Associate Professor or Full Professor in Games and Human-Centered Computing
About The Position
The Division of Games at the University of Utah invites applications for a tenure-track Associate or Full Professor in Games to begin in Fall 2026. We seek a scholar whose primary area of expertise is Human-Centered Computing (HCC) in Games: the design, application, and study of computational systems and methods that place player experience, interaction, and engagement at the center of game technologies. Candidates should demonstrate strength in advancing technical frameworks, methods, or tools that significantly enhance how players interact with, experience, and/or create games. Relevant subareas include, but are not limited to: player modeling and behavior prediction in games, adaptive and personalized game interfaces, accessibility and inclusive design technologies for games, computational approaches to physiological, affective and/or cognitive modeling in play, input and interaction techniques for VR/AR/MR and immersive games, computational methods for social and collaborative play, user experience (UX) engineering in games, and game-specific applications of human-computer interaction at scale. We especially welcome applicants who connect these areas to broader domains of games research and practice, and who are eager to lead collaborations across disciplines. Hires will be part of the PRESS PLAY Initiative (https://games.utah.edu/pressplay/), a significant, multi-year commitment for faculty growth in the Division of Games that seeks to build the division into a world-leader in both games research and teaching. The successful candidate will join a collegial and supportive community dedicated to advancing both research and pedagogy in games who are excited to help define the division's research enterprise. They will share our vision of the power that games hold to transform players, groups, and society, and will fully join in our effort to build the expanded character of Utah Games. Applicants should hold a terminal degree in a games-related technical field (e.g., Ph.D. in Computer Science, Informatics, Computational Media, computationally focused social sciences) by the time of appointment. At the rank of Associate Professor, candidates must demonstrate a distinguished record of high-impact publications, a strong track record of securing competitive external funding, evidence of leadership in collaborative research, and a commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring students at all levels. At the rank of Full Professor, candidates must show an internationally recognized record of scholarly achievement, sustained success in securing major external funding, demonstrated capacity for academic leadership at scale, and evidence of significant impact on the advancement of their field. Successful candidates are expected to develop and sustain a robust program of research supported by external funding. They should demonstrate the ability to produce high-quality scholarship while fostering interdisciplinary collaborations. Candidates will also be expected to contribute to university and professional service. The Division of Games at the University of Utah is one of the world's leading academic programs in games, ranked #1 among public institutions for three years in a row. Now in its fifteenth year, the Division spans technical, artistic, design, and analytic domains, advancing both the creation and the study of games as a transformative medium. The Division is in the second year of a five-year growth period through the PRESS PLAY Initiative, a major investment in new faculty lines, funding, and facilities that expands opportunities for cutting-edge research, teaching, and collaboration. The Division of Games is one of the four academic units of the College of Architecture and Planning, which also includes the School of Architecture, the Department of City and Metropolitan Planning, and the Division of Multi-Disciplinary Design. 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-all just minutes from campus.
Requirements
- Hold a terminal degree in a games-related technical field (e.g., Ph.D. in Computer Science, Informatics, Computational Media, computationally focused social sciences) by the time of appointment.
- At the rank of Associate Professor, candidates must demonstrate a distinguished record of high-impact publications, a strong track record of securing competitive external funding, evidence of leadership in collaborative research, and a commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring students at all levels.
- At the rank of Full Professor, candidates must show an internationally recognized record of scholarly achievement, sustained success in securing major external funding, demonstrated capacity for academic leadership at scale, and evidence of significant impact on the advancement of their field.
Responsibilities
- Develop and sustain a robust program of research supported by external funding.
- Produce high-quality scholarship while fostering interdisciplinary collaborations.
- Contribute to university and professional service.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Industry
Educational Services
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
