Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Researcher/Doctoral Researcher (Gamification, Games, Extended Reality, Human-Computer Interaction) in Flagship Forest-Human-Machine Interplay (UNITE), 4-6 positions

Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences create a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our universities community has its competitive edges in technology, health and society www.tuni.fi/en

The openings are positioned in the Forest-Human-Machine Interplay (UNITE) Flagship’s work package on Gameful Forest Interaction for Meaningful Experiences and Practices led by Professor of Gamification Juho Hamari. See the job listing here.

“Investigating new ways of gathering, understanding and using data from nature stands at the core of our activities, through which we seek to strengthen the multifaceted relationships that exist between humans and ecosystems. Examples of gamified applications include location-based gaming, drone racing, playful wearable technologies, simulation games, game-based decision-making systems and VR/AR technologies” – Juho Hamari

The main areas of research within this project are exemplified in the below figure and we are looking for candidates who can conduct research in one or more of these areas:

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The accepted candidates will work in the close collaboration of other researchers of the UNITE flagship, the members of Gamification Group, Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies as well as in the context of the larger strategic profiling area of the Tampere University in Gamification, Extended Reality and their application towards holistic sustainability.

Flagship consortium: UNITE | Forest-Human-Machine Interplay is an internationally leading research Flagship consortium composed from Tampere University, University of Eastern Finland, Finnish Geospatial Research Institute FGI and Natural Resources Institute Finland. The position offers unique vantage points and entry to an ambitious consortium that represents top international scholarship in the areas of gameful technologies and bioecology. UNITE brings together the world’s leading research groups in the fields of forest sciences, geoinformation and sensor development, and gamification.

Gamification Group (GG) at Faculty of information Technology and Communication Science, Tampere University (headed by Prof. Hamari) is internationally referred for seminal academic and societal contributions in the areas of novel technologies such as motivational information systems (e.g. gamification, game-based learning, quantified-self, persuasive technologies), internet commerce (e.g. crowdsourcing, crowdfunding, sharing economies, game economies), new media (e.g. esports, streaming, immersive journalism) as well as human-computer interaction (VR/AR, wearables, transhumanism, user interfaces). However, GG is especially recognized as the birthing ground for the general umbrella field of gamification research where GG is one of the most prolific research groups internationally in its pursuit to wield gameful approaches towards the flourishing of the planet, people and prosperity.

See more Gamification Group.

New fields of research emerging from our basic research include: Gamification and augmented reality

The Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies is led by Tampere University (Prof. Frans Mäyrä).
CoE-Gamecult is a joint project between researchers from the Tampere University, University of Turku, and the University of Jyväskylä. Across these institutions, over 30 researchers from the humanities, social sciences and technical sciences are engaged in exploring topics related to the research themes of the centre. See more Game Culture Studies.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Work is mainly composed of research activities including research planning, data gathering (possibly including the development of technical solutions for experiments), data analysis, article preparation, dissemination and publishing. Moreover, the candidate is expected to participate in project-wide collaboration and research funding acquisition efforts. Teaching load is between 0-10% which will be negotiated. In the PhD candidate position, candidates will be expected to enroll into an applicable doctoral program in the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Science. The candidate may start the enrollment to a doctoral program after the candidate has been recruited, and therefore, the candidate does not need to hold a doctoral program position before applying.

The research in the positions is related to the work package “Gameful forest interaction for meaningful experiences and practices” which overall is composed of:
1) creating gamification applications / prototypes embedded in human-nature interaction,
2) conducting multi-method research on how these gamification approaches progress fruitful human-nature interaction related to cognitive, affective, social, motivational and cultural dimensions and consequently
3) developing human-nature interaction leading to ecological, economical, social and cultural sustainability.

Gamification -related keywords to the position: Location-based gaming, drones/UAVs -based gaming, simulation games, game-based decision-making systems, gamified applications, quantified-self, exergaming, gameful wearables technologies, novel gameful interfaces, virtual reality, augmented reality, digital twins.

