Senior Research Associate: Advanced 3D Artist and Visualization Lead
Date: September 2024
Title: Senior Research Associate: Advanced 3D Artist and Visualization Lead
Department: Interactive Commons
School/Management Center: School of Medicine
Location: Thwing Center
Supervisor Name and Title: Erin Henninger, Interactive Commons Executive Director
POSITION OBJECTIVE
The Advanced 3D Artist and Visualization Lead will be a member of the Case Western Reserve University Interactive Commons, a campus-wide innovation institute. The Advanced 3D Artist and Visualization Lead will lead visual design support to IC projects involving faculty, staff, students and external partners to achieve research and learning goals, including the use of the Microsoft HoloLens and other modalities. The Senior 3D Artist will also provide mentorship to junior artists on the IC team.
Key responsibilities will include interfacing with internal teaching and research faculty and student constituencies, as well as external corporate and nonprofit partners to understand project objectives and to work collaboratively with IC team members (software developers, artists, instructional designers, project managers), to provide hands-on research, design and development of 3D digital visual assets and animations. Lead research activities to explore lighting techniques and other effects to create performant and realistic environments for multiple visualization modalities. Creative work will be heavily concentrated in developing original 3D holographic models and animations for Microsoft HoloLens to support projects across the university and with external partners. The Senior 3D Artist will also apply digital creation tools to enhance purchased digital assets, images derived from medical imaging data, or visual data from 3D motion capture technologies. The position may also support creation of digital user interfaces, graphic assets, dashboards, data visualization and interactive presentation materials.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Collaborate in the conceptualization, design, and production of future-focused, high impact visual assets in support of IC research and learning objectives. Produce high quality 3D models and animations and collaborate with IC team to incorporate models into technical frameworks compatible with real time rendering and holographic displays; manage projects to specified time constraints. (40%)
- Provide mentorship to junior artist colleagues. (10%)
- Lead research initiatives to identify new methods and content creation tools. (20%)
- Operationalize methods, including establishing and refining effective and consistent protocols for 2D and 3D design, into production practices, such as checklists and protocols. (10%)
- Provide creative direction to support effective programming and user experiences for mixed reality applications, simulations, 2D displays, and other visualizations. (10%)
- Interface with Microsoft collaborators, other internal and external constituents, and vendors to optimize interaction with holograms and other visualizations. (5%)
- Participate in analyzing, troubleshooting, and resolving complex problems related to visualization production. (5%)
NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Perform other duties as assigned.
CONTACTS
Department: Continuous contact with IC faculty director, executive director, technical and design personnel to coordinate projects and meet objectives.
University: Frequent contact with faculty, research staff, postdocs, and students engaged in research and teaching that use, or have the potential to use, visualization resources.
External: Moderate contact with external partners to develop visualization resources. Occasional contact with vendors in order to evaluate products and services.
Students: Frequent contact with students.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
May supervise student employees.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: 3 to 5 years of related field experience
Education/Licensing: Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in design or related field required.
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Exemplify positive, striving, passionate, creative, inclusive and respectful IC culture in one’s attitude and interactions with others.
- Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Manage projects to specified time constraints.
- Use honesty and integrity to keep university data organized and confidential.
- Service-oriented, collaborative approach to partners and peers.
- Self-starter with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
- Must be flexible as well as a creative problem solver in an ever-changing environment.
- Proficiency in 3D modeling software such as 3D Studio Max, Maya or similar.
- Proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
- Proficiency in 3D animation software.
- Proficiency in generating visually compelling 3D digital assets.
- Ability to meet consistent attendance.
- Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.
- Experience in biomedical illustration desired, but not required.
- Experience in the integration of technology with learning desired, but not required.
- Experience with Unity and C# (“C Sharp”) programming language desired, but not required.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Working conditions are typical of an office environment and computer rooms. Some heavy lifting up to 49 pounds may be required. Some travel may be required.
Interested candidates should apply by sending a resume and cover letter to Erin Henninger at erin.henninger@case.edu.