Lecturer in Interactive Narrative Design (E&R)

Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

This full-time post is available immediately on a permanent basis and offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some time from home.

Department of English, Creative Writing and Digital Creativity  

We are a large and dynamic department with more than seventy academics from different countries around the world. Exeter is a UNESCO City of Literature, and we are proud of the history of the Southwest’s literary culture and of our local archives that inform our research and our teaching. We are expanding our research, teaching and practice to include a focus on digital creativity; those practices, tools and discourses that use digital technologies as a key part of their expressive potential.

Amongst other initiatives, we are launching a new MA programme in Interactive Narrative Design in 2025/26.

The role

 You will:

• Work with colleagues across the university in the design of the MA Interactive Narrative Design for launch in 2025/26. This will include developing course materials, securing partnerships with university, local, regional, national and international partners, working towards industry certification (TIGA, Screenskills) and leading on practice-based research projects that involve staff and students in world-leading investigations into the practice of interactive narrative design

• Fulfil research, teaching and administration duties as a lecturer in Interactive Narrative Design. The postholder will be expected to be fully involved in the design and teaching of this new innovative, cross-disciplinary MA programme. They will also be tasked with developing a new digital creativity strand within the English and Creative Writing degree programme while contributing to the teaching on relevant English, Creative Writing and Creative Industries programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level

• Extend the research profile of English, Creative Writing, Creative Industries and Digital Creativity, attracting and supervising post doctorate researchers and postgraduate research students

• Collaborate with colleagues both within the Faculty and the University of Exeter as a whole in order to develop and support the Department of English and Creative Writing and the Faculty’s research programme

• Contribute to the general operation of the Faculty as a member of its academic team

About you

 You will have:

• A PhD or equivalent in a relevant field and significant and relevant industry experience and have an independent, internationally-recognised research programme in a relevant active field of research
• Practical and theoretical experience within a variety of approaches to the practice of interactive narrative design, such as virtual or mixed reality storytelling, video games design, interactive fiction or text-based web art, hybrid theatre practice, immersive or locative storytelling or robotics (amongst others). This experience will take the form of practice-based academic work (through a PhD), experience within a relevant industry, an individual or group artistic practice or a combination thereof
• Strong technical experience with a range of design and production tools for interactive narrative (e.g. Unity, Unreal Engine, interactive fiction tools such as Inform, Twine and Ink, or MR and VR development kits)
• We particularly welcome applications from candidates whose research interests are aligned with the strategic priorities of the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Faculty at Exeter
• A strong record in attracting funding for research, or demonstrate potential to attract such funding
• An active approach to inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research
• Enthusiasm for delivering high quality undergraduate and PGT programmes
• Strong connections and funded projects with business and community partners
• Involvement in projects which develop impact

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon

The University of Exeter  

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99% of our research is of international quality and 47% is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment   

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. 

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

For an informal and confidential discussion about the post please contact Prof Vike Martina Plock or Dr Rob Sherman  [email protected]