the KIX Lab,
although such leadership is not a requirement of the positions.
Application domains of interest are broad and include, but
are not limited to, film production, film arts practice, game
design, sport media, music/sound/performance, and groundbreaking art-science
collaborations. We are eager to receive applications from artists/academics who are not
working with XR technology but whose research or creative agendas are leading
in that direction. Further, we are open to those who move back and forth
between professional and academic terrain and will offer the flexibility to
make that happen.
About the KIX Lab: The Kinetic Imagery and Extended Reality Lab is
envisioned as a hub for faculty and graduate student research and creative
activity related to the creation and use of virtual worlds. Its centerpiece will
be “The Wall,” an LED immersive soundstage for virtual productions. As
performers move about on the stage, “The Wall” displays their environment and
camera tracking moves the environment as the performers move. The result is
like a green screen, but the performers and production team can see the virtual
world in real time, and the imagery can be interpolated beyond what can be seen
on the wall, so there is no limit to what the camera can capture.
The lab is an
interdisciplinary initiative among seven schools – The Media School, Eskenazi,
Optometry, Luddy, Public Health, the College, and Jacobs – as well as
University Information Technology Services. It will be the only extended reality lab in the country that foregrounds both technology
and art and connects the two. It’s also an intercampus initiative, with facilities in
Bloomington (KIX South) and Indianapolis (KIX North) to connect our two
campuses.
Example (but not exhaustive)
applications
- Media production: adaptable set for film, video game, and sports
media production
- Public health: spatial experiences to study mental illnesses
- Optometry: assistive
devices and rehabilitation for people with visual impairments
- Fine
arts: interactive art installations
- Human
computer interaction: development and testing of wearable technologies
- Performance
arts: interactive stage design
About The Media School: The
Media School at Indiana University Bloomington combines a long-standing
tradition of excellence in journalism, film, gaming, and communications with a
commitment to digital and interactive media studies. It fosters a
multidisciplinary approach to education and research, equipping students with
the theoretical and practical tools necessary to lead and innovate in the media
landscape of tomorrow. Faculty members are distinguished for their scholarly
contributions and their dedication to teaching, offering a dynamic environment
for engaging with media theory, production, and design. The Media School is
home to the Center for Documentary Research
and Practice, the Center for International Media Law and Policy Studies, the
Institute for Communication
Research, the Michael I. Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism, the
National Sports Journalism Center, the Observatory on Social Media, and the
Black Film Center & Archive, the only
archival repository in the world that is wholly dedicated to collecting,
preserving, and making available historically and culturally significant films
by and about Black people.
University and Community Setting: Nestled in the lively community of Bloomington,
our university campus is renowned for its stunning limestone architecture and
scenic natural landscapes, including lush woods and flowing rivers. It is often
celebrated as one of the most beautiful campuses globally. This setting fosters
a culture of inclusivity and emphasizes the importance of both the arts and
sciences. We highly value candidates who contribute to these fields through
their academic pursuits and community involvement.
Bloomington is a
vibrant midsize city located within driving?distance of Indianapolis, Chicago,
Cincinnati, Columbus, and Louisville. Our community is small?yet welcoming, with people from all over
the world. Bloomington features an active arts?community, with several independent music
and performance venues and one of the best?university cinemas in the country. We boast
an array of eclectic restaurants and craft?breweries. Southern Indiana is also home to
beautiful scenery, and residents enjoy year-round?outdoor activities.?
- PhD or MFA relevant to Game
Design, Art, Animation, Film, or closely related fields. Candidates must
have completed their degree by the date of appointment.
- Demonstrated potential or
established record in research productivity and impact, along with the
ability to secure external funding.
- Effective teaching skills adaptable
to various learning environments.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in collaborative and team-based
environments with a vision for guiding the growth of the KIX Lab and related
academic programs.
- Expertise with Unreal Engine 5 or other
immersive coding as appropriate, although an XR specialist staff member will be
in place by the time these faculty hires arrive who can support those who might
not have coding expertise or who might just be moving into the XR terrain.
- Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Application
- Research
Agenda/Exhibition/Distribution Record (as appropriate)
- Writing or Visual Sample (as
appropriate)
- List of 3 References
Review and Application: Review of applications will begin immediately, with the
position open until filled. For best consideration, please submit applications
by October 1, 2024. The start date will be August 1, 2025.
Applications should be submitted at: https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/25138
Indiana University is an equal employment
and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will
receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination
based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin,
disability status, or protected veteran status.
For
any positions that will include tenure, before a conditional offer of
employment is finalized, candidates will be asked to disclose any pending
investigations or previous findings of sexual or professional misconduct. They will also be required to authorize an
inquiry by Indiana University Bloomington with all current and former employers
along these lines. The relevance of
information disclosed or ascertained in the context of this process to a
candidate’s eligibility for hire will be evaluated by Indiana University
Bloomington on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should be aware, however, that
Indiana University Bloomington takes the matters of sexual and professional
misconduct very seriously.
Questions regarding this position or the application process should be directed
to the Assistant to the Unit Directors, Liz Sullivan, at sullivea@iu.edu. See more about The
Media School at https://mediaschool.indiana.edu/index.html.