Postdoctoral Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the Opportunity

About the College of Arts, Media and Design

We are a vibrant community of creators, designers, technologists, and communicators applying creativity across disciplines and harnessing emerging technologies to advance human potential and solve the challenges of the future. Powered by experience-driven teaching, learning and research, CAMD demonstrates that the fields of design, communication, media, and the arts are crucial to the human experience, society, and the development of technology. We empower the next generations of students, researchers, and creative practitioners to create the future by sparking their innovative, creative, curious, and entrepreneurial spirit.

About the Center

The Center for Transformative Media is an interdisciplinary research network dedicated to investigating the potential of emerging media technologies for creativity and social change. Research conducted in the CTM explores the potential of emerging technologies to transform society - and our potential to develop new media technologies - as well as how people and communities use existing and emerging media in innovative and creative ways. We enable such research through activities including monthly research jams, research mini-grants, and fellows programs.

About the Opportunity

The Center for Transformative Media within the College of Arts, Media, and Design at Northeastern University invites applications for a fully funded Postdoctoral Research Associate. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to engage in a series of research projects at the intersection of networked urban mobilities and mobile communication, with a particular focus on understanding how marginalized communities creatively appropriate media technologies.

Projects include:

• Mobile Networked Creativity: An investigation of how marginalized communities around the world creatively engage with networked technologies. The project includes mapping/visualizing how these creative practices occur around the Globe.
• Retro Mobile Gaming Project: An online repository and physical collection of historic mobile games and artifacts to aid researchers in games studies.
• Retro Mobile Gaming Expo: Producing a media art show on the history of mobile communication and mobile games, and contributing to the growth of the retro mobile gaming collection housed in the Center.
• Micromobilities Justice: Analyzing networked urban mobilities in Global South urban spaces as they relate to mobility justice and social inclusion.

This is a full time position for one year, with potential for renewal based on performance and funding availability.

Postdoctoral Research Associates have the opportunity to engage with an interdisciplinary group of faculty and students affiliated with the Center working in areas such as Communication, Art + Design, Architecture, and Journalism. Applied outputs of the research might include immersive audiovisual experiences, locative media and augmented reality projects, site specific media art installations in public spaces, along with scholarly articles and book chapters.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Media or Cultural Studies, or a closely related field, such as Communication, Sociology, Design, completed within the last two years.
• Interdisciplinary background that combines critical/cultural studies, qualitative methods, design/media arts, mobile games and/or information visualization.
• Proven track record or peer-reviewed publications in recognized academic journals.
• Experience in grant writing.
• Excellent writing, collaboration, and communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills, and ability to complete work by established deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with mapping and spatial visualization tools, such as StoryMaps or ArcGIS.
• Experience with organizational and writing software, such as Google Sheets, Google Docs, and Slides.
• Familiarity with web authoring tools, such as WordPress, PubPub.
• Familiarity with design software such as Photoshop and Illustrator.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• (40%) Actively engage in crafting compelling grant applications and preparing comprehensive proposals, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and funding priorities to secure financial support for key initiatives.
• (30%) Coordinate and prepare high-quality manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, ensuring rigorous adherence to academic standards, journal guidelines, and scholarly excellence to advance the organization's research impact.
• (10%) Deliver engaging presentations of research findings at national and international conferences and seminars, effectively communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences and fostering academic collaboration and knowledge dissemination.
• (10%) Provide guidance and mentorship to graduate and undergraduate students within the Center, fostering their academic and professional growth, supporting research development, and cultivating essential skills for their career advancement.
• (10%) Actively participate in and contribute to the organization of the Center's research initiatives, facilitating collaborative projects, coordinating events and activities, and ensuring the effective execution of research objectives to advance the Center's mission.

Mentorship

The successful candidate will be mentored by Dr. Adriana de Souza e Silva, CTM's Director and Professor in the Department of Communication Studies. Professor de Souza e Silva is an internationally recognized expert in the field of mobile communication and locative media. Her research focuses on the creative ways people appropriate mobile technologies, including location-based games and mobile media art. In particular, she investigates how mobile and locative interfaces shape urban mobility and people's interactions with public spaces, primarily in the developing world. She is the author or co-author of 7 books, and almost 50 articles in peer-reviewed publications.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit a CV, cover letter outlining their research interests and relevant experience, and contact information for three references.

Any questions about this position should be submitted directly to Dr. de Souza e Silva (a.desouzaesilva@northeastern.edu)

Applications submitted before March 1st, 2025 will be reviewed at a priority.

Position Type

Research

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University's commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.


To apply, visit https://northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/job/Boston-MA-Main-Campus/Postdoctoral-Research-Associate_R129941



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