In conjunction with the University of Rhode Island (URI) departments of Writing & Rhetoric (WRT) and Natural Resources Science (NRS) Dr. Madison Jones seeks a graduate research assistant to support a new project investigating how emerging technologies can be used for community-engaged science communication and environmental advocacy. The research assistant will work directly with Dr. Jones as part of the DWELL Lab to design, develop, and document a multimodal research project using locative media for public advocacy using methods informed by place-based writing theories and rhetorical field methods. Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills are required. Experience working with digital and visual media, especially AR/VR development technologies (such as Unity or Vuforia), programming (e.g. R, Python, Matlab), and GIS, as well as experience in science communication and/or community-engaged advocacy are preferred but not required.

Interested students should apply to the Masters of Environmental Science and Management (M.E.S.M.) program. Applicants to the M.S. and Ph.D. in Biological and Environmental Sciences (BES) may also be considered. 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 a second year contingent on performance and academic progress.

To be considered, please apply for Fall 2021 admission through the URI GradCAS system. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Jones in advance at madisonjones@uri.edu with a CV and a brief statement (1-2 paragraphs) describing relevant coursework, other related experience, and why you are interested in working in the lab. Deadline for consideration is Jan. 15, 2020.