Postdoc - Gamification and Serious Games

We are looking for

A post-doctoral researcher to foster the Wageningen Serious Games Community to develop, design, and evaluate novel approaches to gamification, serious games, and eXtended Realities (XR) such as virtual and augmented reality. This position is part of an enthusiastic and growing team dedicated to advancing the science and art of serious games in the context of XR focusing on societally relevant topics that WUR is known for. Examples include but are not limited to sustainability, biodiversity, climate change, or food systems.

We are looking for a highly qualified candidate with a strong interest in interdisciplinary research. Core activities include the design of serious games in collaboration with researchers and developers, the planning of empirical studies involving technology and people, the collection of data, and envisioning new opportunities for data collection, analyzing data, and publishing results. The candidate will have opportunities to participate in a variety of collaborations; interest and potentially experience in the acquisition of extramural funding are desirable. There are several Ph.D. students on the team and supervising Ph.D. students and master's students is expected. Opportunities to participate in other educational activities will be provided but is not the focus of this position.

Interest in any of the following is required: serious games, artificial intelligence (AI), (geo) simulation games, game-based decision-making systems, games for sustainability, novel human-computer interfaces, virtual and/or augmented reality, and digital twins.

The research will be conducted as part of the Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing (GRS) in close collaboration with other research groups from Wageningen University and in particular with the newly established laboratory for eXtended Realities, WANDER . The goal is to address societally critical topics such as climate change, urbanization, and loss of biodiversity, but also sustainable food choices, nutrition and food security (e.g., protein transition) or the education of students, the public, and decision-makers.

You will work in an excellent working environment. Our campus is an inspiring green place to work and has been selected as the most sustainable campus in the world multiple times. Besides that, we have a top ranking in several fields, with a #1 ranking for environmental science, ecology and agriculture , as well as very strong rankings in other fields. Finally, as for education, Wageningen University has been chosen as the “Best University ” in the Netherlands for the 17th consecutive time.

We ask

• Ph.D. in Game Design, Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field.
• Expertise in analyzing empirical data aimed at advancing the science of gamification and serious games.
• Experience with game engines and immersive technologies 
• Useful additional backgrounds include but are not limited to:
  • Geoinformatics
  • Educational sciences
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Applied psychology
  • Media and communication studies
  • Interaction design
  • Ecology and environmental sciences
  • Nutrition and health studies
• Experience in statistics;
• Strong scientific writing and communication skills and a strong track record of academic publications.
• Interest to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary research team.
• Excellent English language proficiency (a minimum of CEFR C2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page .

We offer

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment . A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €2,960,- and €4.670,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the 

Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU)

 (scale 10).

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University ” in the Netherlands for the 18th  consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research center for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

More information

To learn more about this function you can get in touch with Prof. Dr. Alexander Klippel, e-mail: [email protected]
For additional information about the procedure you can contact Edgar Tijhuis, corporate recruiter, e-mail: [email protected]

Do you want to apply?
This can be done directly via the application button at the vacancy on our website so that we can process your personal data with your permission.
This vacancy is open until January 16th 2023. Two weeks after this date the first interviews will be planned, and we seek to start in September 2021 or as soon as possible.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. For more information please go to our inclusivity page . A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment .

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons  why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video  to get an idea of our green campus!