Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Computer Science and Engineering

The Interactive Systems Research Group in the Department of Computer
Science and Engineering and the Play:CES studio in the Faculty of
Education at York University, Toronto, Ontario are seeking applicants
for a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Computer Science and Engineering,
beginning as soon as February 1, 2010 and ending April 1, 2011.

The applicant will join an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by
Dr. Jen Jenson, Faculty of Education at York University and will be
co-supervised by Dr. Jenson and Dr. Wolfgang Stuerzlinger. In the
collaborative project, the applicant will participate in a major role in
an intensive work for theorizing and implementing innovative software
development projects, relating both to digital game development and
qualitative research. These include, primarily, a multi-media database
for use by researchers, for uploading, synchronizing and analyzing
multiple strands of qualitative and quantitative research data
(including sound, video, text transcripts, and surveys) for a research
project on Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) players and
communities. Other potential projects include educational game
development for either the iPhone/iPod Touch and/or Flash.

Applicants must have finished or be demonstrably close to finishing a
relevant PhD. Fluency in both written and spoken English is necessary.
The successful applicant should have extensive experience with web
development and on-line database systems. A proven track record that
demonstrates high-quality work is necessary. Familiarity and/or fluency
with some tools for digital game development on hand-held devices or WWW
pages is also desired. Competency with game tool and knowledge
of/enthusiasm for independent, casual, small-scale games and game
development is a bonus.

Please send a brief letter of application, including a curriculum vitae,
and digital portfolio (in PDF format or as WWW links) to Wolfgang
Stuerzlinger . Three reference letters should be
sent independently to the same address. We will begin reviewing
applications immediately.

The Interactive Systems Research Group is a rich community of students,
researchers, and faculty investigating many aspects of Human Computer
Interaction, 3D User Interfaces and Virtual Reality in Toronto. The
group is one of the largest Human-Computer Interaction research groups
in Canada. It is based within the Department of Computer Science and
Engineering, and has established connections with many other disciplines
at York, including the world-renowned Centre for Vision Research, which
also hosts the strongest Virtual Reality research group in Canada. This
forms an ideal environment for young researchers.
http://www.cse.yorku.ca/~isrg

The Play:CES studio in the Faculty of Education has produced over 10
play-based educational software resources. These include “Ethics and
Legal Studies in Education”, an online tutorial for teachers-in-training
to learn the ethical and legal issues facing classroom teachers;
“Contagion”, a health-related adventure game, for which we developed one
of the first isometric game engines for Flash; and, more recently,
“Quest for the Arundo Donax: A Baroque Adventure”, a game commissioned
by the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra to teach music and culture through
historically-themed rhythm and music mini-games. The studio is also home
to a number of qualitative research projects that explore the
intersections of digital play, education (both formal and informal), and
issues around gender and identity.
http://edu.apps01.yorku.ca/profiles/main/jenson-jennifer