[Air-L] 2 PhD games researchers (Utrecht)

[geert lovink]

http://www2.let.uu.nl/Solis/ogc/vacatures.htm

GATE research project Design rules for learning through simulated worlds
2 PhD researchers (0,8 fte each)

What	|	vacancies
When	|	 starting 1 January 2008, apply before 15 November 2007
Where	|	 Research Institute for History and Culture (OGC), Utrecht 
University

More info:

- contact dr. J. Raessens, telephone +31 30 253 6270, e-mail: 
Joost.Raessens at let.uu.nl
- extensive description of the GATE programme (Word file)
- extensive description of the research project Design rules for 
learning through simulated worlds (PDF file)
   	
Faculty of Humanities
Utrecht University, founded in 1636, has developed into one of Europe’s 
largest and most prominent institutes for research and education. The 
faculty of Humanities, with over 6,000 students and nearly 900 staff 
members, offers an inspiring and dynamic working environment.

Our research and education programmes focus on culture, history, arts, 
literature, media, language, philosophy and theology, covering the 
period from classical antiquity to the present day. We pay special 
attention to interdisciplinary and international collaboration, the use 
of new media, and high-quality teaching and research. The research 
programmes are organised in four institutes:

* Research Institute for History and Culture (OGC)
* Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS (UiL OTS)
* ZENO Research Institute for Philosophy
* Research Institute for Theology and Religious Studies (INTEGON)

The Utrecht University Graduate School of Humanities monitors and 
guarantees the outstanding quality of education programmes for Research 
Master and PhD students.

The enthusiastic colleagues, the workplaces and excellent facilities 
both in the modern Uithof and the historic town centre of Utrecht 
provide a stimulating, professional atmosphere. Moreover, the faculty 
of Humanities offers attractive terms of employment.

Over 300 researchers are employed by the Onderzoekinstituut voor 
Geschiedenis en Cultuur (Research Institute for History and Culture): 
OGC. The research of OGC is divided into eleven groups: classical 
antiquity, medieval culture, cultural history, media studies, music 
history, art history, (early) modern literature, Oriental studies, 
international political history, socio-economic history and women's 
studies. Some of this research, namely the contract research, is done 
on behalf of third parties. Internationalization has a high priority 
within the OGC. It has exchange contracts with a number of foreign 
universities including UCLA in the United States.

The Research Institute for History and Culture offers positions for:

2 PhD researchers (0,8 fte each):
project 1: Game design as narrative architecture
project 2: Persuasive rhetoric in game design

Job description

The Game Research for Training and Entertainment (GATE) programme is a 
cooperation of several Dutch universities, research institutes and game 
development companies. Within GATE, the Research Institute for History 
and Culture (OGC) of Utrecht University’s Faculty of Humanities 
executes the research project Design rules for learning through 
simulated worlds. Within this project we have two PhD positions vacant. 
The GATE project is sponsored by the Netherlands ICT Research and 
Innovation Authority (ICT Regie).

The interdisciplinary research project Design rules for learning 
through simulated worlds aims to investigate how media and game theory 
can be called upon to improve the design and thereby the learning 
results of educational entertainment and serious games. For that 
purpose, researchers from different disciplines such as media and 
culture studies and educational sciences will call upon theories of 
serious games and gaming in which games are not only designed and 
played to entertain, but also to educate, train, and inform.

These theories will be further developed and critically evaluated in 
three sub-projects:

- The study of storytelling: How narrative structures can be designed 
to improve learning processes,
- The study of persuasive rhetoric: How certain rhetorical strategies 
can be designed to convince players of certain points of view (e.g. 
political games), or behavioural changes (e.g. health games), and
- The study of multiplayer online worlds and games: How design 
principles underlying multiplayer online worlds and games can be used 
to improve learning processes (i.e., make them more effective, more 
efficient and/or more pleasurable).

Each sub-project examines the ways in which the relevant media and game 
theoretical frameworks can be adapted in order to be used productively 
for the design of educational computer games. The project leader will 
write a synthetic monograph in which the results of the three areas are 
compared, integrated and situated in a broader cultural-historical 
context.

Job description PhD Project 1: Game design as narrative architecture
This project assesses various theories of how the medium-specific 
characteristics of computer games make it possible to tell stories, and 
how the design of these narrative possibilities can improve the 
motivation for and learning effects of playing educational computer 
games. For more information on PhD project 1, see the Research project 
description.

The promotores of PhD project 1 are Prof. dr. W. Uricchio and Prof. dr. 
P.R.J. Simons, co-promotor is dr. C. Kattenbelt.

Job description PhD project 2: Persuasive rhetoric in game design
This project investigates how the medium-specificity of computer games 
make them suitable for persuasive purposes and to what extent and in 
what ways persuasive strategies can be designed to convince 
serious-game players of the veracity of a certain point of view – as in 
games for change – or the necessity of a behavioral change – as in 
health games. For more information on PhD project 2, see the Research 
project description.

The promotores of PhD project 2 are Prof. dr. W. Uricchio and Prof. dr. 
P.A. Kirschner, co-promotor is dr. J. Raessens.

Qualifications
We are looking for two excellent and enthusiastic researchers with 
master's degrees preferably in the humanities with knowledge and/or 
experience in the field of media and culture studies, in particular new 
media and digital culture. With evident expertise in game studies, 
applicants with other master’s degrees will be considered as well.

The candidate should have:

experience with conducting research;
an affinity with interdisciplinary research;
knowledge of the relevant theoretical backgrounds;
an affinity with the educational sciences;
a good command of the Dutch and English language, both spoken and 
written. Non-Dutch candidates are expected to acquire a good command of 
the Dutch language within the first period of appointment.
Terms of employment
The initial appointment to the positions will be for a 0,8 fte for 1 
year that, on satisfactory completion, will result in an extension for 
an additional 3 years. It is expected that the appointees will complete 
all requirements for the PhD degree in this period.

The expected commencement date is January 1, 2008. The salary is € 
1,956.- per month in the first year and is expected to increase to € 
2,502.- per month in the fourth year, for a full time appointment, 
contingent on satisfactory performance.

Further details
For further information, contact dr. J. Raessens, telephone +31 30 253 
6270, e-mail: Joost.Raessens at let.uu.nl.

Click here for an extensive description of the GATE-project (Word file).

Click here for an extensive description of the research project Design 
rules for learning through simulated worlds (PDF file).

How to apply
Applications (by regular mail or by e-mail) should be accompanied by: a 
cover letter in English that sets out the candidate’s motivation for 
applying for the position, qualifications and suitability and how these 
will contribute to the project and a motivated preference for one of 
the PhD projects; a curriculum vitae in English and, where relevant, a 
list of publications;
contact details of two references: names, affiliations, relationship to 
the applicant, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses;
a copy of the MA thesis; and a preliminary project proposal in English 
within the framework of the PhD project descriptions containing a 
statement of the research problem, a theoretical framework and a sketch 
of the methodology that you would use (1000-1500 words).

Interested candidates should send their application to the Personnel 
Department of the Faculty of Humanities, to the attention of Mrs M. 
Kluver, Kromme Nieuwegracht 46, 3512 HJ Utrecht, The Netherlands. 
Please refer to vacancy number 68746-project 1 or 68746-project 2.

E-mail applications should be sent in PDF or Word format to 
PenO at let.uu.nl, and should specify your name and vacancy number in the 
message as well as in the topic, include a list of attachments in the 
message, and specify your name in every attachment.

The deadline for applications is 15 November 2007.

The interviews will take place in Utrecht, 12 December 2007.