Research Associate in Game Design at The University of Edinburgh

Fixed term, part time (21 hours per week)  

This post will contribute to building stakeholders consensus on benefits and strategies of coastal protection through mangrove conservation in Suriname. The post-holder will work at the University of Edinburgh as part of multidisciplinary and international team.

The Opportunity:

This post will contribute to building stakeholders consensus on benefits and strategies of coastal protection through mangrove conservation in Suriname. The post-holder will work at the University of Edinburgh as part of multidisciplinary and international team.

This project is funded by the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC), as part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, and led by Durham University with academic partners at the University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University/Lyell and the University of Suriname. We will work with strategic partners in Suriname and Guyana to (i) operationalise novel in-situ and remote-sensing technologies to map and quantify the health, status and distribution of mangrove species at the local and regional scales, whilst (ii) monitoring changes, and (iii) building consensus on local coastal protection strategies and methods through a gamification environment co-developed with local stakeholders for knowledge-sharing and equitable debate.

This post is part-time (3 days per week), flexible working and/or hybrid working arrangements are possible).  We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.  

This position is fixed term until 31^st December 2025.

Informal enquiries to be directed to Dr Agnessa Spanellis (Agnessa.spanellis@ed.ac.uk).

Your skills and attributes for success:

• MSc (or equivalent qualification or relevant professional experience) in computer science, game design, product design or behavioural psychology or similar
• Evidence of research ability: problem solving, flexibility
• A track record of developing games or gamification interventions or conducting experiments in behavioural studies
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to facilitate liaison with project partners to ensure effective research conduct
• Well-developed organisational skills, ability to prioritise, and to achieve deadlines under pressure
• Excellent IT skills
• Independent worker capable of working with minimum supervision and to agreed deadlines and milestones