Assistant Professor of Critical Game Studies – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Faculty Opportunity: Assistant Professor of Critical Game Studies – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• College: College of Arts & Sciences

• Department: Department of English and Comparative Literature

• Position: Assistant Professor of Critical Game Studies

• Vacancy ID: FAC0006139

• Appointment Type: Full-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty

• Teaching Load: 2-2

• Location: North Carolina, United States

• Salary / Remuneration: Commensurate with education and experience; exact amount not specified

• Posting Open Date: October 1, 2026

• Application Review Begins: October 19, 2026

• Application Deadline: November 30, 2026

• Proposed Start Date: July 1, 2027

• Open Until Filled: No

Overview of Role

The Department of English and Comparative Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Critical Game Studies.

The position is designed for a scholar whose teaching and research engage with interdisciplinary humanities approaches to analyzing, creating, and participating in games and game cultures.

The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching, research, mentoring, service, and continued development of UNC’s Critical Game Studies curriculum.

Research Focus

The Department welcomes scholars working across major areas of game studies, including:

• Game narratives

• Narrative critique

• Game aesthetics

• Ludology

• Critical making

• Game design

• Technology studies

• Rhetoric of games and gaming

• Digital humanities

• New media studies

• Film and media

• Interdisciplinary humanities approaches to games

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to combine practical or hands-on work with theoretically informed and peer-recognized scholarship.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Teach graduate and undergraduate courses.

• Carry a 2-2 teaching load.

• Contribute to undergraduate and graduate curricula.

• Mentor students in Critical Game Studies and related areas.

• Maintain an active scholarly research programme.

• Participate in selected administrative activities.

• Contribute to Department and University service.

• Participate in collaborative and interdisciplinary academic initiatives.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• Ph.D. in English or a relevant field by the time of appointment.

• College-level instructional experience.

• Significant scholarly engagement with Critical Game Studies.

• Ability to work across disciplinary boundaries.

• Research and teaching experience relevant to the field.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates demonstrating:

• Excellence in college-level teaching.

• Strong research portfolio.

• Expertise in research methods.

• History of collaboration.

• Experience working in or with game studies programmes.

• Administrative and service experience.

• Engagement with public outreach, resource sharing, or community-building activities.

Candidates with complementary expertise in areas such as literary studies, film and media, rhetoric and composition, creative writing, digital humanities, environmental humanities, disability studies, or new media studies may also be a strong fit.

Application Checklist

Applicants should submit:

1. Cover Letter

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Research Statement

4. Writing Sample – 20 to 25 pages

5. Sample Syllabus

   • Focused on Critical Game Studies

6. Names of Four References

Applicants may also submit, if relevant:

• Sample Material Related to Critical Making

Letters of recommendation will be requested later from candidates advancing to the interview stage.

Important Dates

• Posting Open Date: October 1, 2026

• Application Review Begins: October 19, 2026

• Application Deadline: November 30, 2026

• Proposed Start Date: July 1, 2027

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through the UNC-Chapel Hill application portal.

Vacancy ID: FAC0006139

Application Link:
https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/326110

Search Committee Chair: Martin Louis Johnson
Email: mlj@email.unc.edu

Application Portal Support: Sujata Paudel
Email: paudels@unc.edu

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