Assistant Professor in Animation

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ
Department of Film and Digital Media

Assistant Professor in Animation

The Film and Digital Media Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites Filmmakers and Media Artists to apply for a tenure track position in the field of animation, to be appointed at the rank of assistant professor. We seek to hire an individual who is making an ongoing contribution to the advancement of experimental forms of documentary, narrative, and/or media arts and design practices and who will add to the department’s strengths in the criticism and the creation of socially engaged fiction and nonfiction work. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a broad understanding of the scholarly fields of animation studies, critical histories of animation (including documentary animation), film and media theory, and visual art practices. We have a strong interest in candidates with expertise in bridging areas of animation, visual art, interactive media, and gaming technologies. Areas of research and teaching might include 2D, 3D CGI, Stop-Motion and/or digital animation, character animation, immersive interactive installations, virtual environments, mobile platforms, and convergences of design, media arts, science, and technology.

The Film & Digital Media Department offers a Ph.D. designed to challenge traditional borders between creative and critical practice; an M.A. in Social Documentation aimed at training documentarians in creative and scholarly approaches to social change, media representation, and marginalized cultures; and a B.A. which emphasizes both critical studies and production. Our curriculum addresses the history, theory and production of film, television, video and digital media across a range of global and historical contexts. The program currently serves approximately five hundred undergraduate majors, eighteen doctoral students, and fifteen master’s students. The Film & Digital Media Department is in the Division of the Arts, which also includes Departments of Art, History of Art and Visual Culture, Music, Theater Arts, the M.F.A. Program in Digital Arts and New Media, and Ph.D. programs in Music and Visual Studies. There are opportunities for scholarly, creative and teaching connections in these areas, as well as with colleagues and programs in the Humanities and Social Sciences divisions and the School of Engineering where we have strong connections with the department of Computer Science and its faculty members specializing in computational narrative, cinematography and gaming. We also jointly host a markerless motion capture studio and several Kinect sensors for teaching and research related to animation and gaming. The Arts Division supports faculty research through the Arts Research Institute; the campus supports research and teaching with grants awarded by the Committee on Research, the Committee on Teaching, and other groups.

UCSC operates on a schedule of three 11-week quarters per academic year and the successful candidate will be expected to teach five 5-unit courses per year, or their equivalent, in accordance with the department's workload policy. These courses will mutually benefit students in Film and Digital Media, Art, Digital Art and New Media and the Computer Science departments. All members of the department are expected to advise and mentor students; maintain a program of creative and/or research activity; participate fully in administrative responsibilities for the department, affiliated college and the campus, including but not limited to committee work, outreach, development, and program building. The ability to contribute significantly to graduate education and the mentoring of graduate students is highly desirable. The successful candidate must be able to work with students, faculty and staff from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.

RANK: Assistant Professor Step I through III

SALARY: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: M.F.A. in relevant field of study or a demonstrated record of exhibition in museums, galleries, film and new media festivals, public television and/or publications.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: University teaching experience.

POSITION AVAILABLE: July 1, 2014. Position contingent upon final budgetary approval.
TO APPLY: Applications are accepted via the UCSC Academic Recruit online system, and must include 1) a letter of application outlining scholarly and creative background as well as current and future research plans; 2) curriculum vitae; 3) three samples of creative work. (Please upload PDFs with links to specific samples of moving image or other creative work.); 4) Sample of research paper, article or other publication (optional); 5) teaching statement (optional); 5) three confidential letters of recommendation*. Applicants are invited to submit a statement addressing their contributions to diversity through research, teaching and/or service. All documents uploaded to the UC Recruit online system must be in PDF format.

Apply at http://apptrkr.com/376591

Refer to Position #JPF00039-14 in all correspondence.

*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC’s confidentiality statement at http://apo.ucsc.edu/confstm.htm.

CLOSING DATE: Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2013.

To ensure full consideration, applications should be complete, and letters of recommendation received, by this date. The position will remain open until filled, but not later than 6/30/2015.
UC Santa Cruz faculty make significant contributions to the body of research that has earned the University of California the ranking as the foremost public higher education institution in the world. In the process, our faculty demonstrate that cutting-edge research, excellent teaching and outstanding service are mutually supportive.
The University of California, Santa Cruz is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, committed to excellence through diversity. We strive to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

Inquiries regarding the University’s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to: Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064; (831) 459-2686. Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available here or from the Academic Personnel Office (APO) at (831) 459-4300.

As of January, 1, 2014, UCSC will be a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Academic Personnel Office at [email protected] (831) 459-4300.

VISIT THE APO WEB SITE AT: http://apo.ucsc.edu








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