Fully Funded PhD Research Studentship
Project Title: Investigating the potential of Extended Reality for alternative understandings of forced migration and devastated Middle Eastern Cultural Heritage Sites
PhD Studentship: Abertay University and the Scottish Graduate School Arts & Humanities are offering a fully funded 3.5 year Applied Collaborative Research doctoral studentship valued at around £70,000 (this comprises tax-free stipend starting at £15,600 raising in-line with UKRI guidelines per year over 3.5 years, tuition fees paid and a generous study package, e.g. limited research consumables, travel budget and training when appropriate). The candidate will be expected to deliver up to 35 hours of teaching per year. The PhD is offered in collaboration between Abertay University, the University of Glasgow, and Biome Collective, Dundee.
Abertay University is one of the fastest growing universities in the UK ranked the top modern university in Scotland twice (Guardian Good University Guide 2019; Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017). The University of Glasgow is the 2020 Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year. Biome Collective (based in Dundee) is a highly recognized creative studio, community and co-working space for people to create, collaborate and explore new frontiers in games, digital art and technology.
Project Description: This project is an exciting opportunity for a graduate from a games design/interactive media/XR (Extended Reality) technologies background with interests in cultural heritage/Middle Eastern studies. The Middle East, one of the most war-torn regions in the world, has seen the vast destruction of monuments and cultural sites while concurrently facing unprecedented numbers of forcibly displaced populations. The successful candidate will undertake practice-based research for the production of critical XR interactive design, gaming and art works challenging and developing alternative understandings of memory and trauma in the Middle East while contributing to and expanding the critical understandings of digital cultural heritage. The project will investigate the potentials for developing sensory XR environments and experiences of experimental narrative engaging stories of forced migration and archival data surrounding destroyed cultural sites in the Middle East, while also working to evaluate the impact of these upon participants.
Supervisory Team: The candidate will be supervised by researchers from the School of Design and Informatics, Abertay: Professor Joseph DeLappe, Games and Tactical Media; Dr Hadi Mehrpouya, Critical Design/Applied Games; Professor Maria Economou, Digital Cultural Heritage, University of Glasgow; and Malath Abbas, Creative Producer, Biome Collective.
Entry requirements: A related Masters level qualification is desirable but not essential, we would expect that a successful applicant would have either a First class or upper second-class honours degree in Art, Design or Computer Science or related degree, or relevant masters or relevant professional experience. The ideal candidate will have a specific interest in Middle Eastern and/or cultural heritage studies.
Essential requirements:
Desirable requirements (but not essential)
The successful candidate will be based in the Abertay Graduate School and will work with academic supervisors in Abertay University and at the University of Glasgow, and partner supervisory at Biome Collective. The project will include periods of residencies at Biome Collective.
The student will be supported with a range of research training and professional development through Abertay Graduate School and training, research seminars, workshops and development activities offered by the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities, as well as by the University of Glasgow. Through the School of Design and Informatics (SDI), Abertay, the student will benefit from access and training available through the Emergent Technology Centre (ETC), the InGAME: Innovation for Games and Media Enterprise and the Abertay Game Lab research group. The student would also take advantage of PhD training and development opportunities at the University of Glasgow (such as activities organized by the Digital Cultural Heritage and the Immersive Experiences Arts Labs and of the XR Group of the Advanced Research Centre (ARC)). The Biome Collective will host two focused summer residencies embedded in a non-academic creative setting.
Training on research methodology including how to conduct a literature review, experimental design, statistical analysis, and communication skills will also be provided to assist with: paper and grant proposal writing and poster/presentation skills.
The studentship will ideally commence in October 2021 with the possibility of a delayed start in February 2022 for a period of up to 3.5 years.
Applications and closing date:
The closing date is 12 pm (noon) on 2nd July 2021
Applications are via the Abertay jobs page where a short CV, along with a personal statement detailing why they are interested in undertaking this project should be submitted. If selected for interview you will be asked to complete a full online application form which will involve the submission of a research proposal addressing the above project description.
https://www.abertay.ac.uk/about/working-at-abertay/jobs/