Get new jobs for this search by email

Motion Design & Animation- Asst Prof/ Prof in-Res

Description

INTRODUCTION

The Digital Media & Design Department (DMD) in the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut (UConn) invites applications for a faculty position in Motion Design and Animation at the Stamford campus. This is a full-time, nine-month position at the rank of either Assistant Professor (tenure track) or Assistant Professor-in-Residence (non-tenure track),depending on qualifications. Acknowledging a lack of diversity indigital media industries, DMD embraces an inclusive environment and isparticularly interested in receiving applications from members ofunderrepresented groups. The anticipated start date is August 23, 2025.

The Digital Media & Design (DMD) Department is a uniquelyinterdisciplinary academic unit led by faculty from the fine arts,business, STEM, and humanities fields. Established in 2013, thisinnovative and evolving department currently has 26 full-time facultymembers, 375 undergraduate and 20 graduate students, and offers MFA, MA,BFA and BA degrees with the following concentrations: DigitalFilm/Video Production (BFA), 3D Animation (BFA), Motion Design &Animation (BFA), Game Design (BFA), Web/Interactive Media Design (BFA),Digital Culture (BA), and Digital Media Business Strategies (BA). Ourprogram has a strong emphasis on collaboration and experientiallearning, best preparing our students for the challenges they may facewhen working in industry. The Department has established strong workingpartnerships with large and small companies, start-ups, publicinstitutions, and charitable nonprofits, giving students hands-on,real-world opportunities that benefit the creative economy of the state.The UConn Stamford campus,a federally eligibleminority/Hispanic-serving institution, is located in a vibrant andexciting city – with over 400 restaurants, bars, and entertainment andart venues. With easy access to New York City and home to companies likeNBC Universal, NBC Sports, Synchrony, and WWE, Stamford is a primelocation for any practitioner of Digital Media.??

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution andmember of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagshipinstitution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs,CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools andColleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and DentalSchools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University hasapproximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, includingnearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professionalstudents. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity)institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Throughresearch, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity andcultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in itsstudents, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health andwell-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, andnatural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as abeacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center forinnovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in manyscholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forwardincludes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbersof undergraduate applications and support for student success haveenabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES?

We seek a candidate with a strong professional record, acollaborative predisposition, and a commitment to teaching undergraduatestudents of diverse backgrounds at all levels of the curriculum. Thesuccessful candidate is active in the fields of motion graphics, design,and animation for the purposes of entertainment, advertising, branding,filmmaking, fine art, scientific visualization, and other expandedareas of practice including but not limited to: 2D/3D/hybrid animation,motion design, graphic design,film/video production, visual effects(VFX), compositing, interactive and immersive media (AR, VR,XR), UX/UIdesign, projection mapping, storyboarding and pre-visualization, andother emerging practices.

The successful candidate will teach courses with a creative focus inmotion graphics, animation, design, visual effects, and time-basedstorytelling. The position has a 2/3 (tenure track) or a 3/3(in-Residence) teaching load, comprised of 5-6, 3-credit undergraduatecourses per year - at all levels of motion design, from first-yeardesign to senior capstone- as well as additional independent studies,supervised internships, and student advising.?The successful candidatewill have an opportunity to develop innovative courses that relate tomotion design and animation studies and participate in buildinginterdisciplinary collaborations. The successful candidate will also beexpected to participate in departmental and university service.

To be considered for a tenure-track position, asuccessful candidate must also maintain an active academic agenda ofresearch and/or professional creative projects and engage in serviceactivities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Terminal Degree (MFA, Ph.D., etc.) in Motion Design, MotionGraphics, Animation, Digital Media, Graphic Design, Broadcast Design,Art or other appropriate fields. Equivalent foreign degrees will beaccepted.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in Motion Design and Animation (or closely related disciplines).
• A strong portfolio of professional work showcasing process, design,and creative work in the field of motion design and animation.
• Demonstrated teachingexperience at the university level(may include TA, guest lecture, master classes, etc.).
• Demonstrated expertise in the full range of the Adobe Creative Cloudincluding Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and Premiere Pro; and3D animation software.

Additional Minimum Qualification for Tenure Track position ONLY:

• Demonstrated established or emerging recordof creative research and scholarship excellence.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 3 years of professional art and design teaching experienceat the university level, with demonstrated ability to teach at variouslevels of curriculum from foundation to advanced.
• Demonstrated professional/commercial experience in the motion designand animation industry, including a commitment to establishingrelationships with industry professionals and studios.
• Experience with 3D motion and animation using Cinema 4D.
• Experience in in many aspects of production including Visual Effects(Nuke, Houdini, etc.), interaction design (Unity, Unreal), and/oremerging technologies.
• Demonstrated leadership in curriculum/course development in motion design, animation, and other emerging technologies.

Additional Preferred Qualifications for Tenure Track position ONLY:

• Demonstrated outstanding record of creative research and scholarship excellence.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position with ananticipated start date of August 23, 2025. The successful candidate’sacademic appointment will be at the Stamford campus. Faculty may also beasked to teach at one of UConn’s regional campuses as part of theirordinary workload. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications andexperience.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon thesuccessful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online to UConn Jobs athttps://hr.uconn.edu/jobs Search #498843 to upload the following additional application materials:

• Research and scholarship statement (innovativeconcepts that will form the basis of academic career, experience inproposal development, mentorship of graduate students, etc.);
• Teaching statement (including teaching philosophy,teaching experience, commitment to effective learning, concepts for newcourse development, etc.);
• Commitment to diversity statement (includingbroadening participation, integrating multicultural experiences ininstruction and research and pedagogical techniques to meet the needs ofdiverse learning styles, etc.);
• Sample journal articles or books
• Contact information for three (3) professional references

The evaluation of applicants will begin immediately. For moreinformation regarding the Department of Digital Media & Design,please visit the department website at https://dmd.uconn.edu/ .

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence iscomplemented by our commitment to building a culturally diversecommunity.

This position will be filled subject the budgetary approval.

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected toexhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful,and diverse environment for the University community.

The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community builton collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create aninclusive culture within the workforce. The success of the University isdependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and studentpopulations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in arespectful manner. This makes it essential for each member of ourcommunity to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand andbelieve that their ideas are respected by all. We strongly respect eachindividual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourageall members of the community to do the same. All applicants will receiveconsideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion,gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nationalorigin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer.

Advertised: Jan 21 2025 Eastern Standard Time

• Primary Software: Unreal, Adobe Creative Suite