Graduate Specialized Assistantships - All Programs
The School of Communication (SOC) offers a number of Graduate Assistantships allowing students to work with and support faculty or staff mentors. To be eligible for an SOC Graduate Assistantship, the applicant must be:
- Admitted to a graduate program within the School of Communication*
- Enrolled full-time (minimum of 9 credits hours)
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student
*There may be program specific eligibility requirements listed within each assistantship. Please refer to the descriptions below.
Work and Compensation:
Selected individuals will work 10 hours a week for 15 weeks per semester. The salary for the 2023-2024 academic year is $5,325, split between Fall and Spring semesters. Payment will be made in the form of a bi-weekly paycheck, which is taxable income.
Deadline to Apply:
March 1
Below are descriptions of some of the Specialized Graduate Assistantships offered from SOC in previous years.
Graduate Assistant for Inclusion Initiatives
The School of Communication is seeking a Graduate Assistant to assist the newly created position of SOC Inclusion Officer. The incumbent will work closely with the Inclusion Officer, Inclusion Coordinator, and other SOC staff on specific projects and tasks related to diversity and inclusion. This position will include, but not limited to compiling diversity related events for a bi-weekly calendar, conducting interviews with staff, students and faculty, assisting the SOC Inclusion Officer and staff members with events, analyzing data, benchmarking, developing communications, online research, and other administrative tasks as assigned. The hours are flexible and most of the work can be done remotely.
Qualifications:
- Passionate about diversity and inclusion issues on AU’s campus
- Interest in topics related to gender, race, culture, class, sexuality, ethnicity, and identity
- Excellent writing and editing skills
- Strong computer and communication skills
- Detail-oriented organized, and capable of multitasking and prioritizing tasks
- Strong interpersonal skills
Category: Research
Eligibility:
- Applied and admitted to a graduate program within the School of Communication
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more)
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student
How to apply:
When an applicant selects an interest in this assistantship, a new supplemental documentation item will appear in the ApplySOC portal under "Supplemental Information" tab. Please submit an essay, no more than 250 words, providing concrete examples of how you have contributed to inclusion and diversity issues personally and/or professionally.
Graduate Assistant for Strategic Communication & Outreach
The Strategic Communication and Outreach Assistantship provides an opportunity to work as part of small, fast-paced team in American University School of Communication's Communication and Outreach office. The team is responsible for the promotion of the school to external and internal audiences with the purpose of raising awareness and interest in the school, its students, faculty, degree programs, and school-wide initiatives. As part of the team, you will also have the opportunity to engage in the cycle of rigorous analysis applied to all initiatives, which allows continual optimization of marketing and outreach efforts to maximize resources and effectiveness.
This individual will be responsible for the following duties, including but not limited to:
- Reporting on website traffic using Google Analytics
- Assisting in email outreach, including building contact lists and implementing campaigns
- Designing digital slides for SOC's flat screen displays
- Writing, editing and publishing content for the SOC website.
- Projects include but are not limited to news stories, success stories, interviews, event listings and coverage, and alumni and faculty profiles.
- Original content creation aimed at social platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram
- Working in the university's content management system (CMS) to make basic web updates
- Supporting event management operations
The ideal candidate for this position must be detail-oriented, efficient with their time, and self-motivated.
Qualifications
- Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Professional demeanor
- Ability to multitask and meet deadlines while paying close attention to detail
- Experience using content management systems
- Basic understanding of HTML Experience with social media outreach and management, particularly Facebook and Twitter
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with the Adobe Creative Suite preferred.
- Video and photo editing skills a plus.
Eligibility
- Experience with the Adobe Creative Suite preferred.
- Video and photo editing skills a plus.
How to Apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for Strategic Communication & Outreach Events
The Strategic Communication and Outreach Events Assistantship provides an opportunity to work as part of fast-paced team in American University School of Communication's Communication and Outreach office. The team is responsible for the promotion of the school to external and internal audiences with the purpose of raising awareness and interest in the school, its students, faculty, degree programs, and school-wide initiatives. As part of the team, you will also have the opportunity to engage in the cycle of rigorous analysis applied to all initiatives, which allows continual optimization of marketing and outreach efforts to maximize resources and effectiveness.
