Parsons School of Design / The New School

Job Description

Parsons School of Design, a college of The New School, acknowledges the ancestral and traditional territories of The Lenape People on which our faculty, staff and students work, learn, and create. We recognize that New York City has the largest urban Indigenous population in the United States. We invite candidates for a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor of Synthetic Media and Algorithmic Justice in the School of Art, Media, and Technology (AMT) beginning July 1, 2024. We seek qualified candidates who consider themselves critical practitioners of AI-based tools and technologies such as generative AI, large language models (LLMs), deepfake, and other applications of algorithmic emergence. We apply the critical term of “synthetic media” to emphasize using generative AI tools and systems for media making, especially the visual arts. Successful applicants will position their work within the framework of algorithmic justice, reflecting research, scholarship and/or creative practice that exemplifies inquiry into questions fundamental to authorship, ownership, human rights, social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial and collaborative in the context of academia and pursue external funding to support costly aspects of AI-based research and practice. For this position, Parsons seeks a transdisciplinary artist / designer / researcher / technologist who is a pathbreaking practitioner with a clear engagement of critical theory. In this position, the faculty member would find and generate rich opportunities and vantage points to intersect across disciplines at Parsons and across The New School, an institution that actively seeks and supports interdisciplinarity. Most importantly, the ideal candidate presents experience and/or a clear vision for developing a new pedagogy and curriculum for the synthetic media age as arts and design practices undergo a set of yet another digital transformations. The New School is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and particularly seeks applications from members of underrepresented groups, as well as candidates who share this commitment. RESPONSIBILITIES The work of this faculty member is divided between (1) teaching, (2) scholarship or professional/creative practice, and (3) university service. The standard teaching load is five courses––or the equivalent––per academic year. Within their field of expertise, the faculty member will be expected to teach undergraduate, including First Year, as well as graduate courses, to majors and non-majors, with an explicit focus on teaching across the Design and Technology, Data Visualization, and Illustration Programs. They will hold regular office hours, and participate in extracurricular teaching activities such as critiques, review panels, thesis supervision, independent study, and advising. University service includes program, Parsons, and New School assignments on committees and task forces, and as program directors or associate directors with a reduced teaching load in graduate and undergraduate programs, including the undergraduate First Year. All faculty are expected to be engaged with scholarship or professional/creative practice at a level commensurate with their faculty rank. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS An MFA, or alternative terminal degree, in a field related to the focus of the position, or equivalent professional or creative practice experience. Active/current professional practice or creative/critical scholarship that demonstrates significant creative and professional achievement in the domains of generative AI, machine learning, algorithms, etc . Two years teaching at college, university, community-based, and / or secondary education level with evidence of engagement with course and syllabus development / planning. Candidates seeking a position at Associate level must demonstrate equivalent teaching, research/practice experience, service and successful completion of academic review. Strong interest in working collaboratively across Parsons and the University. Ability to work effectively as part of a team, as a collaborator or lead. Candidates with experience commensurate to Associate Professor rank will have experience mentoring colleagues in grant and partnership pursuits. Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines, communicate and motivate effectively. Evidence of a commitment to educational equity in teaching, research, scholarship, professional/creative practice, or other experience. Evidence of cross-cultural communication skills in teaching, research, scholarship, professional/creative practice, or other experience. Evidence of demonstrated interest in / building the ability to mentor and support students from diverse backgrounds, to develop and nurture the individual student’s abilities, and a strong commitment to progressive education. This evidence can be in a candidate’s teaching, research, scholarship, professional/creative practice, or other experience. Evidence of a commitment to diversity and inclusion (in classroom, campus, community) in teaching, research, scholarship, professional/creative practice, or other experience. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience in higher education academic setting, with a working knowledge of curriculum development, student support, and management. Experience teaching English language learners, students from low income backgrounds, and first generation college students. University-level teaching that includes a combination of studios, seminars, and tutorials, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Experience with / commitment to curricular and community-building work for first-year college students; capacity to lead in the context of a first-year studies program. WORK MODALITY On-Campus Position: Faculty are expected to work on-campus due to the nature of the work in accordance with the University policies as set forth in the Full-Time Faculty Handbook.