Game Design and Development, Department of Computational Arts at York University

Position Information

Position Rank: Full Time Professorial Stream - Assistant Professor

Discipline/Field: Game Design and Development

Home Faculty: School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design

Home Department/Area/Division: Computational Arts

Affiliation/Union: YUFA

Position Start Date: July 1, 2023

Game Design and Development, Department of Computational Arts in the School of Arts, Media, Performance, and Design at York University

The Department of Computational Arts in the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design at York University invites highly qualified candidates to apply for a professorial stream tenure-track appointment in Game Design and Development at the Assistant Professor level, to commence July 1, 2023. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval.

Games are a defining cultural form of the 21st century. The Department of Computational Arts has an expansive and forward-looking perspective on game education and research through exploration across delivery platforms, and consideration of trends in game development. We seek a creative practitioner with experience in game design and development focused on the technical aspects of game development. We are particularly interested in colleagues with expertise in various aspects of game design and development to include one or more of the following: game programming (Unreal Engine (blueprint, C++), Unreal (C#), etc.), technical art (shaders, rigging, FX etc.), procedural generation, and/or simulation and AI for games, or a familiarity with the game development production pipeline. The successful candidate will bring experience with the dissemination of work in various platforms and cultural contexts (mobile media, web-based, gallery, etc.), and either background or desire to incorporate interdisciplinary approaches to art and science with a capacity to teach studio-based games courses at undergraduate and graduate levels.

Applicants should possess an MA/MFA/MSc or equivalent by the start of the appointment, with a substantial record of professional experience related to practice in games and/or Computational Arts. Colleagues in Computational Arts contribute to the mission of the Department and University through excellence or promise of excellence in teaching, creative research, dissemination, and service.

We acknowledge that within higher education, traditional or conventional academic pathways in research can reinforce biases in the filling of faculty posts. Therefore, we encourage applications from candidates who may not fit all the above qualifications and who challenge traditional ideas of teaching, scholarship, and research. We are particularly interested in candidates who bring experience in facilitating equity, diversity, and inclusion practices within their teaching and curricular development.

York supports Indigenous research and education through its Indigenous Framework for York University, the Centre for Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages and the Indigenous Council. It is also invested in Advancing Black Research & Scholarship, and recently announced the recipients of the inaugural Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages awards.

We seek a colleague with a clearly articulated program of research creation, and/or professional practice in Game Design and Development and who will engage in outstanding, innovative, and externally funded research creation, as appropriate. To this end, candidates are invited to share evidence of research excellence, or promise of research excellence, of a recognized international calibre as demonstrated in the research statement; games created; shipped games; reviews of creative work; a record of publications (or forthcoming publications); presentations at major conferences or events; awards and accolades; and names of three referees of high standing who can provide strong recommendations. (Note that full letters of support will only be solicited from finalists.)

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a capacity to teach and provide leadership in curriculum development in studio-based Game Arts Stream Computational Arts courses at undergraduate and graduate levels. Primary teaching will take place in the Digital Media undergraduate and graduate programs, both joint programs between the Department of Computational Arts in the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design, and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the Lassonde School of Engineering. The position will involve graduate teaching and supervision, as well as undergraduate teaching, and the successful candidate must be suitable for prompt appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Evidence of excellence, or promise of excellence, in teaching will be provided through the teaching statement; teaching accomplishments and pedagogical innovations including in high priority areas such as experiential education and technology enhanced learning; teaching evaluations; and strong letters of reference.

York is a leading international teaching and research university, and a driving force for positive change. Empowered by a welcoming and diverse community with a uniquely global perspective, we are preparing our students for their long-term careers and personal success. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

York University has a policy on Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities and is committed to working towards a barrier-free workplace and to expanding the accessibility of the workplace to persons with disabilities. Candidates who require accommodation during the selection process are invited to contact Rose LeCoche, Search Committee Secretary at rlecoche@yorku.ca.

York University is an Affirmative Action (AA) employer and strongly values diversity, including gender and sexual diversity, within its community. The AA Program, which applies to women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and those who self-identify as 2SLGBTQ+, can be found at http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/ or by calling the AA line at 416-736-5713. Applicants wishing to self-identify as part of York University’s Affirmative Action program can do so by downloading, completing and submitting this voluntary self-identification form.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Indigenous peoples in Canada will be given priority. No application will be considered without a completed mandatory Work Status Declaration form.

The deadline for receipt of completed applications is November 21, 2022. A letter of application with an up-to-date curriculum vitae, a statement of research and teaching interests, the name and contact info of three references (letters will be requested from short-listed candidates only), and teaching evaluations should be sent to: Professor Mark-David Hosale, Chair of the Department of Computational Arts in the School of Arts, Media, Performance, and Design at York University, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3 at dca-search@yorku.ca.

Posting End Date: November 21, 2022