This individual will be responsible for the following duties, including but not limited to:
- Supporting event management operations (planning and coverage)
- Meeting with clients and walking them through event logistics
- Monitoring event reservations
- Assisting with email outreach and digital calendar listings
- Writing content for the SOC website, Facebook and Twitter accounts
- Projects could also include but are not limited to writing content for the SOC website, news stories, success stories, interviews, and alumni and faculty profiles.
The ideal candidate for this position must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, outgoing and efficient with their time, exercising strong multitasking abilities.
Qualifications
- Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Professional demeanor
- Ability to multitask and meet deadlines while paying close attention to detail
- Customer service focus
Preferred Qualifications
- Event planning and/or customer service experience
- Eventbrite, Facebook
- Trello project management software
- Video and photo editing skills
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to a graduate program within the School of Communication
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more)
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student
How to Apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistantship in Digital Asset Management (DAM)
One of the greatest challenges companies and organizations face in today's communications environment is the ability to access and distribute their digital assets quickly and accurately. Forward-thinking firms such as Shutterstock and Getty Images use Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems, both as a means to save on labor costs, as well as generate revenue through the sales or licensing of their images, videos, and other assets.
As more companies have implemented the use of DAM systems, the demand for individuals with expertise with this system has risen dramatically--and the trend is projected to grow exponentially in the coming years.
The School of Communication (SOC) seeks a graduate assistant to work with our cloud-based WebDAM system to manage SOC's digital assets (still images, video, associated documents). WebDAM features an easy-to-use interface that can be learned in 30 minutes or less and can be accessed via the internet, without needing to go through internal AU systems.
Qualifications:
The key to the success of this system pivots on the accurate tagging of assets when they are uploaded. Candidates for this position must be extremely adept at paying attention to detail. They must also have the ability to write news-style captions accurately and without any typos. In instances where basic information about the photos or video clips is missing (such as the names, class years, titles, etc., of the people in them) you will also need to be able to research and find out who knows the missing information and then work with that person or persons to obtain it. In addition to fulfilling this critical role, the person in this position will occasionally be called on to assist with photography and video shoots.
In addition, the candidate should have:
- Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Professional demeanor
- Ability to multitask and meet deadlines while paying close attention to detail
- Customer service focus
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience writing captions
- Experience with DAM systems
- Experience with the Adobe Creative Cloud
- Experience with non-linear editing
Eligibility:
- Applied and admitted to a graduate degree program in the School of Communication; Preferred applications to those studying film and television production, broadcast journalism, photography, and strategic communication.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
How to Apply:
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
SOC Graduate Ambassador for Graduate Academic Services Office
The School of Communication (SOC) is seeking a graduate assistant to serve as the SOC Graduate Ambassador and work as part of a customer-focused, fast-paced team in the Office of Graduate Academic Services. The SOC Graduate Ambassador will be responsible for providing campus tours for prospective graduate students, emailing prospective graduate students via the CRM, conducting Skype informational interviews with prospective international graduate students, supporting event management operations, and other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Professional demeanor
- Enjoy talking to small and large groups
- Attention-to-detail
- Collaborative working style
- Customer service experience
Eligibility
- Completed one year of a master’s graduate program within the School of Communication.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Film and Media Arts
Graduate Assistant for Foreign Correspondence
The School of Communication is seeking a Graduate Assistant to work with Professor Bill Gentile, Senior Professorial Lecturer/Journalist in Residence. The selected student will work closely with Professor Gentile on a variety of projects and tasks related to his Foreign Correspondence class, his FREELANCERS with Bill Gentile documentary series, and AU’s membership in the Pulitzer Center Campus Consortium, all of which are designed to promote awareness surrounding, and the practice of, foreign correspondence. This position includes conducting research and outreach related to the FREELANCERS series, coordinating and promoting AU-Pulitzer co-hosted events, working with colleagues in the Foreign Correspondence class, drafting articles and posting on social media, assisting with the competition and the selection of applicants to the AU-Pulitzer Center International Reporting Fellowships, and other duties as need arises. Some travel may be involved.
