[spectre] OCAD Toronto Digital Futures Initiative Job Postings

[Andreas Broeckmann]

Subject: OCAD Digital Futures Initiative Job Postings
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:26:05 -0500
From: "Shailer, Kathryn" <kshailer at ocad.ca>


Dear Colleague,

OCAD is poised to launch its Digital Futures 
Initiative, a set of new cross-disciplinary 
programs, research, and innovation activities. 
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.

As a result of this extensive initiative, OCAD 
invites applications for six new tenure-track 
positions as outlined in the attached document, 
including a Chair for the Digital Futures 
Initiative.  I would very much appreciate it if 
you would bring these positions to the attention 
of qualified individuals.

Sincerely yours,

Kathryn L. Shailer, PhD
Associate Vice-President, Academic &
Dean, Faculty of Liberal Studies

T 416.977.6000 x318  
F 416.977.6006 
E kshailer at ocad.ca 

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN  
100 McCaul Street, Toronto, Canada  M5T 1W1  
<>www.ocad.ca 



	  
	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.