Outcome -related keywords: Positive psychology and motivation (e.g. intrinsic motivation, empowerment), cognitive benefits (e.g. ecology literacy, decision making, learning), social benefits (community building), well-being, cultural resilience, green economy, sustainable business practices (e.g. marketing, finance, management), ecological sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Forest/ecology data and systems -related keywords (optional, but beneficial connections): remote sensing, point-cloud data, crowdsourcing (of ecology forest data acquisition, processing and use), silviculture, forest/tree data (growth, spread, wood/tree properties), climate.

We expect that the suitable candidate will have experience, background, skills and interest (and impactful academic outcomes for the postdoc candidates) in the topics related primarily to gamification keywords, but also preferably to forest and outcome related keywords.

REQUIREMENTS

The below requirements are the qualities we envision to be suitable for the tasks defined in this project. However, we encourage all candidates who see themselves contributing to the project in unique ways to apply.

• Minimum qualifications:
  • Applicable degree: i.e. Master’s degree or equivalent and PhD degree in case of Postdoctoral Reseach Fellow position
• Useful dimensions of candidate’s background:
  • Forestry sciences / geoinformatics
  • Educational sciences (especially public understanding of science)
  • Applied psychology
  • Computer science / Human-computer interaction / Information systems
  • Economics (i.e. business, marketing, finance)
  • Tourism / leisure
  • Media / communication studies
  • Design (e.g., industrial product design, interaction design, graphic design, game design)
• Possible methodological skills:
  • Aptitude for quantitative and / or qualitative empirical research (especially field/lab experiment)
  • Aptitude for psychophysiological and psychometric measurement
  • Ability to independently develop gamified or VR environments (software)
  • Ability to develop working prototypes of wearable and drone systems (hardware)
  • Understanding and experience in design driven methodologies (research through design, participatory design, co-design, design science)
• Advantageous qualities:
  • Impeccable academic article writing /preparation productivity
  • Drive for rigorous and impactful research
  • Drive for a career in research
  • Interest in ecology, nature, forests, nature-related activities.

WE OFFER

Positions will be filled for a fixed-term period 2-4 years.
A trial period of six (6) months applies to all our new employees.
Employment starting date is as soon as possible.

Salary will be based on both the job requirements and the employee’s personal performance in accordance with the Finnish University Salary System. Researcher’s and Doctoral Researcher’s job demand levels are 2-4 and Postdoctoral Research Fellow’s demand level is 5. In addition, employee will be paid performance-based salary element.
The minimum starting salary will be approximately 3400 EUR/month in a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position and approximately between 2300 – 3000 EUR/month in Researcher and Doctoral Researcher positions depending on the career stage.

Tampere University offers a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, yearly vouchers for sports and cultural activities, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts.

Please read more about working at Tampere University and Tampere University as an employer

LIFE IN TAMPERE

Tampere is one of the major academic hubs in the Nordic countries and offers a dynamic living environment. Tampere region is one of the three most rapidly growing urban areas in Finland and home to a vibrant knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial community. The city is an industrial powerhouse that enjoys a rich cultural scene and a reputation as a centre of Finland’s information society. The city campus of the Tampere University, where the candidates will be located, is walking distance to the city centre. Tampere is an epicenter of game research internationally.
More information on living and working in Tampere and in Finland.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application through the online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 4 April 2021 (at 23.59 EEST / UTC+3). Please write your application and all accompanying documentation in English and attach them in PDF format only.

List the attachments that candidates should append to their applications:

• CV
• List of publications
• One or two samples of academic writing (e.g. articles)
• A letter (max 2 pages) that briefly outlines: Motivation to apply, earliest starting date, tentative research plan outlining your ideas about the research topics you would like to research in the position and any other miscellaneous remarks that the candidate wishes to make.

For more information about the positions, please contact

Professor, Juho Hamari, juho.hamari@tuni.fi
Dr. Oğuz ‘Oz’ Buruk, oguz.buruk@tuni.fi