Researcher in transformative play - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Uppsala University’s Department of Game Design is located at Campus Gotland, which has the best of two worlds: the broad range and high status of the full-scale University’s education and research and the unique study environment at a small-scale campus.

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Here, education in the areas of game development and game design is provided, and research focusing on basic issues in game design is under way.

The Department offers education in the principal area of game design, with four Bachelor (BA) degree programmes (Game Design, Game Design and Graphics, Game Design and Programming, and Game Design and Project Management) and a Master (MA) degree programme in Game Design. The Department also offers freestanding courses in game design, graphics and game programming.

Read more about the Department’s work here.

Project description: The Games & Society Lab at the department of game design is looking for a researcher to support the “transformative play” initiative, which involves the development of an advanced educational program as well as various research projects revolving around the transformative power of game design as process and (live action) role-playing games.

Tasks: The researcher will work closely with Games & Society lab director and be an integral part of the lab’s research community. The Researcher will identify and contribute to the development of specific research projects that investigate the potential of (live action) role playing games for personal, social and structural insight and transformation. The researcher will develop an overview of transformative uses of LARPS in various contexts, particularly mental health care, social work and education for the purposes of identifying the needs of an advanced degree in “transformative play”, relevant learning outcomes and particularly courses. The researcher is further expected to help identify funding opportunities and co-author grant proposals in the “transformative play” area. Developing a transformative play Studio – a conceptual space in which research meets practices and theories are applied to concrete design projects – is another core task of the researcher, as is the development and testing of new, creative methods for the assessment of the transformative potential of role-playing games and game design as process.

Qualification Requirements: A suitable candidate for this position has a doctorate in game design or related field relevant for the tasks as well as substantial research experience in the design, development, implementation and assessment of (live action) role playing games for purposes beyond entertainment. An international network and encompassing knowledge of the live action role playing community as well as access to communities who use (or may benefit from using) role playing games for transformational purposes (e.g. educators, mental health care professionals, social workers, leaders, counselors) is also strongly desirable. We want someone who knows this field inside out, who is a main force in the community and who has dedicated considerable time to researching, experimenting with and understanding the impact role playing can have on personal growth, structural / organizational change, identity exploration, empathy building, conflict resolution and problem solving.

The application must contain:

• Personal letter describing you, your understanding of the task and why you are suitable for this position (max. 2 pages)
• CV listing relevant former positions

Salary: Individual salary.

Starting date: 01-03-2021 or as otherwise agreed.

Type of employment: Temporary position for six months.

Scope of employment: 50 %

For further information about the position please contact: (Deputy head of department Doris Rusch, phone nr 0498-108262.

Please submit your application by February 1st 2021, UFV-PA 2021/44.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact International Faculty and Staff Services at ifss@uadm.uu.se.