PLEASE NOTE EXTENDED DEADLINE:
… EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST + CV: DECEMBER 15TH
… FULL APPLICATIONS: MONDAY, JANUARY 5TH
The Ontario College of Art & Design is Canada’s largest independent
university of art, media and design. Located in the Discovery
District of downtown Toronto and at the centre of the city’s dynamic
cultural activities, OCAD has 3500 students and over three hundred
faculty members. Committed to excellence and contemporary approaches
to education. OCAD currently offers 12 programs leading to the BFA
and BDes, and three programs leading to Master’s degrees. It is
building new interdisciplinary programs. The university has
experienced remarkable growth over the past five years and requires
outstanding creative researchers/practitioners and gifted teachers
to join OCAD in an exciting period of institutional development and
opportunity.
Drawing on faculty from across the university and working in
collaboration with a broad range of Canadian and international
private sector and public sector partners, the Digital Futures
Initiative (DFI) is a set of new cross-disciplinary programs,
research, and innovation activities currently being developed at
OCAD. Minors, a major and a suite of graduate programs will provide
learning opportunities in digital art, media and design, linking
this knowledge to emerging technologies with applications in fields
such as art/design and science, sustainability, health and wellness,
accessibility, diversity, and global innovation and business
development. OCAD has launched a research program in many fields of
digital endeavour and related disciplines, and has recently secured
significant funding to begin the construction of a series of
dedicated research laboratories. Faculty cross-appointed in the DFI
will be engaged in all facets of planning and utilization of these
laboratories.
The DFI Program Development and Selection Committee, comprising
representatives from the Faculties of Art, Design, and Liberal
Studies, invites applications for the following six tenure-track
positions:
1) ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND PROGRAM CHAIR FOR THE DIGITAL FUTURES
INITIATIVE
The Program Chair for the DFI is responsible for leading the
development and implementation of undergraduate and graduate
programs within the cross-disciplinary Digital Futures Initiative
Program. He/she must be able to build a program comprised of faculty
artists, designers, social scientists, humanists, computer
scientists, and engineers. She/he will need to facilitate and build
relationships with other institutions and private entities. They
will have a history of working in collaborative partnerships with
other institutions or sectors. Building on existing faculty
expertise and curriculum, as well as incoming faculty the successful
candidate will oversee the development of new courses and programs,
and foster increased research capacity in digital media, art and
design and related interdisciplinary fields.
Candidates for Program Chair will hold a doctoral degree and have a
strong background in interdisciplinary program development and
research. Candidates will have expertise in two or more the
following areas: computer science, computer engineering, cognitive
science, physical computing, human/computer interaction (HCI),
artificial intelligence, applied physics, interactive media, Web
art, game development, digital imaging, visualisation, media theory,
or closely related fields. They will have experience collaborating
with artists and designers, a strong research agenda, a track record
of successful research and industry collaborations, and a
significant record of supervising graduate students.
This position may start as early as Spring 2009, subject to
availability of the successful candidate.
2) ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, INNOVATION AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: DIGITAL
MEDIA, ART AND DESIGN
Holding an MBA or PhD in Economics, Management, Communication or
Technology, candidates will bring expertise in innovation practice
and studies, small and large business development and market
analysis with a focus on digital practices within the creative
industries and/or cultural entrepreneurship. Their expertise may
include knowledge transfer, commercialization or technology
transfer. They will bring an understanding of the global economy,
including Canadian and emerging markets. They will have demonstrated
capacity to work within a highly interdisciplinary setting, as well
as practical experience in working with emerging or existing
businesses within the digital sector. Experience teaching at the
graduate level and supervising graduate students is preferred. .
3) ASSISTANT OR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, GRAPHICS, ANIMATION AND
VISUALIZATION
Applicants will bring knowledge from the general area of Computer
Graphics with applications to animation and/or interactive/3-D
systems. They will have a PhD in Computer Science, Computer
Engineering, New Media Studies or a closely related area, with
additional experience or training in creative applications of
computer science in the field of graphics. Candidates will have
expertise in computer graphic techniques, specifically in animation
techniques, and may have expertise in virtual reality, 3-D games,
advanced visualization, augmented reality, or and/or mobile/locative
media platforms and systems. They will be versed in the history of
animation/visualization and the current debates about animation/
visualization practices and aesthetics. They may have experience in
artificial intelligence and intelligent systems design.
