The Interactive Systems Research Group in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Play:CES studio in the Faculty of Education at York University, Toronto, Ontario are seeking applicants for a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Computer Science and Engineering, beginning as soon as February 1, 2010 and ending April 1, 2011.
The applicant will join an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by Dr. Jen Jenson, Faculty of Education at York University and will be co-supervised by Dr. Jenson and Dr. Wolfgang Stuerzlinger. In the collaborative project, the applicant will participate in a major role in an intensive work for theorizing and implementing innovative software development projects, relating both to digital game development and qualitative research. These include, primarily, a multi-media database for use by researchers, for uploading, synchronizing and analyzing multiple strands of qualitative and quantitative research data (including sound, video, text transcripts, and surveys) for a research project on Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) players and communities. Other potential projects include educational game development for either the iPhone/iPod Touch and/or Flash.
Applicants must have finished or be demonstrably close to finishing a relevant PhD. Fluency in both written and spoken English is necessary. The successful applicant should have extensive experience with web development and on-line database systems. A proven track record that demonstrates high-quality work is necessary. Familiarity and/or fluency with some tools for digital game development on hand-held devices or WWW pages is also desired. Competency with game tool and knowledge of/enthusiasm for independent, casual, small-scale games and game development is a bonus.
Please send a brief letter of application, including a curriculum vitae, and digital portfolio (in PDF format or as WWW links) to Wolfgang Stuerzlinger <wolfgang@cse.yorku.ca>. Three reference letters should be sent independently to the same address. We will begin reviewing applications immediately.
The Interactive Systems Research Group is a rich community of students, researchers, and faculty investigating many aspects of Human Computer Interaction, 3D User Interfaces and Virtual Reality in Toronto. The group is one of the largest Human-Computer Interaction research groups in Canada. It is based within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and has established connections with many other disciplines at York, including the world-renowned Centre for Vision Research, which also hosts the strongest Virtual Reality research group in Canada. This forms an ideal environment for young researchers. http://www.cse.yorku.ca/~isrg
The Play:CES studio in the Faculty of Education has produced over 10 play-based educational software resources. These include “Ethics and Legal Studies in Education”, an online tutorial for teachers-in-training to learn the ethical and legal issues facing classroom teachers; “Contagion”, a health-related adventure game, for which we developed one of the first isometric game engines for Flash; and, more recently, “Quest for the Arundo Donax: A Baroque Adventure”, a game commissioned by the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra to teach music and culture through historically-themed rhythm and music mini-games. The studio is also home to a number of qualitative research projects that explore the intersections of digital play, education (both formal and informal), and issues around gender and identity.