Tampere University

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The Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies (CoE GameCult) is a leading centre in the study of games, play and game cultures (see: https://coe-gamecult.org). As a joint initiative of Tampere University, University of Turku and University of Jyväskylä, it brings together over 40 researchers from the humanities, social sciences and technical sciences, who are jointly engaged in the inquiry of game cultures. Bringing together leading game research teams, the CoE GameCult aims to integrate the multidisciplinary research carried out in game culture studies, and to develop original theoretical and empirical approaches that are crucial for understanding, anticipating and influencing the direction and impact games have on contemporary and future developments in culture and society

Based on a long research history and successful collaboration of the three universities, the CoE GameCult has started its operation in January 2018, in the Academy of Finland’s Centres of Excellence program, and (subject to a successful mid-term evaluation) will continue up to the end of eight-year period, the end of year 2025.

In the CoE GameCult, the interconnected dimensions of game cultures are addressed through four integrated themes that organise the research work carried out in the CoE: Theme 1: Meaning and Form of Games (coord. University of Jyväskylä, prof. Raine Koskimaa), Theme 2: Creation and Production of Games (coord. Tampere University, assoc. prof. Olli Sotamaa), Theme 3: Players and Player Communities (coord. Tampere University, prof. Frans Mäyrä), Theme 4: Societal Framing of Games (coord. University of Turku, prof. Jaakko Suominen).

In this fall 2020 a call for 2-4 Postdoctoral Research Fellow or University Researcher (senior researcher) positions are available in the Tampere University Game Research Lab team, in the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences. The new researcher positions advertised in this call are particularly related to the Tampere University-led research themes 2 and 3.

Job descriptions

The researchers hired into the Centre of Excellence will be capable of independently pursuing high quality research in their area of specialization, and of multidisciplinary collaborative work with other CoE researchers and other research partners. Filling of both postdoctoral or senior researcher positions will be based on consideration of the overall skills profiles of CoE research teams, and the number and length of researcher service contracts will be subject for negotiation.

The successful applicants will have both strong research profiles in games, player or game culture studies, well formulated individual research agendas, as well as evidence of capabilities for interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork.

The more specific skill profiles that CoE is particularly looking for are experts in:

• various game cultural forms
• game production studies
• critical game design research
• new forms of work, focusing on the changing relations between play and work
• gaming communities and various player subcultures and diverse player groups
• player experiences, player motivations and social play, or play in society
• games as sites of identity politics and resistance

Particular emphasis will be put on multidisciplinary skill profiles, and for candidates who show evidence or promise for bridge building between two or more, currently disconnected research fields related to games, play, game players, design and development of games and research of those societal and cultural contexts.

Applicants are asked to specify in their application, which one, or which ones, of the above skill profiles they most closely identify with.

Requirements

The postdoctoral position is intended for recently graduated researchers, so that they may gain further experience and advance their careers. The senior researcher position is intended for more experienced, early to mid-career researchers. A successful candidate should have evidence of original research related to games, play and/or game cultures in society more generally, and a PhD degree in game studies, humanities, social sciences, design studies, or other games-related subject area. We expect a competence to pursue independent scientific work and adequate teaching skills. You should be fluent in spoken and written English. We appreciate experience of studying and working abroad and contacts to international research community.

We are looking for versatile and independent researchers with a solid background in games and play related research, and the ability to supervise MA and PhD students would be considered an advantage. The position will involve some teaching duties.

We offer

The positions will be filled for fixed-term periods, ranging 1-4 years. The planned starting date is January 4, 2021 or earlier, as mutually agreed. A trial period of six (6) months applies to all our new employees.

The salary will be based on both the job requirement and the employee's personal performance in accordance with the Finnish University Salary System. In this system, the position of a Postdoctoral Research Fellow is placed on the job demand levels 5-6, and the University Researcher (senior researcher) on levels 5-7 (teaching and research staff category). A typical starting salary of Postdoctoral Research Fellow is around €3500 and €4500, and the salary of a University Researcher will typically range between €4000 and €5000 a month.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. Please read more about working at Tampere University. For more information on Finland and Tampere, please check these sites, for example: Tampere University, InfoFinland and This is Finland.

Study of games is recognized as a leading-edge research area of Tampere University. We offer a world-class research environment in internationally recognized research groups. We have strong collaborative networks and offer great opportunities for researchers to develop their careers in an international setting.

How to apply

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 13 September 2020 (at 23.59 EEST / 20.59 UTC). Please write your application and all accompanying documents in English and attach them in PDF format.

Applications should include the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae according to TENK guidelines (DOCX)
• List of publications according to Academy of Finland guidelines
• Motivation letter (max 2 pages) in which you set out the reasons why you are applying for the post and why you are particularly suited to it
• A research plan (max 3 pages), outlining your proposed research within the CoE research themes
• The names, positions and contact details of two referees who can support your application

For more information, please contact:

Professor, CoE Director Frans Mäyrä, frans.mayra@tuni.fi (tel. +358 50 336 7650)

Associate Professor, CoE Team Leader Olli Sotamaa, olli.sotamaa@tuni.fi (tel. +358 50 420 1472)