4) ASSISTANT OR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, GAME DESIGN
Applicants will bring a general expertise in games design or
development across multiple platforms, including mobile, on-line,
platform, serious games and extended reality gaming, with a
concentration in one of these fields. They will have a strong
history of creative practice and/or knowledge in gaming and will
also be capable of contributing to scholarship in the history,
theory, aesthetics and genre criticism in computer games, preferably
within an international context. Holding a PhD in Interactive
Media, Computer Science or other related field and bringing a
minimum of 4 years professional experience, they will be capable of
curriculum development in computer games and of teaching games
development approaches to artists as well as designers at the
undergraduate and graduate levels. They will be interested in
exploring research in contemporary and future applications of games
across multiple contexts, including art as well as design, and are
expected to be engaged at an international level.
5) ASSISTANT OR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, WEARABLE/MOBILE TECHNOLOGY AND
INTERFACES
Applicants will bring both research and practical expertise in the
creation of wearable technologies and interfaces such as apparel or
jewellery. They will combine technical and creative skills with
knowledge of materials and engineering. Candidates may approach
wearable technologies from various perspectives. This position will
work closely with OCAD’s Mobile Experience Laboratory and mobile
research area as well as its programs in integrated media, textiles
and jewellery. It is preferable that the successful candidate hold
a PhD in Computer Science or Engineering with strong design or
wearable art or mobile interface practice. Exceptional candidates
with an MFA or Masters of Design in fashion and supplementary
studies in engineering will be considered. Applicants will bring
capacity in wearable systems creation, fashion and technology/
engineering, and the ability to build physical interfaces to virtual
systems.
6) ASSISTANT OR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, HUMAN/COMPUTER INTERACTION AND
TANGIBLE INTERFACES
Applicants will bring experience in Human/Computer Interaction (HCI)
with a focus on tangible interfaces or ethnography. It is preferable
that the successful candidate hold a PhD in cognitive science or
computer science with an additional field in the humanities, social
sciences or design. This position will work closely with OCAD’s
studio-based programs on implementing tangible interfaces.
Exceptional candidates with a Master’s in Fine Arts or Design and
Engineering will be considered. They will have a significant record
of supervising graduate students, be familiar with the
interdisciplinary scholarship that encompasses HCI and have a
history of collaboration with designers or artists. A successful
track record in research and industry collaborations is expected.
ALL POSITIONS
The successful candidates will
… assume a key role in building the interdisciplinary Digital
Futures Initiative, contributing to teaching and program development
at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
… be expected to develop strong, externally funded research programs
and engage with cross-disciplinary research teams;
… be expected to participate in Faculty and university-wide
governance systems, as well as other activities that contribute to
the academic life of OCAD.
Unless otherwise noted, these positions are to commence with the
2009/10 academic year and are subject to budgetary approval. In
light of the specialized nature of some of the positions, OCAD is
open to considering secondments.
Candidates are expected to hold a doctoral degree or be close to
completion. In some positions a degree at the master’s level
combined with exceptional industry experience and credentials will
be considered. They must have experience in the relevant art or
design related discipline or in their area of research; a strong
record of creative practice, research, scholarship and publication
and/or exemplary professional practice; evidence of positive post-
secondary teaching experience; and an aptitude for innovative
curriculum development in a degree-granting art and design university.
Salary and rank will be commensurate with experience and
qualifications.
Applications should include a letter outlining interests in the
areas of teaching, research/practice, and service; a curriculum
vitae; a digital portfolio of recent work where appropriate; and the
names and contact information of at least three references submitted
in confidence to the address listed below. We would like to receive
expressions of interest by December 15th, including an electronic
curriculum vitae. Full applications should reach us no later than
Monday, January 5th. The review of applications will take place in
stages with an eye toward inviting short-listed candidates to OCAD
between mid January and late February.
DFI Program Development & Selection Committee
Ontario College of Art & Design
100 McCaul Street
Toronto, ON M5T 1W1
Fax: (416) 977-3034
E-mail: rdickenson [at] ocad.ca
Website: http://www.ocad.ca
As an employment equity employer, we encourage applications from
women, First Nations People, visible minorities, and people with
disabilities. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply;
however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given
priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only
those short-listed will be contacted.