Research Affiliate: Movement Lab Fellowship

The Movement Lab at Rhode Island School of Design is actively seeking two research affiliates for 10-month term appointments in the Movement Lab Fellowship commencing in Fall 2025. The Movement Lab Fellowship program supports postgraduate work that explores movement at the intersection of language, identity, cultures, ecosystems, and/or peoples. Incumbents in the Movement Lab Fellowship will spend this time focused on their independent creative work/research projects. The art and study of movement is central to many disciplines and work may include, but not be limited to, the expanded fields of animation, filmmaking, immersive arts, performance, game arts, dance, puppetry, robotics, and kinetic sculpture. Bringing their individual perspectives to the Film/Animation/Video department, they will support ongoing efforts to decolonize curricula and advance the mission of the Movement Lab as a collaborative cross-disciplinary center for the creative study of movement.

About the Movement Lab:

The Movement Lab supports investigation of the social, cultural, ecological, and expressive potential of movement to help gain knowledge of the world in which we live. Research in the lab is supported through: a range of technologies dedicated to movement analysis and experimentation; FAV courses and electives; workshops, symposia and visiting artist series; and a growing archive of film, animation, recorded performances, and movement references. 

About RISD’s Film/Animation/Video department:

RISD’s Film/Animation/Video department serves over 150 majors, and many non-majors in adjacent disciplines. FAV students explore the art of the moving image while learning to master the tools needed to articulate a creative vision, using film, animation, installations, interactive media or a combination. FAV professors support the investigation of the technical, aesthetic and conceptual questions central to creating strong content with a unique voice.

Fellowship Description:

The Movement Lab Fellowship Program is a 10-month, on-campus program. Movement Lab Fellows will receive a competitive salary, benefits, and additional compensation for teaching commitments. Project proposals are open to recent graduates from a broad range of disciplines with an MFA, MA, or PhD (ABD is acceptable). Complete applications received on or before 13 December 2024 will be given first consideration. Applicants will be notified by May 2025.

Two people each year, for the next two years, will be invited to join the RISD community to conduct independent research and creative work; develop a RISD course with the guidance of FAV faculty; share their work, scholarly output and research on an online open-access archive; and join the growing community of  Movement Lab Fellows.  All Movement Lab Fellows from the three-year grant period will be invited to participate in a virtual symposium in spring 2026, presenting  their work and research with a larger community.

Required Qualifications:

• Recently completed MFA, MA, PhD or its equivalent (ABD is acceptable). In some cases, an undergraduate degree with commensurate experience may be considered;
• A creative and/or scholarly practice centering on movement-engaged art, design, computing at the intersection of language, identity, cultures, ecosystems, and/or peoples;
• A portfolio of work and/or research that reflects strong personal vision, expansive thinking, and dexterity in their field;
• Commitment to sharing work, scholarly output, and research on RISD’s Digital Commons, an open-source repository platform.
• Demonstrated commitment and ability to work with a diverse population of students, instructors, and staff.

Union: No
Work Schedule: Fixed Term, 10 Months
Employment Status: Full-time, Exempt
Grade: 535EX
Work Modality: In-Person

Application Process

Complete applications received on or before 13 December 2024 will be given first consideration.

In addition to the standard application,  applicants must provide the following attachments to be considered:

• A short description of your proposed project (up to 50 words).
• Links to an online portfolio, website, Vimeo page, or other streaming service.
• An approximately 100 word bio.
• Names and contact information for three references (letters-of-recommendation are not required)
• An attached Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
• An attached project proposal (PDF) with the following elements:
  • Detailed project description, including the final form that it will take and the central question that the project explores. (up to 750 words)
  • Statement addressing how your creative work/research could lead to a RISD course. (up to 250 words)
  • Summary of your project’s relationship to ‘movement,’ including its relationship to the applicant’s previous and prospective research. (up to 250 words)
  • A brief summary of how the project will be realized during the grant period. (up to 250 words)

Please use the resume upload tool in the application to upload all of your application materials. Items can be attached as one PDF or as separate attachments.

We will hold an info session via Zoom on November 15, 2024 at 11:30 am eastern time. To register, email us at movementlab@risd.edu.

Salary Grade Structure