Post-Doctoral Fellow
Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab NZ)
College of Engineering - Te Rāngai Pūkaha
University of CanterburyChristchurch, New Zealand
• Full-time at 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• 2 Year fixed term opportunity
What You Will Do:
The Human Interface Technology Lab New Zealand (HIT Lab NZ) at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, NZ has an immediate opening for a postdoctoral researcher.
This two-year position is funded by a recent award to the Lab to support an Applied Immersive Gaming Initiative (AIGI), which seeks to increase the use of the powerful aspects of effective game design with the strengths of immersive technologies to address real-world problems with participants, their environments, and their communities. It also aims to create a pathway for such research projects to more easily transition into business entities, for example through the founding of startups or the close collaboration with for-profit organisations such as games companies.
Game design research questions that will be addressed include realistic and engaging design, implementation, and evaluation of applied immersive gaming. With regard to immersive technologies, questions that will be addressed are related to bridging the gap between the user experience in VR and AR, and their effects on applied immersive gaming. For entrepreneurism, research questions will focus on satisfying the above need for top-notch, multi-disciplinary, entrepreneurial skills.
Who You Are:
You must have completed a PhD related to game design, implementation and evaluation, and have proven experience in one or more of the following areas: design and development of serious games, mixed reality, or interaction design. A track record in closely related fields of (analytical and/or design) game science such as evidenced by publications in venues such as DIGRA, FDG, ISAGA, CHIPlay, VS-Games, or related venues is strongly preferred.
Significant mentoring to the successful candidate will be provided by senior academic staff, giving you a solid research foundation essential for future academic success. You will be given significant freedom to help manage and guide the more-junior members of the research team, and as such, build skills in project and team management.
Results of the work will be submitted for publication in leading journal and conference venues, and there is significant budget for travel to present the work.
You will also have the opportunity to assist in delivering courses within our Master of Human Interface Technology programme, as well as games-related courses at the university.
Who You Will Work With
The HIT Lab NZ is one of the leading research labs focused on human-centred design of technology to support people in all facets of their lives. We put the person first, and then apply an appropriate mix of technology for that person in the context of the tasks they are doing. The Lab is very international in flavour, and interdisciplinary in thought and approach.
For more information about our team and the HIT Lab NZ, please visit:
http://www.hitlabnz.orgWhy UC?
The University of Canterbury is committed to promoting a world-class learning environment through research and teaching excellence, and has a vision statement of "People Prepared to Make a Difference". You will have the opportunity to work alongside members of a diverse academic community and enrich your own professional and personal development.
For information about the range of fantastic benefits that UC offers including flexible work practices, study opportunities and generous superannuation and leave provisions, please visit us:
http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/joinusNeedless to say, New Zealand provides an unbelievable setting to perform this work, and the HIT Lab NZ values a balanced approach to work and life. Christchurch is the prime spot to launch excursions around New Zealand, as it has an international airport, and is in the middle of South Island. This provides easy access to beaches, pristine forests with extensive, well-maintained walking and mountain-biking tracks, excellent skiing in winter, and easy connections to other locations such as Australia. Christchurch is also very family friendly.
The closing date for this position is: Thursday, 10th October 2019 (Midnight NZ time)
Apply:
Applications for this position are submitted online and should include a cover letter (describing background, suitability for the position, your recent and future research projects), a curriculum vitae which includes a list of relevant research publications, and the names and contact details of two referees. Please ensure your application is uploaded as a single pdf file through our online application process at
http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/joinusWe are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to
[email protected]For further information, specifically about the role, please contact Chris Buyarski,
[email protected]The University of Canterbury is an EEO employer and actively seeks to meet its obligation under the Treaty of Waitangi.
