Assistant Professor in Game Studies
 Texas Tech University | |
 United States, Texas, Lubbock | |
| 2500 Broadway Street (Show on map) | |
 Nov 11, 2024 | |
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Assistant Professor in Game Studies 39150BR CoMC Dept of JCMI Position Description The Department of Journalism & Creative Media Industries in the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor who can advance our department's growing offerings in digital gaming to begin in the fall of 2025. JCMI students are typically first-time game makers who are new to both game design and coding. The person in this position will help service these students by advancing a research agenda in the area of gaming, growing an existing undergraduate certificate in Game Design and Culture, helping to develop a campus game making community, and aiding in other departmental curriculum. The Creative Media Industries degree at Texas Tech is designed to train innovative, responsible storytellers in convergent media forms who can create, analyze, and compete in diverse U.S. and global media marketplaces. Our growth in game design and culture contributes to this mission through both coursework and student engagement, and the department recently opened an 18-seat esports competition and streaming lab (https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/esports/). Successful candidates must have a publication record and research agenda demonstrating their expertise in theories and concepts pertinent to game studies and immersive, interactive media. Such expertise may include (but is not limited to) the study of identity in online culture, emerging media industries and economics (XR, cryptocurrency), esports, fan studies, digital cultures, human-machine communication, strategic communication, or media psychology. Candidates must also have a record of or articulate a plan for the successful pursuit of extramural funding from federal, state, or private funding in support of engaged scholarship. A demonstrated record of teaching excellence is required. In addition, preference will be given to candidates who have strengths and experience in digital game design in one or more of the following areas: working with game engines and design tools, creative coding, interactive storytelling, physical and digital game prototyping, level design, interaction design, and/or analog design. Preference will also be given to candidates with strengths and experience that can aid the department's curricular and community expansion in closely aligned areas of game design, including: game jams, esports events, festival submissions, 2D/3D game art, VR/AR design, and building 3D game environments as well advance the department's engagement with external partners from across the university and beyond. The position of Assistant Professor is a 9-month, tenure-track position. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2025 with faculty-on-duty in mid-August. The standard teaching load is four courses per academic year, typically a 2-2 load, with the possible opportunity to teach additional courses during summer or intersession semesters for additional compensation. Teaching assignments may include both face-to-face and online courses. About the University Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world. About the College The College of Media & Communication (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/) at Texas Tech University serves approximately 2500 students across its undergraduate majors and graduate programs. The college's enrollment and credit hours have grown consistently for the last seven years; the number of full-time faculty has almost tripled; and the area for facilities has increased more than 40%. CoMC is the #1 rated research unit in the TTU System per the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking). Its private and state grants initiatives have skyrocketed in recent years, achieving its 2025 grants goals in fall 2020. The CoMC Center for Communication Research (CCR) is the country's premier academic research facility for the study of communication, media processing, and effects. The CCR features labs useful for audience testing, content analysis, surveys, eye-tracking, focus group, and psychophysiology. These research facilities provide a great environment for further advancing an exciting and productive research agenda. The college maintains high standards for teaching, even as its reputation as a media research center expands. College metrics for student retention and graduation rates are near the top at Texas Tech in many categories. Research strengths among college faculty include Hispanic and international, strategic, science/health, gaming/AI, leadership, interpersonal/organizational, and political communication, as well as social scientific research methods. Affiliates of the Thomas Jay Harris Institute for Hispanic & International Communication engage in teaching, research and community outreach related to Hispanic and international/intercultural communication (comc.ttu.edu/research/hihic). Please visit the college's website for more information: www.depts.ttu.edu/comc. About the Department/School/Area The Department of Journalism & Creative Media Industries (JCMI) emphasizes experiential education opportunities that provide immersive learning environments, leading its approximately 600 students to produce a robust portfolio of content with support from peer, faculty, alumni, and industry mentors. In producing their work, JCMI students are encouraged from their first day in our degree programs to take advantage of opportunities to get busy writing and producing, and plug in to our robust, collaborative content culture. Made up of 21 full-time faculty across two degree programs, JCMI offers new faculty and students a diverse slate of teachers, mentors, and collaborators. JCMI faculty are leaders in their respective areas, scholars and practitioners of international stature. JCMI faculty serve as faculty advisors to a number of student organizations and production opportunities, including the Society for Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, The Daily Toreador, The Hub@TTU, Tech Creative Media Association, KTXT-FM 88.1 The Raider, and Tech Esports, among others. JCMI also fosters close relationships with on-campus partners, such as KTTZ-TV Channel 5 (PBS), KTTZ-FM 89.1 (NPR), and Tech Athletics, as well as four local broadcast news outlets and Lubbock's daily newspaper, the Avalanche-Journal. Major/Essential Functions The successful candidate must be able to teach a variety of undergraduate courses in Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management, as well as graduate courses in the College of Media & Communication. The teaching load is four organized courses per academic year (two each for fall and spring semesters), with the possibility of summer teaching with compensation. As a member of the graduate faculty of the College, the position requires a commitment to mentorship and advising of both master's and doctoral students. The appointment comprises 40% research, 40% teaching, and 20% service. Service to the department, college, university, and discipline is expected. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the sponsored research mission of the department, college, and university by regularly applying for relevant external funding. Organization Texas Tech University Faculty Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:
Duty Point TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities Safety Information Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees. Does this position work in a research laboratory? No Special Instructions to Applicants Please include the following documents in your application:
Job Type Full Time Pay Basis Monthly Pay Statement Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan. For additional information, please reference the institutional pay plan by visiting www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/payplan. Travel Required None Grant Funded? No Job Group Assistant Professor EEO Statement All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran. Salary Grade 800 Applications must be received by 01/10/2025 | |