Qualifications
- Enthusiastic, professional, productive, diligent, responsive, creative, efficient, organized, and good-natured.
- Interested in current events, foreign affairs, international news and media.
- Excellent writing and editing skills.
- Strong computer and communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence.
- Intermediate visual language skills (shooting/editing photo and/or video).
- Foreign language skills preferred but not required.
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to the MFA in Film and Media Arts or MA in Film and Media Production or the MA in Journalism and Public Affairs at the School of Communication.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for the Center for Environmental Filmmaking
The School of Communication is seeking a Graduate Assistant to work with Prof. Maggie Burnette Stogner, Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking. The incumbent will work on specific projects and tasks related to the Center’s focus on creating films and innovative media that engage, inspire and empower people on issues of wildlife, sustainability, environmental justice, biodiversity, and environmental science. This position will include programming development, promoting events, website and social media management, conducting research, and assisting with special projects such as Classroom in the Wild, the Eco-Comedy Video Competition, fundraising, writing a newsletter, and other duties as assigned. The hours are flexible and some of the work can be done remotely.
Qualifications
- Enthusiastic, professional, productive, diligent, responsive, creative, and organized.
- Interested in the natural world and in topics related to environmental issues
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Strong computer, web and social media skills
- Strong interpersonal skills
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to the MA in Film and Media Production or MFA in Film and Media Arts
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more)
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for the Learning Lab in support of the film, In the Executioner's Shadow
The School of Communication seeks a Graduate Assistant to join the Learning Lab team that supports the production, promotion and distribution of the award-winning documentary, In the Executioner's Shadow.
The GA will work closely with Professors Maggie Stogner and Richard Stack on specific tasks related primarily to the promotion, distribution and marketing of a documentary dedicated to stimulating thought and discussion about capital punishment. Assignments may involve drafting press releases and other forms of media outreach, researching and developing educational materials, updating and maintaining social media platforms, organizing screenings, and other duties as needed. The hours are flexible.
Qualifications
- Enthusiastic, professional, productive, diligent, responsive, creative, efficient, organized, and good-natured. Ability to work independently and as a collaborative member of a small team
- Eager to learn and take on new challenges in the marketing and distribution of a documentary film
- Interested in criminal justice reform and social justice issues
- Excellent writing and editing skills
- Strong computer and communication skills
- Mature individual with strong interpersonal skills
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Appplied and admitted to the MFA in Film and Media Arts or MA in Film and Media Production or the MA in Strategic Communication at the School of Communication
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more)
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student
How to Apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Journalism
Graduate Assistantship to support Wendy Melillo
The School of Communication is seeking a Graduate Assistant to work with Associate Professor, Wendy Melillo. The selected student will work closely with Wendy Melillo on a variety of projects and perform research on the following topics: propaganda, the Peace Corps, women in political communication, social media, beverage alcohol (booze), and ethics. Duties include conducting academic and mainstream database research for historical book projects, academic papers and opinion editorials. Managing and organizing a collection of historical archival documents on Dropbox. Writing memos based on the research conducted. Assisting with conducting interviews for a political communication book project that will include some notable media professionals.
The assistant will attend weekly, up to one-hour meetings, either in person or by phone, Google Hangout, Skype, or Zoom.
Qualifications
- Ability to conduct library database research is required. Strong computer and communication skills
- Must be able to work independently and have an interest in current events and news related to communication and media
- Must be able to produce quality work and meet deadlines
- Knowledge of Square Space is a plus but not required
- Some videography and sound production skills are preferred but not required
Category: Research
Eligibility
-
Applied and admitted to the MA in Journalism and Public Affairs at the School of Communication.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant to support Jane Hall’s research
The School of Communication is seeking a graduate assistant to work with Professor Jane Hall. The selected student will work closely with Professor Hall on a variety of projects and perform research on the following topics: contemporary media coverage and politics in scholarly journals, academic studies and in media outlets from mainstream media to online; assist with preparation of visuals and presentations on media and politics; production assistance on TV/online productions and social-media promotion for occasional interview productions with prominent players in politics and media. Professor Hall will also need assistance with a scholarly book and American Forum TV/online/podcast interview productions. The assistant will need to attend weekly meetings and class. They will also be able to work remotely.
Qualifications
- Strong research skills in both academic and popular media
- Strong knowledge of and interest in contemporary politics and media coverage and the intersection of the two fields
- Strong reporting and writing skills and ability to work quickly and accurately on research and preparation of materials
- ability to help with social-media promotion
- Research/production assistance on occasional broadcast/online interview productions with prominent players in politics and the media for American Forum series on campus
- Strong interpersonal skills.
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to the MA in Journalism and Public Affairs program
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for the Investigative Reporting Workshop
The School of Communication is seeking a graduate assistant who will conduct research and reporting for several long-term investigative projects, as well as possible blog posts and other short writing assignments. The graduate assistant will do investigative research (online, by phone) and data entry and analysis on our accountability project. The graduate assistant will work in the Workshop's offices on campus and participate in meetings during the semester. The assistant must work 10 hours per week for the academic year.
Qualifications
-
Previous professional experience preferred but not required
-
Data or journalism courses as an undergrad will be useful
Category: Research
Eligibility
-
Applied and admitted to the MA in Journalism and Public Affairs program
-
Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
-
U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to Apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Public Communication
Graduate Assistant for Research Methods and International Political Communication
The School of Communication is seeking a Graduate Assistant to work with Assistant Professor, Ericka Menchen-Trevino. The selected student will work closely with Ericka Menchen-Trevino on a variety of projects and tasks. Digital media offer new possibilities for social science research and understanding the role of new media in politics. This position offers the student the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in this area. The assistant will search for and summarize relevant literature related to political communication and research methods in international contexts, code web browsing and survey data for analysis, and possibly perform other data analysis depending on skills and interests. The data for this research comes from a three-country project studying political polarization in the U.S., Poland and the Netherlands and combines survey and web browsing data. The assistant will also work on a book project on researching digital trace data, articles on political communication and research methods. The assistant will attend weekly meetings, as well as keep a log of hours worked and tasks completed.
Qualifications
- Attention to detail
- Ability to search and summarize academic articles
- Strong writing skills are essential
- Some programming skills and knowledge of research methods would be very helpful
- Native-level fluency in Polish or Dutch and knowledge of the media and political systems of these countries would be very nice to have
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to the MA in Strategic Communication at the School of Communication.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for Politics and Elections
The School of Communication is seeking a Graduate Assistant to work with Professor Leonard Steinhorn. Politics, elections, social trends, recent American political and cultural history – these are Professor Steinhorn’s areas of expertise, and the selected student will work closely with him on research to support his writing, public speaking, media work and teaching.
Specific duties include in-depth research on presidential and congressional elections, tracking major political issues, culling articles and research studies, researching American political history, curating and editing online video for use in class and lectures that Professor Steinhorn gives nationwide. Professor Steinhorn is also a CBS News political analyst, so the assistant will also help him prepare for major political events as well as his weekly podcast on politics. The work schedule is flexible with frequent communication.
Qualifications
- Good research skills
- Knowledge of American politics
- Enough digital fluency to capture videos that may be hard to access and download
Category: Research
Eligibility
-
Applied and admitted to the MA in Political Communication at the School of Communication.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for Research on Strategic Communication Campaigns and Events
The School of Communication is seeking a Graduate Assistant to work with Professional Lecturer, Rajul Bhaskar. The selected student will work closely with Rajul Bhaskar on a variety of projects and tasks. Duties include assisting in ongoing research for case studies and weekly lecture preparation, along with an opportunity to guest lecture a class. The assistant will conduct weekly research for public relations writing, events management, and entertainment communication classes.
