Assistant Professor in Games (AI, HCC, Perception and Cognition, Games-based Learning) - University of Utah Division of Games - Salt Lake City, UT

The Division of Games at the University of Utah invites applications for multiple tenure-track Assistant Professor positions in Games to begin Fall 2025. We seek applicants with expertise in at least one of the following games research areas:

(1) Artificial Intelligence (AI);

(2) Human-Centered Computing (HCC);

(3) Perception and Cognition (P&C);

(4) Games-Based Learning (GBL)

Successful candidates will share our vision of the power that games hold to transform players, groups, and society. Hires are part of a significant, multi-year commitment for faculty growth in the Division of Games.

Note: we are committed to recruiting, welcoming, and supporting undergrad and graduate students, postdocs, scientists, staff, and faculty with a broad range of backgrounds and expertises. We are also committed to addressing lifestyle priorities and will work with candidates to develop opportunities for partners and family members.

Necessary qualifications:

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. at the time of hire in a discipline relevant to the area (AI, HCC, Perception and Cognition, and/or Games-Based Learning) for which they wish to be considered. Candidates must be able to demonstrate (1) an excellent and sustained record of research and scholarly productivity, (2) evidence of the potential or demonstrated ability to generate extramural funding, commensurate with their career stage, and (3) commitment to the teaching and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.

Preferred qualifications:

Preference will be given to candidates who, in addition to meeting the necessary qualifications, have a clear interest in shaping the future of our unit as a scholarly community toward a vision of sustainable growth and disciplinary breadth in games.

The Division of Games is a world leader in games education, with consistently top-ranked programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Utah Games faculty includes artists, social scientists, games studies scholars, designers, and computer scientists who collectively work together on the mission to push the boundaries of what is possible in games. This plurality of backgrounds is one of the core elements within our identity. We strongly value inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to research and education, and seek to foster collaboration across the University of Utah. Currently, our faculty sustain ongoing collaborations with other departments within our College of Architecture and Planning, as well as the School of Medicine, the Colleges of Education, Humanities, Science and Engineering, and other campus partners. Additionally, we maintain strong collaborations with the vibrant local game development community and other significant game industry-wide partners.

Our unit is committed to being a responsible member of our campus and professional community, and we strive to recruit and support faculty committed to acting in furtherance of our unit’s values. Interested candidates may view these values by visiting https://games.utah.edu/utah-games-values/

We have recently received significant support from the Office of the President to advance our mission. This job opportunity is an integral first step within our plan to expand our program’s strengths in teaching and research/creative scholarship. To learn more about our PRESS PLAY Initiative, please visit https://games.utah.edu/pressplay/

If you are interested in joining us to build a culture of academic excellence; to create ideas that advance our understanding of games; to share those ideas with our students, communities, and society; and to apply those ideas to change the world for the better, we strongly encourage you to apply.

The University of Utah is a Carnegie Research I institution located in Salt Lake City, nestled in the breathtaking foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. With thriving arts and culinary scenes, and an exploding high technology sector, Salt Lake City offers a unique mix of urban life juxtaposed with access to remarkable national parks, ski resorts, hiking and climbing, and more, just minutes away from campus.