Augmented Reality & Participatory Design for Climate Resilience
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Dr. Madison Jones is recruiting a PhD or MA/MS student to serve as a Research Assistant starting in Fall 2025 in the DWELL Lab at the University of Rhode Island. The candidate may be currently enrolled in a program at URI or may be a prospective student in one of the programs described below.
The selected candidate will assist in the development of augmented reality (AR) experiences to engage local communities in discussions about nature-based solutions (NBS) for climate resilience, including tree programs, public parks, and bioretention areas in three U.S. cities: Providence, RI; Manchester, NH; and Louisville, KY. This work will support a multi-university team focused on advancing climate resilience through community-centered design.
Qualifications
Candidates should have a BA or BS in a related discipline, broadly construed to include fields such as Arts & Humanities (e.g., Communication, Art and Design, Rhetoric, English, Film and Media, Computer Science) or Sciences (e.g., Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Ecology, Geography, Marine Affairs, Computer Engineering, etc.). Proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite) and digital development on WYSIWYG web platforms is required. Strong writing and communication skills across genres and media are essential.
Preferred candidates will have experience in science communication and/or community-engaged advocacy, and in working with AR platforms (e.g., Adobe Aero, 8th Wall, or Hoverlay), GIS, 3D modeling programs (e.g., Polycam, Blender, ect.) and/or open-access AR development environments (e.g., Unity, AR.js). Regardless of particular technological interests and experiences, candidates should demonstrate a willingness to learn new technologies and comfort with adapting to emerging digital tools. Full-time, 20-hour-per-week assistantships provide a stipend, health insurance, tuition remission (up to 12 credit hours/semester) and a waiver of 20 percent of student fees. Funding is available for one year, with the opportunity to extend for future years contingent on performance and academic progress.
To Apply
Prospective students should review the programs of study (see below) and follow the requirements of the graduate school and individual programs. Interested applicants should also contact Dr. Madison Jones via email at madisonjones@uri.edu. In your email, please provide the following:
- A CV or Resume
- A brief statement of research or design experience, interests, and career goals
- Examples of relevant work (e.g., design projects, AR experiences, digital compositions, science communication, web development)
- Contact information for two professional references
Additional Information
For more details on the project and Dr. Jones’ research, please visit:
- Dr. Madison Jones’ research: madisonpjones.com.
- The DWELL Lab: uri.edu/dwell (please review our project pages for examples of the kind of work we do).
- The Department of Professional & Public Writing
- The Department of Natural Resources Science
- URI Graduate School: https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/
- Graduate School Deadlines & Applicant Information: https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/apply/
- Funding for this position was made possible by a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program.
- “URI faculty join New England partnership for climate resilience, adaptation” by Kristen Curry
- “URI faculty receives EPSCoR Award for Collaborative Research Projects to Study Climate Change & Enhance Resilience” by Paige Monopoli
- “NSF Funds Research Collaboration between RISD and Partner Institutions” by Simone Solondz
- RI NSF EPSCoR Profile
Potential Programs of Study (for Prospective Students)
While current students may come from any related discipline (see above), prospective students are invited to work with Dr. Jones through one of the programs that he is affiliated with across the university. Students should select a program that is suitable to their interests, experience, and desired outcomes (PhD/MS/MA). Prospective students are highly encouraged to reach out to Dr. Jones to discuss which program might be the right home for their graduate work (see above). To be considered, please apply for Fall 2025 admission through the URI GradCAS system.
For MA Applicants
For MS and PhD Applicants
Note: There is also an in-progress proposal for a new specialization in Environmental Education and Science Communication (BESC) that students may switch to from another BES specialization, should the program be approved.
Students may also elect to combine one of these graduate degree programs with the Science Writing & Rhetoric (SciWrite) Graduate Certificate. Students with a BA who wish to pursue an MS or PhD should reach out to Dr. Jones to discuss the available options.