Assistant Professor in Game Design and Development

Department of Computational Arts, School of Arts, Media, Performance, and Design

The Department of Computational Arts in the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design at York University invites highly qualified applicants for a research-enhanced Assistant Professor position in Game Design and Development. This is a tenure-track appointment to the Professorial Stream to commence July 1, 2024.

This is a research-enhanced faculty position partially funded by the Connected Minds program, funded in part by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. The successful candidate will be eligible for enhanced start-up funds, an annual research allowance, and a reduced teaching load. In addition, the successful candidate will engage with, and benefit from, the Connected Minds program, which focuses on research in three main themes: I. Co-creating Research for Societal Needs and Predicted Impact; II. Fundamentals of Social Interaction: Neural, Algorithmic, and Social Networks; and III. Designing and Developing Socially Responsible Technologies. The Connected Minds program is supported by a total of $318 million in funding over seven years.

The Department of Computational Arts has an expansive and forward-looking perspective on gaming, both as a defining cultural form of the 21st Century, and as a creative medium with remarkable opportunities for socially engaged computational arts and creative experimentation. We seek a creative practitioner in game design and development whose research priorities align with the Department of Computational Arts and the goals of the Connected Minds program, which envisions a world where deep interconnections between humans and intelligent machines promote social health and justice for all.

We seek a colleague with a clearly articulated program of research/creation, and/or professional practice in game design and development, who will engage in outstanding, innovative, and externally funded projects. The successful candidate will bring a background or desire to incorporate interdisciplinary and socially engaged approaches with a capacity to supervise games-based graduate research and teach studio-based games courses. Primary teaching will take place in the Digital Media undergraduate and graduate programs, both joint programs between the Department of Computational Arts in the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design, and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the Lassonde School of Engineering.

Candidate Qualifications:

• Degree: PhD or Ph.D. equivalent (typically an MA/MSc/MFA with a substantial record of professional experience) related to practice in games is required. Colleagues in Computational Arts contribute to the mission of the Department and the University through excellence or promise of excellence in research, teaching, and service. The Department of Computational Arts is particularly interested in candidates who bring experience in facilitating equity, diversity, and inclusion practices within their research and teaching. We acknowledge that within higher education conventional academic pathways in research can reinforce biases in the filling of faculty posts. Therefore, we encourage applications from candidates who may not fit all the above qualifications and who challenge traditional ideas of research, scholarship and teaching.
• Scholarship:
  • A coherent and well-articulated program of research, research creation and/or professional practice and specialization in gaming.
  • A record or evident promise of generating innovative, substantive, rigorous, and as appropriate, externally funded research and/or research creation.
  • A record or evident promise of making influential contributions and demonstrating excellence in the field These research contributions may include games exhibited or distributed; a record of publications (or forthcoming publications); presentations at major conferences or events; awards/accolades; and/or reviews of creative work.
• Teaching:
  • A record or evident promise of excellence in teaching and dedication to students through a teaching statement, which may refer to teaching accomplishments and pedagogical innovations including in high priority areas such as experiential education and technology enhanced learning; and teaching evaluations.
  • Suitability for prompt appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, given that the position will involve graduate teaching and supervision.
• Additional: In preparing your application materials, address the potential for alignment with and transdisciplinary collaboration with Connected Minds partners and/or other partnerships.

Hiring Policies:

• Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval.
• York is an Affirmative Action (AA) employer and strongly values diversity, including gender and sexual diversity, in its community. Details of the AA Program, which applies to women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, can be found here or by contacting Christal Chapman, EDI Program Manager (chapman7@yorku.ca; 416-736-5713).
• York welcomes and employs scholars from all over the world. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Indigenous peoples of Canada will be given priority.
• York has a policy on Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities and is committed to working towards a barrier-free workplace and expanding the accessibility of the workplace to persons with disabilities. Applicants who require accommodation are invited to contact Manpreet Dhindsa, dh087@yorku.ca.

Application Process:

• Due date for completed applications: November 15th, 2023
• Required materials: 1) current CV; 2) a letter of application; 3) a statement of research and teaching interests; 4) and the names and contact info of three references who can provide strong recommendations (letters will be requested from short-listed candidates only).
• Provide required information regarding your Canadian work status and optional self-identification for Affirmative Action purposes as part of the online application.
• Direct questions about the position to Evans Ahortor, Research Associate, Perrett Laver Executive Search at Evans.Ahortor@perrettlaver.com.
• Submit materials: AMPD_Game

Learn More About York:

• York University generates and shares knowledge through our research, teaching and engagement with communities around the world. The 2023-2028 Strategic Research Plan showcases the depth, breadth and ambition of research at York.
• York’s commitments to social justice are laid out in our Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, the Framework & Action Plan on Black Inclusion and the Indigenous Framework for York University.
• Follow the activities and accomplishments of York’s faculty, students and staff on YFile.

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