Location

Room 306, 10 University Gardens, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ 

We are flexible and can tailor this internship to be in-person, remote or hybrid, depending both on the researcher and the work agreed on. 

Typical examples of tasks could include those listed above under Outputs (if hybrid/remote then the main change to this would be that meetings and running of prototypes would be done remotely). 

Project

This internship will include the opportunity, both individually and in team-work, to conduct theoretical and applied activity in developing and playtesting a research-led game around Arts and Humanities Emerging Technologies, undertake research into one of these areas, organise one or more innovation events, conduct game testing evaluations, and play a significant role in knowledge exchange and public engagement activities. We will also support the Intern both in skills development and in developing their own gaming research project. 

Games and Gaming Lab (GGLab/UofGGamesLab), based in the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Glasgow, hosts cutting edge, award-winning cross-disciplinary projects into gaming global challenges (whether physical or digital - board, card, video/mobile gaming). We have over 240 members, in Subjects from Astrophysics to Veterinary Medicine, and external partners in public, private and non-profit organisations.  

Outputs

We are flexible in determining the precise scope of outputs and tailoring these to successful candidate strengths.  

Here is just one example of how this could appear, briefly summarised as including (further detail below):  

• Design or further development of 1+ prototype game(s). 
• Running playtesting for 1+ prototype game(s). 
• Designing and running 1+ gaming innovation event(s). 
• Evaluation – writing 1+ report(s) on the above work. 
• Researcher personal project – conceptual work or prototype on their own initiative, supported by the Gaming Lab. 

• Designing one or more research-led prototype game(s) or contributing to further development of one or more existing games (whether physical or digital) – such as through development and testing of rulesets/game materials, theoretical and applied research (archival, online searches, and/or experiments into emerging technologies such as generative AI or Augmented Reality), engaging in brainstorming sessions with Lab Co-directors and team members.
• Running/supporting one or more prototype game(s) playtests (existing or newly created ones) – running playtests, responding to queries, checking technology is functioning, supervising players, setting up spaces, disseminating information. 
• Designing and running/supporting one or more gaming innovation events/workshops – event design, hosting, and coordination, including internal and external liaison over such aspects as invitations, hosting, and publicity. 
• Conducting evaluations – writing one or more reports, gathering data from playtesting/experiments, engaging in observations.
• Researcher personal project – the intern conducting work on their own personal gaming-related project, supported by the Lab, whether this would reach conceptual or prototyping stage.

Timescale

Start and end dates are flexible.

We have made a point of, as far as possible, being able to adjust overall timescale and day-to-day working patterns at short notice during internships/placements we offer, to best suit the developing commitments of researchers. We recognise, for instance, that valuable career development opportunities from different sources can often arise at short notice, and we see it as beneficial for researchers to be able to continue to undertake these while working for us. 

Benefits to the Researcher

Alongside research and time management skills, this project will be beneficial to the intern in:  

• increasing their knowledge base of creating and adapting research-led games 
• acquiring and use of added theoretical knowledge and its practical application  
• developing cross-disciplinary skills 
• better understanding and applying Arts and Humanities research skills in knowledge exchange and public engagement 
• further developing the full range of cognitive abilities  
• team-working, improving skills in collaboration and communication 
• learning about and contributing to the latest techniques in building research-informed games and simulations for innovative teaching, research and engagement 

Key Relationships

The researcher will have the potential to work with partners from public, private and not-for-profit organisations and groups in the UK and internationally, depending on the mutually agreed areas of work. For example, our existing collaborators range from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to Robert Burns’ farm at Ellisland (Ellisland Trust). 

Potential partners could also include HE Subject areas across Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, and/or Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences.  

However, this is indicative of the potential range of opportunities – we are not expecting the intern to work across all of them and would tailor engagement to the project and to appropriate development opportunities.

Person Specification

Please return to the Internships & Artists Residencies 2024 page to download the application form.

First published: 4 October 2023