Doctoral Researcher in Historical Game Studies

About us

The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character.

The Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH) at the University of Luxembourg is an interdisciplinary research centre committed to high-quality research and public dissemination in the field of contemporary history with a particular focus on digital methods and tools.
The C²DH's ambition is to venture off the beaten track and find new ways of doing, teaching and presenting contemporary history of Luxembourg and the history of Europe in the 20th and 21st centuries. It serves as a catalyst for innovative and creative scholarship and new forms of public dissemination.

Your role

Responsibilities:

• Develop and complete a PhD thesis in Historical Game Studies
• Contribute to the research activities of the C2DH
• Participate in seminars, workshops, and scientific events
• Contribute to scholarly publications and knowledge dissemination
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaborations within the University and with external partners, e.g. museums, archives, cultural heritage institutions, creative industries, public history actors
• Contribute to teaching and student supervision activities, in line with the University's doctoral training framework, e.g. guest lectures, tutorials, or support in courses related to digital/public history and game studies

The position explicitly welcomes projects engaging with one or more of the following complementary perspectives, with particular interest in innovative and experimentally oriented approaches:

• Representations of the past in games, e.g., narrative, memory, ideology, ethics, difficult or contested pasts e.g. colonialism, war, genocide, heritage conflicts
• Games and playful methods as tools for historical research, experimentation, education, and public engagement, including participatory or co-creative approaches with communities, museums, or cultural institutions
• The history of games as media and cultural artefacts, e.g. genealogies of historical games, production contexts, media archaeology, archiving and curating games as cultural heritage
• Interdisciplinary, innovative, and practice-based or design-oriented research proposals are particularly welcome. Depending on the candidate's profile and interests, the project may engage with emerging debates around immersive media, AI-assisted design, participatory methods, or experimental forms of historical pla

Your profile

• Master's degree in History, Public History, Digital Humanities, Game Studies, Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, or a related field
• Solid grounding in historical research and historiography, or a strong demonstrated interest in historical approaches to games and playful media
• Strong interest in public history, cultural heritage, museums, and/or serious games
• Willingness and ability to work in an interdisciplinary research environment at the intersection of history, game studies, and digital/public history
• Familiarity with game analysis and game studies literature, or experience with critical play and analytical approaches to games
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative methods, archival research, and/or practice-based research
• Experience with digital tools and/or interactive media used in research, public history, or cultural heritage contexts
• Experience with basic game design or prototyping, e.g. analogue games, Twine, Unity, Unreal, or other tools
• Prior involvement in game development projects, exhibitions, or public-facing digital history projects

Language Requirements:

Applicants must demonstrate at least B2-level proficiency in the language of their thesis. For details and accepted certificates, please visit the Application for admission - Doctoral Candidates.

We offer

• A modern, dynamic university with a personal and inclusive atmosphere. Multilingual and international character. Staff coming from more than 90 countries. Member of The Guild of European Research Intensive Universities
• An exceptional research environment, supported by skilled staff and high-quality equipment. Strong links to professional sectors and the Luxembourg labour market. A unique urban campus with excellent infrastructure
• A partner for society and industry. Cooperation with European institutions, innovative companies, the Financial Centre and a wide range of non-academic partners including ministries, local governments, associations, and NGOs

How to apply

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter presenting your motivation for this doctoral thesis topic, and explaining how your qualifications and aspirations align with its academic focus
• Transcript of all modules and results from university-level courses taken

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by Email will not be considered.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. In line with our values, the University of Luxembourg promotes an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are dedicated to upholding equality and respect for our employees and students.

General information:

• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week
• Location: Belval Campus
• Internal Title: Doctoral Researcher
• Job Reference: UOL08118

The yearly gross salary for every Doctoral researcher at the UL is EUR 41976 (full time).