COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION
THE MEDIA INTERFACE AND NETWORK DESIGN LAB (MIND LAB)
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

POSITION: LABORATORY MANAGER

The Media Interface and Network Design Lab is a new research facility. Built in October 1997, it will officially open in March 1998. The M.I.N.D. Lab is an interdisciplinary center dedicated to the study of human-computer interaction, especially interactions involving the applications of virtual environments. Opened with funds from a $1.5 million endowment from the Ameritech Corporation as well as generous construction and equipment funds from Michigan State University, the M.I.N.D. Lab is already working on projects funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Scott Foundation, and Silicon Graphics Corporation.

Lab facilities and equipment continue to expand and already include an SGI Onyx Reality Engine, Intergraph TDZ 3D Graphics Workstation, Pyramid's Immersadesk Virtual Reality System, Virtual Research Head-Mounted Displays, and several Pentium research and design systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The M.I.N.D. Lab manager works closely with the Director, Dr. Frank Biocca, the Ameritech Professor of Telecommunication, to administer research at the M.I.N.D. Lab. The M.I.N.D. Lab Manager represents the lab in the college and may. at times, represent the Director at university functions, and is responsible for:

. Lab technical support for 3D graphics, scientific visualization, and virtual environment design.
. Lab outreach to other research units on campus.
. Day-to-day administration of the lab, staff and intern program.
. Research project administration and some grant proposal writing.

The M.I.N.D. Lab Manager position will provide the successful candidate with a work environment far more interesting, challenging, and far freer than the typical corporate environment. The manager will have full ability to initiate and participate in all kinds of research and design projects involving virtual reality and virtual environments in medicine, the sciences, and the humanities. The M.I.N.D. Lab Manager will be paid at the level of an assistant professor and with successful grants have the opportunity to expand the salary base. The Manager will be able to fully interact with student research and design teams, and have opportunities to teach lab tutorials, if desired. Generous university benefits include a full month's vacation during the summer, travel to some conferences on virtual environments or human-computer interaction, full university medical and retirement benefits, and time off during university holidays.

QUALIFICATIONS: The candidate should be able to administer computer graphics design projects, motivate staff, and meet project deadlines. The ideal candidate should have a strong interest in virtual reality, virtual environments, VRML, and Internet-based telecommunication. Programming in C or C++ and knowledge of PCs and UNIX-based computers is important. Knowledge and skills in 3D graphics modeling, animation, or virtual reality simulation is an asset. Ability to work with researchers in a variety of fields is important. An ability to work with the Director to seek and write research grant proposals for new and interesting projects is essential.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The Department of Telecommunication is in the College of Communication. MSU College of Communication was the nation's very first college of communication. Today, it remains an innovative and leading international center for all forms of research and teaching on human communication: Telecommunication, Communication (interpersonal, organizational, social effects), Audiology and Speech Communication, Advertising, and Journalism. Collaborative interest in digital media arts is strong in related departments outside the college, including education, computer science, and music.

The College of Communication has excellent computer facilities for research and teaching. The CommTech Lab is an award winning center for multimedia design with successful CD-ROM and WWW-based multimedia products. The newly created Media Interface and Network Design (M.I.N.D.) Lab will be a center of research in human-computer interaction in 3D virtual environments. The DMAT training lab currently houses a classroom full of PowerMac 8500s. College computing facilities include SGI, Pentium, and Mac platforms, a full range of computer graphic, multimedia, animation, and virtual reality design tools. The college also has excellent radio and television studios, satellite facilities, and is the home of professional public radio and television stations.

Founded in 1855 Michigan State University is situated in East Lansing, a pleasant university town just on the border of Lansing, the Michigan state capitol. The Michigan State University campus is quite large with over 5000 acres of land, 150 major buildings, over 7000 types of trees and shrubs, 33 miles of roads, and 99 miles of walkways. The campus is home to over 40,000 students from all continents and about 4000 faculty and staff. The cost of living is very reasonable.

TO APPLY: Consideration of applications begins 1/15/98. Search closes when a suitable candidate is identified. Send letter of application, curriculum vita with three listed references to:

TO APPLY:
Applications including CV, statement of interests, 1 or 2 publications, and a list of references should be sent ASAP (but no later than 15 January 1998) to:

Dr. Frank Biocca, Director
The Media Interface and Network Design Lab
Department of Telecommunication
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
EMAIL: Biocca@tcimet.net

Electronic submissions, in plain text or postscript, are encouraged, especially as there is currently a mail strike in Canada.