Academic-Creative Generalist (Part-time, 50%)

The Management Information Systems Research Center & the academic journal, Management Information Systems Quarterly, are seeking a part-time (0.5 FTE) Academic-Creative Generalist to help transform cutting-edge academic research published in the Management Information Systems Quarterly (MISQ) journal into compelling, accessible multimedia content. The ideal candidate combines strong intellectual and animation skills with creative storytelling and hands-on experience using AI tools to develop narratives, scripts, visual storyboards, animations, podcasts, and other digital artifacts based on content from academic research articles. This role will involve reading and evaluating academic papers, identifying, and synthesizing their key contributions, and translating complex research into engaging stories, characters, and animated visual/audio experiences for academic and practitioner audiences.

Duration: The initial appointment term is one year and may be renewed annually.

Role Expectations

Translate peer-reviewed academic research into compelling, accessible multimedia narratives (e.g., executive summaries, podcasts, narrated presentations, animation, and other digital artifacts) using AI tools without sacrificing intellectual accuracy or nuance.

• Read and critically evaluate academic papers: identify key research questions, theoretical contributions, methods, findings, limitations, and practical implications. (25%)
• Develop creative characters, scenarios, metaphors, narrative arcs, and dialogue that make abstract academic concepts understandable and engaging. (20%)
• Create and iterate scripts, storyboards, visual concepts, prompts, and scalable, repeatable AI-assisted production workflows that translate complex academic research into compelling multimedia artifacts. (35%)
• Collaborate closely with academic subject-matter experts/faculty to ensure that creative outputs remain faithful to the underlying research and evidence. (20%)

Required:

• BA/BS degree plus at least four years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree plus at least two years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and relevant work experience to equal at least eight years.
• Demonstrated ability to understand, analyze, and synthesize scholarly/academic research, ideally including empirical or quantitative research. Strong visual and conceptual thinking: ability to turn abstract theories, models, data, and research findings into visual metaphors and storyboards.

• Hands-on experience with generative AI and multimodal AI tools for storytelling, visual creation, animation, podcasts, or other multimedia artifacts, with demonstrated ability to move from research findings narrative concept script visual/audio artifact, and the ability to construct repeatable creative pipelines.

Preferred:

• background spanning two or more of academia/research, journalism, science communication, creative writing, filmmaking/animation, design, data visualization, or AI-
  assisted media production.

Interview Process

Candidates will be evaluated through both intellectual and creative work:

• Portfolio: Applicants should provide a portfolio demonstrating relevant intellectual output - e.g., research synthesis, analytical writing, storytelling, scripts, visual narratives, animation, podcasts, presentations, or other work that demonstrates the ability to translate complex ideas for an audience.
• Research Interpretation Exercise: Candidates will be given a week or two to read an academic paper and identify its central contribution, synthesize the findings, and propose a compelling narrative treatment.
• AI-Assisted Creative Exercise: During the interview process, candidates will be given an allocated duration (e.g., a week) and asked to develop selected visual artifacts, narrative/storyline concepts, scripts, and AI-assisted production pipelines for turning the research into an animation and/or podcast.
• Process & Judgment Discussion: Candidates should be able to explain how they use AI tools, how they iterate on prompts and outputs, and how they ensure that the resulting narrative remains grounded in and faithful to the source research.
• We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate the complete chain of capabilities: understand the paper identify the insight synthesize the contribution invent the narrative write the script design the visual/audio treatment construct the AI production workflow.

Pay Range: $40.00/hour

Time Appointment: 50% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail jobcentr@umn.edu.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

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