The University of Michigan Library's Shapiro Design Lab (SDL) seeks graduate students to be part of the Lab’s Residency program for the 2019-20 academic year. Residents’ work will consist of work on existing and new projects in two areas:
- Leading and/or facilitating projects within the themes of Podcasting/Audio Storytelling and Community and Citizen Science (more details below on specific projects)
- Contributing to community development around these areas, which will include connecting with already-existing groups on campus or helping to develop new ones, as well as consulting with students, staff, and faculty who have project ideas in this area
Community and Citizen Science
- The Resident(s) will facilitate and lead projects related to Community and Citizen Science.
- Coordinating a Community of Practice and Project Incubator on the topic, in partnership with the Museum of Natural History
- Developing and running projects on the Zooniverse crowdsourcing platform, both within the Library and assisting with Faculty and Graduate student projects
- Working with community partners to make data more accessible and usable
- Working with the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History to develop a Community and Citizen Science kiosk in the new Biological Sciences Building (opening in 2019)
Audio Storytelling and Podcasting
- Explore the accessibility of audio production for all users, in conjunction the Design Lab’s Research Guide on the topic
- Participate in emerging audio heritage projects (oral histories, historical audio digitization, and more)
- Assist with a variety of student, staff, and faculty audio projects
Roles and Responsibilities
All Residents will be required to do the following:
- Work a minimum of 10 hours per week, up to a maximum of 15 hours per week at $16/hour. We expect work primarily to occur in the Shapiro Design Lab, with some understanding that project work will most likely need to happen elsewhere on or off campus.
- Join the entire Lab community one night a week for updates, project sharing, and informal co-learning
- Attend at least three workshops organized by the Design Lab, some taught by colleagues within the Lab, others offered on different parts of campus. Residents are strongly encouraged to suggest areas they would like to learn more about, as well as share their own expertise with fellow Design Lab staff and the campus community.
Required Qualifications
- Interest, background, and/or experience in one or more of the project areas listed above
- Interest in and/or experience with interdisciplinary collaboration and peer learning
- Responsibility and reliability in accomplishing projects
- Effective and prompt communication across multiple media
- Interest in collaborating with individuals from a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints
- Self-motivated and self-starting
- Ability to respond to changing needs within the Lab, given its exploratory and experimental character
Desired Qualifications
- Interest and/or experience in the Lab’s themes (discussed above)
- Demonstrated interest in sharing work with others in formal and informal ways
- Desire for developing skills and learning beyond what they learn in the classroom, both technical and interpersonal
To Apply: please fill out the following online application form and submit a resume/CV to shapirodesignlab@umich.edu. Applications will be accepted until September 20.
If you have any questions, please email shapirodesignlab@umich.edu.