Research Associate in Gameplay and Development

Hours: 36.25

We are looking for an experienced Unity developer with a background in mobile games and an interest in creative research to join the EmbodyXR project — an innovative UKRI-funded collaboration between the University for the Creative Arts and Mercurial Dance.

About the Role

You will be based within UCA’s School of Games and Creative Technology and embedded within a cross-disciplinary team exploring the role of immersive experience in supporting young people's mental health. The project combines VR, mobile development, and choreographed movement to encourage mindfulness and reduce anxiety in young people aged 13–25.

You’ll play a key role in the technical and experiential design of both the VR and mobile components, working alongside a team of developers, artists, and wellbeing researchers. You will ensure smooth deployment across platforms and support quality assurance, iteration, and user testing through creative and technical insight. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of practice-based research, immersive design, and real-world impact.

About you

You’ll bring demonstrable experience in Unity development for mobile and/or immersive platforms, along with a strong UX sensibility and a collaborative, research-informed mindset. You should be comfortable working across disciplines and contributing to both creative production and knowledge exchange. Experience with accessibility, quality assurance, or wellbeing-focused projects is particularly welcome.

Location

This hybrid role is based primarily at UCA Farnham, with the option to also work from Mercurial

Dance’s Coventry office (CV1). Weekly in-person contact time is required, with additional travel to Midlands-based user testing sites. We strongly prefer candidates who can commit to on-site working for the majority of the week, to support collaborative workflow.

Why choose us?

The University for the Creative Arts is a top-ranked creative university offering an inspiring and inclusive environment where innovation thrives. Our collaborative research culture bridges technology, the arts, and social good.

For an informal conversation regarding the role please contact Roderick Morgan, Associate Professor in Emerging Technologies at Roderick.Morgan@uca.ac.uk

At UCA, creativity and innovation are at the heart of what we do. Our legacy of educating eager and passionate artists, makers and thinkers runs back almost 160 years, and today we’re helping shape a global future that supports and nourishes talent worldwide.

Our campuses across Surrey and Kent are vibrant communities, each specialising in different areas of the creative industries. We are also home to a thriving research hub, with academic experts and fellows leading the way in research on sustainability, design, textiles, animation, history and culture, and more.

Are you ready to share your passion for creativity with the next generation of innovators? If so, we want to hear from you.

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