Game Design Researcher

Role Description

Introduction
The Department of Education at the University of York wishes to appoint a 1-year 0.5 FTE Game Design Researcher to work with Professor Rob Klassen on a 3-year ESRC-funded research project, Rethinking teacher recruitment: New approaches to attracting prospective STEM teachers. The project is focused on developing and testing recruitment messages and technologies (including ‘persuasive games’) designed to recruit STEM undergraduates into teacher training. The successful applicant will work with a team to build a casual playable and persuasive teacher recruitment game.

A summary of the project can be found here.

The Game Design Researcher will lead on conceptualisation and design of the recruitment game. The GDR will decide what the game does and will encompass a producer role that brings together the software developer, scriptwriter, and graphics and design input. The GDR will contribute to research output focused on game development and testing.

The post is available from 1 March 2023 for 12 months.

Role
We are looking for a creative applicant with experience in building and testing a web-based persuasive game that will appeal to an undergraduate STEM population. The game designer will work with our research and development team, including a postdoctoral researcher, software designer, educational consultant, content writer, and graphic designer to build and test a casual (i.e. easily playable), and persuasive (i.e., purposeful) teacher recruitment game.

The game will likely use a ‘visual novel’ format, but game content and style will be determined through consultation with the game development team and focus groups of the target audience (e.g., undergraduate STEM students). At the end of the project, we will have developed a brief (10-20 minutes duration), user-tested, engaging, and functional recruitment game that provides users with a positive experience aimed at encouraging further exploration of teaching as a career.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

• Degree in computer science, software engineering, game design, or a related subject.
• PhD in game design research (or nearing completion) or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of research in ‘persuasive games’.
• Game design skills and knowledge.
• Proven track record in the application of game development.
• Demonstrable in-depth experience in game design.
• Wide-ranging knowledge of gaming trends.
• Ability to conceptualise and design games aimed at a particular target audience.

This post is available for a fixed-term basis for 12 months.

Interview date: 23rd February 2023

For informal enquiries: Please contact Professor Rob Klassen on (robert.klassen@york.ac.uk).

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork

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