Postdoc in Serious Games (development of digital technologies for reading)

At the Institute of Visual Design, which is part of the Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation, we are inviting applicantions for a two year postdoc position in Serious Games. The postdoc will be joining the research unit Centre for Visibility Design. 

The research focus at Centre for Visibility Design lies at the convergence between the arts (i.e., artistic research), computer sciences (digital technologies, HCI and UX design) and psychology (cognitive psychology, neuroscience).

As a postdoc you will be developing new reading technologies and playful applications that can help strengthen children’s reading abilities through game play. These applications will be based on the latest insights into developmental psychology /cognitive neuroscience and include elements of game design, artificial intelligence, and related technological innovations. You will be involved in the execution of research projects aimed at testing the effectiviteness of these reading technologies and game applications. We are therefore looking for applicants with a creative mindset, who are interested in developmental reading (including technological innovations in this context), and who can carry out high-quality scientific research projects involving adaptive game technologies, eye tracking and/or speech recognition.  

The vacant position, which is affiliated with the Institute of Visual Design, should ideally be filled by 1 May 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Institute of Visual Design

The Institute of Visual Design (IVD) educates the designers of the future and conducts high-calibre research in the field of visual media. We develop new design methods that equip students with the comprehensive innovative and strategic competences they need to take responsibility for turnkey solutions and processes.

We build bridges between a strong Danish Design tradition and our technological and digital present and future. Through artistic design practice and state-of-the-art technological options, we involve the outside world in our work to develop design proposals and design solutions that promote a good life and a sustainable future.

More than 200 students and some 35 teachers and researchers are affiliated with IVD’s Bachelor’s degree programme and two Master’s degree programmes. The Institute also houses the Royal Danish Academy’s interdisciplinary educational activities in the field of design, and provides instruction for the Royal Danish Academy’s continuing and further education, which includes a diploma programme and a Master’s degree programme.

The position

The postdoc position is a two year full-time research position, supported by an externally funded grant.

It will be your responsibility, within the scope of this project, to:

• Engage in the development of innovative technologies and adaptive game applications that can help children to strengthen their reading abilities. These tools will be developed in collaboration with a network of academic and commercial external partners.
• Formulate research questions aimed at testing the effectivitenes of these reading tools and their latent concepts/hypotheses.  
• Plan and execute these research evaluation projects. The data collection may take place in a classroom setting and involve schoolchildren at various levels of reading ability.
• Collect and analyse the data, which may involve working with psychophysics data, eye tracking data and/or speech recognition data.
• Write research papers and disseminate the findings of the research projects on nationally and internationally recognized public platforms.       

In addision, you will be expected to:

• Actively participate in the multidisciplinary research team at the Centre for Visibility Design and strengthen the team with your unique set of skills.

Kvalifikationskrav

To qualify for the position, you must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field and a PhD (or equivalent academic qualifications).

Further qualifications that would strengthen your application, are*:

• Excellent academic skills - scientific writing skills, public speaking, etc.
• Knowledge about game design and development.
• Previous experience in working with schoolchildren
• Previous experience in the planning and execution of research projects
• Previous experience in the analysis of quantitative data (including statistical analyses)
• Previous experience in working with eye tracking, speech recognition and/or similar biosensors
• Previous experience in integrating eye-tracking and/or psychophysiology sensors with game engines (e.g., UnityEngine.XRModule.Eyes)
• Programming skills in a relevant programming language (e.g., C#, C++ and Blueprint for Unity and Unreal,  Python and R for statistical analysis)
• Knowledge of design thinking and/or structured creative processes
• Knowledge of (developmental) psychology and/or the cognitive processes involved in reading
• Knowledge of human-computer interactions, machine-learning, or similar techniques

*Note: There are likely no candidates that fulfill all of these qualifications. If you are a match to some of these qualifications and you are interested in the project, we encourage you to apply.   

What we offer

We offer a creative, dedicated, stimulating and visionary educational and research environment. The successful candidate will have an influence on and responsibility for the Academy’s research as well as the opportunity to shape it. We value good collegial relationships that open avenues for mutual inspiration and professional discussion.

Salary and terms of employment

The terms of pay and employment will be in accordance with the agreement in force between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and a number of organisations under the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) for academic staff in government service. A qualification allowance will be negotiable, depending on your skills and experience.

The position will also be filled in accordance with the applicable job structure for artistic and academic staff at the Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation; Aarhus School of Architecture and Design School Kolding – Executive Order no. 962 of 24 August 2015.

This is a full-time position with an average of 37 working hours per week and includes research and a limited amount of administrative work. The distribution of the various tasks may vary at the discretion of the Royal Danish Academy, and you may be assigned other duties.

The position is a fixed-term appointment that will cease without further notice after two years.

A sideline occupation is acceptable provided it does not interfere with the duties of the postdoc.

Application

Please submit an application stating your reasons for applying, an up-to-date CV, academic diplomas and certificates, documentation of your qualifications as listed above, a description of your research interests and a list of your published works, preferably including copies of works you wish to highlight (no more than five works). Any assessment(s) of previous postdoc positions held should also be enclosed.

The application with appendices should be submitted by clicking “Søg stillingen” (Apply for position) below. Your application must reach the Royal Danish Academy no later than 19 February 2023.

Attachments that cannot be submitted electronically should be sent by post in triplicate to the address below and must be received by the Royal Danish Academy before the application deadline:

Det Kongelige Akademi – Arkitektur, Design, Konservering

Attn. Sofie Beier

Philip de Langes Allé 10

1435 Copenhagen K

Mrk. Postdoc in Serious Games.

Please indicate in your application if you have sent non-electronic material by post.

Applications and application documents received after the application deadline will not be considered.

Please note that the position is being advertised and will be filled in accordance with the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s “Executive Order of 12 April 2019 on the employment of artistic and scientific staff at the higher artistic educational institutions within the Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s area”.

After the application deadline, in consultation with the appointments committee, the head of the institute will select applicants for assessment. Applicants will be selected on the basis of an overall assessment of which applicants best meet the criteria set out in this call for applications based on the application documents submitted. In your application, including attachments, please provide evidence that you meet the qualification requirements described in the call for applications.

All applicants will then be informed as to whether or not their application has been admitted to the next stage of the selection procedure, and those selected will be informed of the composition of the committee. An expert assessment committee will then assess the selected applicants for the given position. Each applicant will be sent their assessment, with an option to submit comments.

The appointment as postdoc will therefore be based on a specific assessment by an expert assessment committee. The assessment committee will base its assessment on the qualification requirements listed in the advertisement and all the application documents. In your application, including attachments, please provide evidence that you meet the qualification requirements described in the call for applications.

Further information

Information regarding qualification requirements, the application process and the e-recruitment system can be obtained by contacting Sine Kildevang Madsen, HR Legal Expert, e-mail: skmad@kglakademi.dk, tel.: +45 4170 1815

Details about the academic content of the position can be obtained by contacting Sofie Beier, Professor WSR, e-mail sbe@kglakademi.dk, tel.: +45 4170 1883.

General information about the Royal Danish Academy and the Institute of Visual Design can be found at www.royaldanishacademy.com. 

The Royal Danish Academy is an inclusive workplace that regards diversity as a strength. We therefore encourage all qualified and interested applicants to apply for the position.

About the Royal Danish Academy

The Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design and Conservation is an internationally recognised academy that educates professionally creative graduates to the highest level and develops new knowledge that creates value for society and the labour market. The Royal Danish Academy is a state institution under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and has approximately 1,700 students and 350 full-time staff equivalents. Read more about the Royal Danish Academy on our website www.royaldanishacademy.com