PhD Scholarship in Game Artificial Intelligence in the United Kingdom 2021

Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence (IGGI) invites applications for up to 12 studentships available for 2021/22 entry (starting September 2021) at the University of York or Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL). Studentships fund full fees plus a tax-free living stipend, for IGGI's 4-year program.

Based at the University of York, Queen Mary, Goldsmiths, and Essex, IGGI students undertake a four year PhD in impact-oriented games research, working closely with more than 80 partner organizations in the games industry and society. IGGI students advance games with research, software, patents, algorithms, data analytic techniques, and creative works across a wide range of areas, from game AI and analytics to player experience and game design to games and play for health, education, or research.

Research Areas:

IGGI is seeking diverse and motivated candidates to join its 70 current PhD students conducting interdisciplinary research in areas such as:

• Using machine learning (ML) and other forms of artificial intelligence (AI) to create interesting, fun, believable game agents.
• Augmented creativity tools that support game designers and developers, e.g. procedural content generation, AI-assisted game design, and testing.
• Understanding player experience, games user research, and game analytics.
• Game audio and music.
• Interaction, user experience, and learning design for games.
• Using games and gamification to support wellbeing, learning, or social change.
• Using Esports and other game data to study human behavior and psychology.
• Using game AI to improve real-world decision making.

IGGI students are a diverse group, and admission decisions are made on the basis of your potential to do good work and make a positive impact through games research.

Eligibility:

UK, EU, and international students are eligible to apply and receive a stipend and tuition based on EPSRC rules.

Applicants normally hold a master's degree enabling them to do games research in their chosen research area (e.g. computer science, HCI, psychology, game design, and development), although IGGI does accept exceptional candidates with a fitting undergraduate degree. They also expect applicants to bring the requisite basic technical skills to succeed in IGGI's training modules in game design and development. Prior practical experience in making games is not required but a definite plus.

Benefits:

The funded studentship covers all tuition fees and a tax- and national insurance-free stipend of presently £15,009 per year (2019/20 rates). London-based students will receive an additional London weighting payment of presently £2,000.

In addition to fees and stipends, students receive a research and travel allowance (presently £2,600) to cover conference travel and research expenses during their four years. IGGI also covers travel and accommodation required by the demands of the IGGI program, subject to EPSRC eligibility criteria.

Note that EU and international students on a Tier 4 visa will have to pay a healthcare surcharge of currently £300 per year not covered by IGGI.

About Queen Mary University:

Queen Mary, part of the prestigious University of London, is one of the top UK research universities and a member of the Russell Group of leading UK universities, which has grown from 30 students and four academic staff to 1,939 students and 115 academic staff in 2014-15

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