Job Details

Assistant Professor in Game Analytics

Position Number: 6703621
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Position Type: Science - Computer Science

Assistant Professor in Game Analytics

Details

The Division of Games at the University of Utah invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Games to begin in Fall 2026. We seek a scholar whose primary area of expertise is game analytics: the study and application of computational methods to understand, model, and enhance games and player experiences. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to develop analytic frameworks, methods, or tools that advance game science and enhance game development practice. Potential subareas include, but are not limited to: game data mining, player modeling, user experience design in games, adaptive and personalized gameplay, player engagement, predictive modeling of player behavior, and applications of machine learning and AI to game data. We especially welcome applicants who can connect these areas to other core technical domains of games research and practice, and who are eager to collaborate through those connections.

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.

Applicants should hold a terminal degree in a games-related technical field (e.g., Ph.D. in Computer Science, Informatics, computationally focused social sciences, Computational Media) by the time of appointment. Commensurate with their level of experience, candidates should demonstrate an excellent record of research publications, a strong potential for securing competitive external funding, a compelling high-impact vision, and a commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring students.

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.

About the Division of Games at the University of Utah:

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 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, just minutes away from campus.

Department: 01508 - Games
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Track: Tenure Track
Close Date:
Open Until Filled: Yes
Requisition Number: PRN01435CF

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/191607

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at:
https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu