PhD Stipend in Game Design and Evaluation

PhD Stipend in Game Design and Evaluation

At the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Architecture, Design & Media Technology (Copenhagen campus), a PhD stipend is available within the doctoral program Media, Architecture and Design. The stipend is open for appointment from 1 February 1, 2025 or shortly after. The Department of Architecture, Design, and Media Technology has as its goal the development of an innovative cluster of engineering-based environments for education and research which integrate creativity, engineering and technology within the disciplines of architecture, urban design, industrial design, digital design and interactive media. The department is a leading research and educational environment in Denmark that addresses the challenge of the interplay between creativity and technology, and develops new areas in research and education directed towards the end-user.

Jobbeskrivelse
The PhD project is part of the EU Horizon project "STRATEGIES" funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101094373 and the UK Research and Innovation (https://www.strategieshorizon.eu/).

This PhD stipend is within Workpage 7, "Game design for CCI training"’ which will support Europe’s CCIs (Cultural and Creative Industries) in understanding and delivering the goals of the European Green Deal. Taking a participatory design approach, WP7 will create a game that aims to communicate the goals of the European Green Deal. Further, WP7 will generate new knowledge relating to evaluations of user engagement with sustainability goals. WP7 is in a strong collaboration with "Goat Gamez" located in Warsaw.

The main tasks within this PhD project are:

• Assistant in the recruitment of participants. The sample will include 40-60 SMEs(300 participants), including different company sizes across countries and industries.
• Perform different kinds of interviews (e.g., in-depth interviews, focus group interviews), and observations, as to identify challenges and opportunities for CCIs beyond the game industries in relation to a sustainable climate transition.
• Code and analyze different kinds of qualitative data using software tools. Various validity and reliability checks are also included.
• Participate in the game development. This includes conducting workshops for idea and prototype testing and assisting in the game development.
• Take part in the game implementation.
• Take the lead of the game evaluation, including an evaluation protocol, including both qualitative and quantitative methods.

The research questions, methodology, and project plan for the PhD project will be developed under the main supervision of Thomas Bjørner, Associated Professor and Head of "Media Innovation& Game Research" ("Me-Ga"), and co-supervision from Piotr Kubinski, Associated Professor, Department of Polish Studies, Warsaw University, and CEO at "Goat Gamez".

Qualification Requirements

• The candidate must be able to speak, understand, and write in English at a high level. Good written and spoken English language skills are mandatory for publication purposes.
• The candidate must be able to work interdisciplinary and should bring a curious mindset and strong interest in Ecogames and game evaluation.
• The candidate must demonstrate the ability to conduct both qualitative and quantitative evaluation research. This includes skills in, for example, interviews, observations, thematic analysis and coding, questionnaire set-up, multi-factor analysis or other quantitative analysis (e.g., t-test, Mann-Whitney U), and skills for visualizing data in advanced software programs.
• The candidate must be able to understand game design and game evaluation, including some programming skills.
• The candidate is expected to contribute to educational programs at the Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, campus Copenhagen.
• The position requires skills in scientific work and publishing.
• The position is located at Aalborg University in Copenhagen, but some traveling is expected.

Please include the following in your application:

• Motivation letter
• Project description
• Updated curriculum vitae
• Copy of educational degrees

You may read more about the department here: https://www.create.aau.dk/om-create

You may obtain further information from Thomas Bjørner, Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology, phone: +45 6114 4601, email: [email protected] concerning the scientific aspects of the stipend.

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.

Shortlisting will be applied. This means that subsequent to the deadline for applications, the head of department supported by the chair of the assessment committee will select candidates for assessment. All applicants will be informed whether they will be assessed or not.

For further information about stipends and salary as well as practical issues concerning the application procedure, please contact Ms. Annemarie Davidsen, the Doctoral School at the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, email: [email protected].

For more information of the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design: www.phd.tech.aau.dk

The application is only to be submitted online by using the "Apply online" button below.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

Løn og ansættelsesvilkår
Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of 15 December 2021 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the current Circular of 11 December 2019 on the employment structure at Danish universities.

Ansøgningsfrist
2024-11-15

Ref. nummer
7-24069

Afdeling
Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology