Open Call: p5.js Editor Lead Fellowship
The p5.js community is excited to invite applications for the p5.js Editor Lead Fellowship. The fellow will lead the technical development and maintenance of the p5 web Editor project while providing leadership and stewardship for the project.
p5.js is a JavaScript library that starts with the original goal of Processing — to make coding accessible for artists, designers, educators, beginners — and reinterprets this for today’s web. The Editor is free to use and plays an essential role in making p5.js accessible. The mentor for this fellowship will be Cassie Tarakajian, who currently fulfills the responsibilities of this role. The fellowship begins August or September 2022, with a length of one year and the possibility to renew for a second year.
We especially welcome applications from people that identify with groups underrepresented in open-source, art, and technology fields.
Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities for the fellowship include:
Maintenance of the p5.js web editor site
- Ensuring the editor.p5js.org website continues to run, by maintaining the database, servers, and other hosting services, including: the backend Node.js APIs, core React application (including components & styles), meeting web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG)
- Updating design documents
- Maintaining the p5.js Editor GitHub repository by responding to issues, fixing bugs, and merging pull requests
Envisioning the future of the p5.js web editor & community
- Leading and stewarding the project by making decisions that take into account community feedback, upholding the p5.js community statement and the value of access.
- Guiding the software development, such as the addition of new features
- Improving the contribution and usage documentation
- Working and communicating with the p5.js Editor community: contributors, students, educators, artists, and designers
- Hiring and managing contractors and mentees, as needed
- Envisioning new partnerships such as working with researchers or commercial entities with similar values for code and access
Please note: This role is a separate project from the p5.js library, currently led by Qianqian Ye. The p5.js Editor lead is not responsible for p5.js, but they do work in close collaboration.
Experience and skills
We do not expect you to be an expert in all of the aforementioned areas, but to have experience in most of the required areas listed below. In addition to the stipend for the fellowship, the Processing Foundation provides a $12,500 annual budget to be used by the Editor lead to hire contractors for additional support for project needs outside of their skill set. The Foundation will also provide support for applying to additional grants for other funding opportunities. We are committed to finding additional support, advice, or mentorship in areas where you would like to grow your skills.
Required Experience
- 2+ years backend or full-stack web development experience
- Experience working with:
- cloud computing services, such as managed databases, object storage, CI/CD, and Docker/Kubernetes
- Node.js
- REST API development
- Database management, SQL or NoSQL
- Redux or other browser state management
- Some experience working with front-end JavaScript frameworks, such as React, Vue, or Angular
- Experience creating web accessible interfaces, following the WCAG
Suggested Experience
- 2+ years front end experience
- Experience with:
- CSS tools such as styled-components or SASS
- prototyping tools such as Figma or Sketch
Grant Award
The recipient of this fellowship will receive $90,000 USD with the idea that it’s the primary energy of the awardee. We envision this role as a 30–40 hours/week fellowship. The Foundation will provide an additional budget of $12,500 for paying other contributors or other project support needs. Payments will be made quarterly.
Review Committee
We are confirming our review committee and will update this call with a list of jurors by the week of May 8, 2022.
About the p5.js Community
p5.js is a JavaScript library that aims to make creative expression and coding on the web accessible and inclusive for artists, designers, educators, and beginners. You can read more about ongoing work on our Medium page.
From our Community Statement:
We are a community of, and in solidarity with, people from every gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, language, neurotype, size, disability, class, religion, culture, subculture, political opinion, age, skill level, occupation, and background. We acknowledge that not everyone has the time, financial means, or capacity to actively participate in open source work, so we recognize and encourage involvement of all kinds . We facilitate and foster access and empowerment. We are all learners. We like these hashtags: #noCodeSnobs (because we value community over efficiency), #newKidLove (because we all started somewhere), #unassumeCore (because we don’t assume knowledge), and #BlackLivesMatter (because of course).
A Note
All applicants will receive equal consideration, and we will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. Applicants from groups generally underrepresented in open-source, art, and technology fields, those with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
FAQ
You can send questions to foundation@processing.org. We will post questions and answers here as they come.
Technologies Used
- Github Actions
- Node.js
- Express
- React
- Redux
- CodeMirror
- SCSS and styled components
- Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform
- Figma
- Release Hub
- webpack
- npm
- MongoDB/MongoDB Atlas
- GKE (Google Kubernetes Engine) and other Google Cloud services
- Amazon S3 and Lambda
- Mailgun
- Storybook
- Jest/React Testing Library
Application for p5.js Editor Project Lead (Email Instructions)
The deadline is June 22, 2022. You can fill out the Formstack application here. The Information section needs to be included, you may choose to respond to only one of the Video and Text sections, or a combination.
Information
- Name
- Email address
- Website (optional)
- GitHub link (optional)
- CV or resume (2 pages max)
- Names and email addresses of two references that can recommend you. These can be employers, colleagues, mentors, or collaborators.
Video
We acknowledge that the written application is not always a perfect gauge of an applicant. You are welcome to submit a video introducing yourself and a vision of your time as p5.js Editor Project Lead (see Text section for some guiding questions). We’re not evaluating the quality of editing, we are interested in what you have to say. Please limit all videos to 5 minutes or less.
- Video link and password, if needed
Text
If you opted to submit a video that has already answered the questions below, you do not need to include text responses for those questions.
- What would be your priorities in leading the p5.js Editor project? How do you envision the maintenance of the site? (500 words max)
- Outline the scope of work you seek to achieve during the fellowship, please include a tentative timeline or workback schedule. Assume that the core responsibilities of maintaining the Editor will take about 20 hours per week, leaving 20 hours per week for new directions. We understand this may be speculative.
- Describe your approach to leadership. (100 words max)
- p5.js started with an intention to hold inclusion, diversity, and access as core values of every decision made — from software to design to outreach (p5js.org/community). How has your previous work demonstrated a commitment to equity and inclusion? If it hasn’t yet, tell us how you would bring this into your practice (250 words max)
- Do you have any questions or concerns (or fears or anxieties) about this position? (250 words max)
- You may provide any additional documents you feel support your application. (up to 3 pages max)
All applicants will receive a response by mid-July. Our expected timeline is as follows:
- Open Call: May 5, 2022
- Review begins: June 10, 2022
- Interviews: June 27–July 1, 2022
- Notifications: 8 July 2022
- Fellowship Begins: August 15, 2022 or September 1, 2022
