Job Details

Associate Professor or Full Professor in Game AI

Position Number: 6703610
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Position Type: Science - Computer Science

Associate Professor or Full Professor in Game AI

Details

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 Game Artificial Intelligence (Game AI): the design, application, and study of computational intelligence methods that drive, shape, and enhance games and interactive experiences. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to develop analytic frameworks, methods, or tools that advance game science and enhance game development practice. Relevant subareas include, but are not limited to: procedural content generation, intelligent non-player characters and agents, adaptive and personalized gameplay, interactive narrative in games, AI for content and/or design, multi-agent systems in games, computational creativity, AI for virtual production and virtual worlds, and explainable or ethical AI in games. 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 sustain a nationally and internationally recognized program of research supported by external funding. They should demonstrate the ability to produce influential scholarship, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and contribute to the Division's role as an academic leader in games. Candidates will also be expected to contribute meaningfully to university, professional, and disciplinary 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-all just minutes from campus.

Department: 01508 - Games
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Track: Tenure Track
Close Date:
Open Until Filled: Yes
Requisition Number: PRN01436CF

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/191609

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