Qualifications
- Interest in consumer/entertainment PR
- Excellent written skills
- Basic understanding of PR and strategy
- Organized
- Meets deadlines
- Reliable
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to the MA in Strategic Communication at the School of Communication.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for Political Communication Program Director
The School of Communication is seeking a graduate assistant to help the Director of the MA Political Communication program, Molly O'Rourke, plan events, including bringing prominent speakers to campus and promoting these forums. In addition, this assistantship will support building the strength of the MA Political Communication network through outreach to alumni and identifying development opportunities, including internships and other professional partnerships. Most of the work for this assistantship can be done independently with weekly meetings/phone calls with the Program Director.
Qualifications
- Must be a self-directed
- Enjoy taking initiative
- Attention-to-detail
- Collaborative working style
- Solid research & writing skills are a must
- Graphic presentation/design software skills are very valuable
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to the MA in Political Communication program.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Teaching Assistant for Professor Scott Talan in PR Writing COMM337
The School of Communication is seeking a Graduate Assistant to work with Assistant Professor, Scott Talan. The selected student will work closely with Professor Talan on a variety of projects and tasks. Duties include attending each class session, managing in-class media and technology (computer/advancing slides/etc.), identifying various media examples to share in class, moderation of online discussion boards, facilitating small group discussions or activities, preparing course materials for distribution, creating and delivering online surveys, and other specific projects related to the Comm 337 PR Writing.
Qualifications
- Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Strong computer and communication skills
- Ability to multitask and meet deadlines while paying close attention to detail
- Interest in current events and news, related to communication and media
Category: Teaching
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to the MA in Strategic Communication at the School of Communication.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for the Center for Media & Social Impact
The School of Communication is seeking a Graduate Assistant to work with Professor Caty Borum Chattoo, Director of the Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI) and Executive in Residence. The Center for Media & Social Impact is an innovation lab and research center that studies, creates and showcases media designed for public good and social change. Focusing on independent, documentary, entertainment and public media, the Center bridges boundaries between scholars, producers and communication practitioners across media production, media impact, public policy, and audience engagement. The Center produces resources for the field and academic research; convenes conferences and events; and works collaboratively to understand and design media that matter.
The graduate assistant will work closely with Professor Chattoo on specific projects and tasks related to media and social change, as well as other research and creative initiatives focused on this topic. This position will include supporting scholarly and public research through writing, archival research and editing; producing original editorial articles for CMSI's Media That Matters blog; supporting CMSI's strategic communication efforts in social media and blogging; supporting CMSI events, such as film screenings; producing the bimonthly e-newsletter; and graphic design as needed. The hours are flexible and virtually all of the work can be done remotely.
Qualifications
- Self-starter, enthusiastic, professional, productive, diligent, responsive, creative, efficient, organized, good-natured
- Must have experience meeting deadlines
- Interested in the role of media for public good and social change
- Excellent writing and editing skills
- Proven ability to conduct archival research, via scholarly and news databases (Lexis-Nexis, Proquest)
- Excellent GPA in undergraduate career (3.6 or higher)
- Strong computer and communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence
- Bonus, but not required: (1) Quantitative research skills in communication (via communication undergraduate degree or professional experience), (2) graphic design familiarity/experience (Adobe InDesign)
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to an SOC MA graduate program, with a preference for those in the MA in Strategic Communication program
- Enrolled full time (9 credits or more)
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident, or international student
How To Apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for International Communication and Public Diplomacy
The School of Communication is seeking a Graduate Assistant to work with Professional Lecturer, Priya Doshi. The selected student will work closely with Priya Doshi on a variety of projects and tasks. Duties include helping with research for classes, finding relevant articles and resources, creating a blog platform through Word Press, and helping with presentation materials and class organization. The assistant may also assist with a research project on Embassy outreach to diverse US audiences. The assistant will also attend classes a few times each semester and face to face meetings every other week, but the position is mostly remote work. The assistant must work 10 hours per week for the academic year.
Qualifications
-
Undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher
-
Interest and coursework in international affairs and communication
-
Work in diversity and inclusion
Category: Research
Eligibility
-
Applied and admitted to the MA in Strategic Communication at the School of Communication.
