Research Assistant
Coventry University – The Serious Games Institute
The Serious Games Institute is situated as part of the largest commercial arm of any UK university, on the Coventry University Technology Park Innovation Village. Based just one hour’s easy commute from London, the Institute promotes excellence in applied research, working closely with industry enabling leading edge research to move to development more quickly and supporting spin outs and IP generation.
The Institute is the UK’s first hub of excellence in serious games and virtual worlds, and the group are developing an international standing in the emerging cross-disciplinary area, with three major international conferences (including an IEEE conference), Second Wednesday events and a developing SGI research and development network.
The SGI’s applied research postdoctoral team led by Prof. Sara de Freitas draw from different disciplinary areas (including computer science, engineering, psychology, educational science, health studies, and environmental studies), with a focus upon three specialist application areas: Health, Education and the Environment.
Current research includes consideration of the following: artificial intelligence, augmented reality, games technologies, virtual worlds, mobile gaming, alternate reality gaming and smart spaces.
We are looking to recruit a highly qualified individual who has high level research and development skills and can adapt to a demanding environment working closely with industrial partners.
The postholder will undertake the research and development within the DCMF-funded Parent Know How project led by Relate Ltd, the EU MODES project and the EU BEPMS projects. The appointment will be based with the SGI full time. The post will include formulating and undertaking evaluation studies and reviewing the current best practice in the area of games and virtual worlds used for therapeutic purposes including counselling, user studies conducted with parents and an evaluation of the web-based system being developed in the project. Specifically, this work will include user studies, a literature review and system evaluation, therefore the ideal candidate will have a rigorous understanding of psychology methods for experiment design and experience of compiling high level research reviews. A background in psychology is desirable. Work will also include organising related events, contributing to leading edge applied research outputs, and working closely with the SGI Applied Research team.
The University advocates a policy of Location Independent Working (LIW), and in this way offers flexible working for commuters from London and the South East.
£23,451 – £31,515 per annum
24 months fixed term contract.
This new post offers the opportunity to join the fast developing Serious Games Institute applied research team, with real opportunities for career progression. The ideal post holder will have a Masters qualification in psychology or a related area. They will be able to demonstrate excellence in either research or technical development, with a solid appreciation of both areas.
The post holder would have the ability to work within a research project under minimum supervision. An interest or understanding about serious games, virtual worlds or related digital content development would be desirable. Evidence of published peer-reviewed articles, development projects and some experience of funding applications would be advantageous.
The post holder will primarily work on the DCMF-funded Parent Know How project, produce publications, assist with funding proposals and work to support the applied research group.
Ref No: REQ000149
Closing Date: 16th November 2009
Interview Date: 8th/9th December 2009
For further details or to download an application form please visit our website at www.coventry.ac.uk/vacancies. If you don’t have internet access, please telephone the recruitment team on 024 7688 7814 or email futures.hr@coventry.ac.uk.
This job is unlikely to attract a work permit. Applications from candidates who require a permit to work in the UK may not be considered if there are a sufficient number of other suitable candidates.