The Department of Game Design is located at Uppsala University, Campus Gotland – an international campus situated in the World Heritage city of Visby. Here, the full-scale university’s broad range of programs and strong research environments are combined with the close-knit and unique study environment characteristic of a smaller campus. The department is part of the Faculty of Arts at Uppsala University. Here, both teaching and research of high quality are conducted. Each year, the department educates approximately 450 full-time students, about half of whom are international students. The department employs approximately 45 staff members in various positions. The department offers undergraduate and graduate level education in game design and game development, including courses in graphics, project management and game programming. All teaching is conducted in English.
Description of the subject area of the position
Game design is a multidisciplinary field of research and education that combines theories, methods, and perspectives from a wide variety of academic disciplines. Games are understood both as creative, aesthetic, educational, and technical artifacts and as analytical tools for exploring human behavior, social processes, cognitive phenomena, and cultural expressions. This means that games are not only studied in themselves, but can also be part of the research itself.
At Uppsala University and the Department of Game Design, researchers from backgrounds in the humanities, social sciences, technology, natural sciences, and medicine, work in close collaboration with faculty experienced in game design, development and production. These diverse fields of expertise are united by a shared interest in establishing game design as an independent field of research and higher education.
The department seeks to strengthen its research profile by integrating diverse methodological approaches. Applicants may have different academic backgrounds (for example tech, natural science, social science, humanities, design), provided they have conducted research in the field of digital or analog games. Applicants must also have the skills and experience required to teach in the department’s main area of Game Design, as well as in one of our sub-areas: Graphics, Game Programming, Project Management or Level Design.
Term of employment
The position of Associate Senior Lecturer may be held for a period of four years, with the possibility of being considered for promotion to Senior Lecturer. The Associate Senior Lecturer is expected to apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer toward the end of the four-year period. Criteria for promotion to Senior Lecturer are set forth in Uppsala University’s appointment regulations and the Faculty of Arts’ supplementary guidelines to the appointment regulations.
Job duties
Research, teaching, and administration in Game Design. The position involves teaching in the department’s bachelor- and master programs. Teaching accounts for 50% of the position, research for 50%, and administrative duties are included in both areas. Teaching responsibilities also include course coordination and course development. A primary responsibility is the proactive acquisition of external research funding and the dissemination of results in high-impact international venues. The candidate will be expected to contribute to the development of the department’s research infrastructure (for example potential laboratory-based studies or large-scale data collection initiatives). The duties include following developments in one’s own subject area, broader societal trends relevant to the university’s work and participating in the department’s joint activities. The position may involve administrative duties, including leadership roles at the departmental level. The position requires presence at the workplace at Campus Gotland.
Qualification requirements
To be eligible for employment as an Associate Senior Lecturer, an applicant must have demonstrated teaching skills and hold a doctoral degree or equivalent competence in a field relevant to the position. Preference will be given to applicants who have obtained a doctoral degree or equivalent competence no more than seven years prior to the application deadline. The teaching skills, scientific skills, and professional skills must be relevant to the subject content of the position and the duties to be included in the position.
Applicants must have completed at least five weeks of pedagogical training for higher education relevant to the university or have acquired equivalent knowledge. If there are special reasons, the higher education teaching training may be completed during the first two years of employment. To be considered as a supervisor of doctoral students, applicants must have completed supervisor training.
Documented ability to teach and administer in English is required for eligibility.
In addition, as a general eligibility requirement for teachers, the applicant must have the personal qualities required to perform the job well, such as flexibility, responsibility, ability to cooperate and ability to lead work teams and courses.
Assessment criteria for applicants who meet the eligibility requirements
When selecting among eligible applicants, particular emphasis will be placed on both scientific and pedagogical skills. Scientific and pedagogical skills will be given equal weight. Management and administrative skills will also be assessed.
Scientific skills refer to research qualifications. In assessing scientific skills, scientific quality will be the primary criterion. Qualifications and experience in research related to game design and/or one of the department’s profile areas (graphics, game programming, project management, and level design) will be prioritized. Knowledge and experience of quantitative and/or qualitative methods, empirical research design, and experimental methods, together with a solid foundation in statistical analysis, will be prioritized. Particular emphasis will be placed on documented experience of publishing in international, peer-reviewed journals, as well as on a demonstrated ability to secure external research funding in competitive calls for proposals. Great importance will be placed on experience leading and/or participating in interdisciplinary research and collaboration projects, as well as on a documented ability to collaborate with researchers from fields other than one’s own.
Pedagogical skills refer to educational and teaching qualifications. In addition to academic qualifications, educational and teaching qualifications from other activities, such as supervision, internal training, or mentoring programs, may also be taken into account. When assessing pedagogical skills, pedagogical quality shall be given primary consideration. The scope, both in terms of breadth and depth, shall also be taken into account. When assessing pedagogical skills, particular emphasis will be placed on experience of teaching game design and in at least one of the departments sub-areas (graphics, game programming, project management and level design). Supervision of master’s/bachelor’s students is also considered a merit.
Administrative skills refer to leadership skills and collaboration skills and will be given special weight. Administrative skills are demonstrated, among other things, through the ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work in an efficient and purposeful manner, as well as through the ability to set and maintain time frames. These skills include overall operational planning and the ability to manage resources in a way that reflects the priorities of the operation, as well as the ability to work in a structured manner and with an awareness of goals and quality. Significant weight will be given to candidates who demonstrate the ability to lead work teams, manage course administration, and maintain strict project timeframes.
All qualifications must be documented so that both quality and scope can be assessed.
Additional information
Parental leave, part-time work due to childcare, union duties, military service, or similar activities are considered work experience and should be included in the list of qualifications.
Hiring Process: All qualifications must be documented so that both their quality and scope can be assessed. The application must include the following:
- Brief account of scientific, pedagogical, and other activities (CV)
- Account of scientific qualifications
- List of publications
- Account of planned research
- Account of pedagogical qualifications
- Account of other qualifications
- Scientific and pedagogical works cited in full text (max 5)
- Self-reflective account of future research, teaching, and other qualifications
- Grades, certificates, and other relevant documents
- Names and contact information for references (maximum of two)
About the position
The position of Associate Senior Lecturer may be held for a maximum of four years, with the possibility of being considered for promotion to Senior Lecturer. The associate senior lecturer is expected to apply for promotion to senior lecturer toward the end of the four-year period. Criteria for promotion to senior lecturer are set forth in Uppsala University’s appointment regulations and the Faculty of Arts’ supplementary guidelines to the appointment regulations.
For further information, see Uppsala University’s appointment regulations and the Faculty of Arts’ supplementary guidelines to the appointment regulations.
For further information regarding the position, please contact:
Olle Jansson, Head of Department
Email: olle.jansson@speldesign.uu.se
Phone: +46 (0)18-471 82 20
Read more about the department’s activities here:
https://www.uu.se/en/department/game-design
Read more about Campus Gotland here:
https://www.uu.se/en/campus/gotland
See what it’s like to live and study on Gotland:
https://gotland.com/leva-bo/
Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all of our 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces.
Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University
https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/
The position may be subject to security vetting. If security vetting is conducted, the applicant must pass the vetting process to be eligible for employment.
Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.
Submit your application through Uppsala University’s recruitment system.Placement:Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Department of Game DesignScope:Full timeWorking hours:100 %Type of employment:Temporary positionPay:Individuell lönesättningNumber of positions:1Town:GotlandUnion representative:
Number of reference:UFV-PA 2026/1308Last application date:22 June 2026