-
Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
-
U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Game Programs
Graduate Assistant for Games & Streaming Research Studies
The School of Communication and AU Game Lab is seeking a graduate research assistant to help conduct observational field studies, interviews, analysis, and background research on livestreaming platforms as they pertain to games, game development, art creation, and other related topics. This work engages heavily with community studies, observation-based research, analysis, and the creation of new research contributions to the field. Applicants should be familiar with livestreaming in multiple contexts - both large scale streams typical of eSports and other similar activities, and small casual streams associated with non-famous personas, hobbyists, and tinkerers. In addition, knowledge of multiple streaming platforms (Twitch, Mixer, etc.) is desired.
This work is multi-institutional, and the graduate assistant in this position will be required to engage not only with the faculty supervising this work, but to work collaboratively with students in other graduate programs at other universities as a part of the larger effort. You must be available for weekly meetings and multiple check-ins, along with electronic communication with supervising faculty. You will have the opportunity to work remotely / collaborate over skype, chat, slack, etc. You will have the opportunity to collaborate and contribute to presentations of this work as needed.
Qualifications
- Passionate and curious about streaming as an activity and its potential as a social and educational platform
- Excellent writing, editing and communication skills
- Ability to work remote and collaborate over skype and electronic tools
- Interest in topics related to gender, race, culture, class, sexuality, ethnicity, and identity
- Strong computer and technical communication skills
- Experience with streaming platforms
- Detail-oriented organized, and capable of multitasking and prioritizing tasks Strong interpersonal skills
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to the MA in Game Design or the MFA in Games and Interactive Media programs at the School of Communication.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for Lightweight Game Engine Research & Development
The School of Communication is seeking a graduate assistant to engage in a careful review of existing lightweight game engines (being defined as tools or processes that allow mid-level game creation with a minimum of scripting or programming, and that target distribution methods of simple executables and/or web-based delivery), suggest implementation strategies, demonstrate basic techniques, compare and contrast existing tools and packages, and potentially extend tools and provide documentation for use of such at the AU Game Lab. The graduate assistant will engage with a Literature and functional review of existing lightweight game engines, creation of basic demos, and written analysis of comparative strengths and weaknesses of tools and capabilities with an eye towards integration into AU Game Lab workflows and project support. You will work remotely when applicable and work effectively with faculty and staff that may also (at times) be remote. In addition, the GA will meet weekly with supervising faculty, both in person and/or over skype/hangout/etc. and must be able to work independently given basic guidance, formulate weekly task plans and objectives, and provide key deliverables and written reports.
Qualifications
- Core strength in written communications and preparation of technical documentation
- Experience in using lightweight game engines such as GDevelop, GameMaker, GameSalad, others, or in comparable scripting such as javascript, python, etc
- Passion for smaller, independent game development
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to the MA in Game Design or MFA in Games and Interactive Media.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.
Graduate Assistant for Lightweight VR Research & Analysis
The School of Communication is seeking a graduate assistant will be responsible for researching the current state-of-the-art in lightweight, web-based delivery of VR/AR, including javascript frameworks, browser implementations, etc. Key activities will be creating small demos in several competing environments and comparing and contrasting workflows and content pipelines, in consultation with associated faculty. Weekly demonstrations and continual re-assessment as the technology continues to evolve are required. In addition, the graduate assistant will present weekly on findings and include in these presentations demo projects illustrating best practice in various lightweight VR environments as well as, submit written reports and analysis comparing and contrasting current tools and methodologies with an eye towards incorporation into AU Game Lab projects and processes.
Qualifications
- Excellent written and presentation skills
- Prior experience with javascript, html5, web-based libraries, webpage creation
- Prior experience with virtual reality / augmented reality
- Passion for new, emerging technology exploration
Category: Research
Eligibility
- Applied and admitted to the MA in Game Design or MFA in Games and Interactive Media.
- Enrolled full-time (9 credits or more).
- U.S. citizenship, permanent resident or international student.
How to apply
Candidates will be reviewed and selected based on details provided in the admissions application process.