Assistant Professor of Critical Game Studies

The Department of English and Comparative Literature in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is looking for an applicant who engages with Critical Game Studies methods and scholarship in their teaching and research. Candidates should utilize interdisciplinary humanities approaches for analyzing, participating, and creating in games studies.

We welcome approaches that engage in games studies' major intellectual strands, such as game narratives and narrative critique, game aesthetics, ludology, critical making, design, technology studies, or the rhetoric of games and gaming.

We seek candidates who are confident in producing cross-disciplinary, collaborative, and experimental games research. A record of research and publication will show the ability to translate hands-on work into theoretically informed and peer-recognized scholarship. Facility with interdisciplinary work will be evident through expertise in multiple areas of study and the creative combination of approaches.

Our department offers a wide variety of courses in game studies, and we are looking for candidates who are well prepared to teach in our current curriculum, as well as contribute to its ongoing development in this emerging field.

Candidates will also mentor undergraduate and graduate students in critical game studies and, if relevant, their secondary fields of expertise. Strong evidence of leadership and participation in game studies programs and initiatives will show a collaborative model for academic work. Public outreach, the sharing of resources, and community building will demonstrate generosity and engagement.

Candidates who apply for this position should demonstrate the traits described above and have a significant investment in critical game studies. They will work regularly with hands-on games studies methods, have a strong record of collaboration and working across disciplinary areas, and read and produce critical game studies scholarship. They may also have expertise in a complementary area of interest that would find a home in a department of English and comparative literature.

Our department strengths include literary studies; film and media; rhetoric and composition; creative writing; digital humanities; Latina/o studies; and health humanities. We also seek to grow in areas of environmental humanities; disability studies; and new media studies.

The Department of English and Comparative Literature is committed to hiring an exceptional teacher/scholar who brings energy and a fresh perspective to their research, pedagogy, and service and who is ready to teach in our Critical Game Studies program. We seek candidates who can contribute to UNC's academic mission as a public institution, especially through commitment to diversity of perspective, intercultural understanding, and engagement with local resources and communities. We encourage candidates to consult our website to learn about the Department's curriculum, values, and mission. Candidates working across disciplines are encouraged to apply.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the flagship institution of a strong state university system comprising 17 campuses across North Carolina; neighbor institutions within 25 miles include Duke University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, and Meredith College. Chapel Hill is a vibrant college town near the Research Triangle economic hub and 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

The Department of English and Comparative Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel is recruiting an Assistant Professor of Critical Game Studies. The successful candidate's duties will include teaching, research, and service. The position will teach a 2-2 load made up of graduate and undergraduate courses; contribute to both undergraduate and graduate curricula; mentor students; participate in select administrative activities; and engage in ongoing scholarly research.

Ph.D. English or a relevant field and instructional experience at the college level by the time of appointment.

Demonstrated excellence in college-level teaching, a strong research portfolio, expertise in research methods, a history of collaboration, experience working in, or with, game studies programs, and evidence of administrative and service experience.

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To apply, please submit the following documents: A cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a research statement, a twenty- to twenty-five page writing sample, and a syllabus for a course focused on critical game studies. If applicable, you can also submit a sample of material related to critical making. In addition, please submit the names of four references as part of your application. Letters of recommendation will be requested later and required for candidates to proceed to the interview stage. Review of applications will begin on October 19, 2026 and continue until November 30, 2026. Please upload all necessary documents to the application portal. If you have any search-related questions, feel free to contact the Search Committee Chair Martin Johnson at mlj@email.unc.edu. For any technical issues or application portal-related issues, don't hesitate to get in touch with Sujata Paudel at paudels@unc.edu.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost office at (919)-962-1091 or send an email to facultyrecruitment@unc.edu.

Please note: The Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost office will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

If you have any questions about the job requirements or the hiring department notify the Department Contact.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.