Apply for a MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship in Games and Gamification at Tampere University

At Tampere University, more than a hundred staff members from three faculties are involved in game-related research that encompasses gamification, metaverse, playfulness, game-based learning, gameful and persuasive technologies, gameful design and more. The professors that lead the body of researchers welcome, once again, applicants to join and actively co-develop successful applications to the The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF) program.

Tampere University is the second largest university in Finland, and almost all recognised fields of study are represented here. Games and gamification have been recognized as one of the spearheads of the University. We are part of a Flagship and National Roadmap Infrastructure programmes, run by the Research Council of Finland. Research excellence stems from capable, diverse and multidisciplinary people, supportive work culture and world-class research equipment. Our home city Tampere has been ranked as the most attractive city in Finland for living and studying.

ABOUT MSCA PF

Generally speaking, the fellowships are aimed for excellent postdoctoral researchers searching for international career development options from EU Member States, or Horizon Europe Associated Countries (e.g. United Kingdom, Ukraine, Türkiye, Norway and Israel). The fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality, and their standard duration is between 12 and 24 months. Our supervisors (see list below) are looking for ambitious candidates from any disclipine interested in linking games and gamification with e.g. cultural, managerial, educational, technological or design aspects.

Gross salary for a successful MSCA PF candidate typically varies between 5300-5800 € per month. In addition, there is a possibility to apply e.g. family allowance and special needs allowance.

ELIGIBILITY & HOW TO APPLY

You are eligible to apply, if you 1) have a PhD degree at the date of the call deadline, 2) have a maximum of eight years of full-time postdoctoral research experience, 3) have not resided in Finland for more than 12 months in the 36 months preceeding the call deadline, and 4) have not received a score below 70% as MSCA PF applicant in the 2024 call.

When applying, first check your eligibility. Then communicate with a suitable supervisor about your research and fellowship idea, our candidates in games and gamification are listed below. Do this (also) formally by sending him/her/them a Letter of Intent through email with

• max one-page description of your project idea,
• max two-page CV and
• a confirmation that you meet the above listed eligibility criteria.

The supervisors will take it from there. For general questions, contact Tampere University Preaward Team preaward [at] tuni.fi with the subject “MSCA PF”. If a match between you and a supervisor is found, a specific masterclass to support your application is arranged in May.

IMPORTANT DATES

April 23rd, 2025: Deadline for the Letter of Intent expressing your interest
May 8th, 2025: Call opens
May-June 2025: Invitational Masterclass starts
September 10th, 2025: Call deadline
February 2026: Call results
April 2026: First projects start

OUR SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES

emails firstname.lastname [at] tuni.fi

General (any topic)
• Professor Juho Hamari
[Video] [Google Scholar]

Data and software
• Senior Research Fellow Timo Nummenmaa
[Google Scholar]

Education
• Professor Kristian Kiili
[Video][Google Scholar]
• Associate Professor Tomi Jaakkola
[Selected publications]
• Assistant professor Muhterem Dindar
[Video][Google Scholar]

Management, business, economics
• Professor Henri Pirkkalainen
[Video] [Google Scholar]
• Associate professor Nannan Xi
[Video][Google Scholar]

Technology and Design
• Associate Professor Johanna Virkki
[Video][Google Scholar]
• Assistant professor Oğuz “Oz” Buruk
[Video][Google Scholar]

Urban and Augmented spaces
• Associate Professor Mattia Thibault
[Video][Google Scholar]

FROM OUR FORMER MSCA PF GRANTEES

“Coaching is of paramount importance to any MSCA application. Writing my project at Tampere University was a unique experience that contributed to the application’s success. Professor, researchers and university staff have been helpful, encouraging and they patiently guided me through the whole process, answering immediately all my questions. With their great experience, they helped me to structure, strengthen and enrich my proposal, offering valuable advice from a practical and a methodological perspective. Last but not least, Gamification Group’s environment is an ideal place for a researcher, as it is friendly, inspirational, supportive and a source of great research opportunities.”

— Nikoletta Zampeta Legaki, MSCA-IF grantee with the project GANDALF. 

“Coaching is a fundamental asset for any MSCA application. While I was writing my project at Tampere University, researchers and staff have been invaluable advisors: inspiring me and helping strengthen my project both from a practical and methodological perspective. (…) At the Gamification Group I found a dynamic and supportive environment to develop ReClaim, a place full of stimulating discussions and great research opportunities.”

— Mattia Thibault, MSCA-IF grantee with the project ReClaim.

“Preparing my MSCA-IF application was an intense and gratifying experience. While I could focus on writing a research proposal that intersects topics that I am passionate about, having such collective support in this process boosted my application towards this fruitful outcome. For instance, Tampere University’s research services guidance allowed me to understand further what evaluators expect from the proposal and how to address these points through an online workshop and follow-up meetings. Meanwhile, Professor Hamari and Gamification Group researchers’ expertise also ensured the proposal’s quality by introducing different perspectives and providing valuable advice in methodological and practical aspects. Despite the pandemics, the provided support and the collaborative environment made the whole process so enjoyable that I cannot wait to start implementing GamInclusive.”

— Ana Klock, MSCA-IF grantee with the project GamInclusive.

 “I witnessed one of the best experiences as a supervisee while preparing my application for MSCA-IF. Together with my four colleagues from different parts of the world, we were guided by the research services of Tampere University in a 2-day grant-writing workshop followed by a pleasant dinner in Tampere. Still, the workshop was only the hands-on part of this longitudinal support as I had been continuously and rigorously supervised by Juho Hamari, supported by the experts in research services and also by the colleagues in Gamification Group. As a result of this process, GG now hosts three successful MSCA-IF grantees who will also be of help for future applicants.”

— Oğuz Turan Buruk, MSCA-IF grantee with the project WEARTUAL.

“The MSCA-IF process was one of the most professional and supportive experiences I’ve had the joy to encounter. The enthusiasm and coaching provided by the team at the Gamification Group and TAU’s research services team was sustained over a four-month period from the original workshop right through to the final submission. The coaching I received from my supervisor, Professor Juho Hamari was worth its weight in gold in terms of practical and methodological advice in shaping a compelling research proposal. And in my particular case, my project wasn’t successful in its first attempt, but the Gamification Group and TAU believed in me and the project, and supported me in resubmitting an improved proposal the following year – and here we are with a funded project.”

— Marigo Raftopoulos, MSCA-IF grantee with the project Augmented-Humans.