A cover letter and resume are important submissions for the hiring team to get a sense of your experience and skill set. Submit both a cover letter and resume as one file.

The review of resumes will begin when the posting closes. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted via email. The interview process will consist of an initial 30-45 minute screening interview and one or two additional interviews for select candidates. Additionally, samples of relevant work may be requested.

The TVLab at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning is a platform for experimental media, narrative design, and public-facing communication based at Taubman College. The lab supports emergent forms of architectural pedagogy, critical visualization, and public programming. The TVLab Research Residency offers designers and thinkers the opportunity to deepen their practice within an interdisciplinary environment, while contributing to the daily operations and life of the lab.

The TVLab research associate is a one-year, term-limited position from July 2026 through June 2027 that will report to the TVLab Manager (our organizational chart) and support the lab's ongoing operations and research agenda. This is a full-time role, intended for individuals who are not currently enrolled in academic programs. The position requires in-person presence for all TVLab programming including classes, lectures, workshops, and similar events.

This is a hands-on position. Your role will involve a combination of teaching support, digital organization, technical research, and public engagement. Prior experience with hybrid media or experimental workflows is not required. However, the work presumes a willingness to engage them, along with the capacity to learn quickly, experiment rigorously, and operate comfortably across evolving software environments.

Note: This job is situated in Ann Arbor and daily on-campus work is required. The anticipated schedule for this position is Monday through Friday from 9:00am - 5:00pm.

• Manage daily activities in the TVLab, including scheduling, communications, and tool maintenance.
• Help develop and lead workshops and tutorials for students and faculty, especially around visualization tools and media workflows.
• Support visualization pedagogy across courses by scaffolding media-based assignments, critique digital output, and maintain lab resources.
• Collaborate with the TVLab director on lab planning and strategy.
• Help plan and produce public-facing programming, including exhibitions, screenings, and online publications.
• Manage a growing inventory of software, digital tools, and collaborative platforms.
• Contribute to an evolving media archive of the lab's work and curricular contributions.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and research assistants on special projects and experimental ideas.
• Research and test the latest visualization tools and workflows.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution 
• Demonstrated experience in digital visualization, media production, or narrative design
• Interest in the intersections of pedagogy, public discourse, and digital experimentation
• Highly adaptable to evolving software environments such as AI tools, Blender, Unreal Engine, or equivalent

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

The salary for this position is $50,000. Factors used to determine salary include experience, knowledge and skills for the position. You are encouraged to discuss salary questions to honor transparency throughout the recruiting process.

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, U-M offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include generous time off; retirement plan with two-for-one matching contributions after the first year; many choices for comprehensive health insurance; life insurance; long-term disability coverage; and flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses. Learn more about U-M benefits.

Please note:

• Relocation assistance is not provided for this position.
• Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. Applicants will not be sponsored for work visas.

Our Shared Values

We aim to create a community of mutual respect and trust where everyone's backgrounds, identities, and views are represented without any threat of bias, harassment, intimidation, or discrimination. Learn more about the shared values we have for our community.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.