Postgraduate Teaching Assistantship – Repurposing Gaming Technologies for Effective Cell Manipulation Training

The School of Computing, Mathematics and Digital Technology is making a targeted, strategic investment in academic positions, in order to both strengthen our growing reputation in applied research, and continue to provide an excellent level of support for taught courses. These posts address both priorities by combining a part-time PhD programme with ten hours per week (on average) of teaching support. At the completion of the contract, the successful candidate will have gained both a doctoral qualification and significant teaching experience.

The School is an educational affiliate of the British Computing Society and a member of the Oracle Academy. Computing degrees are professionally accredited by the BCS and mathematics degrees are approved by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. We have ten new state-of-the-art teaching laboratories equipped with high-end PCs, Apple Macs and specialist software tools which work on Windows, Linux and Mac OS. Research laboratories have advanced graphics workstations and NEC SX61 and SX8 vector supercomputers. Our usability lab captures and analyses human behaviour as we interact with computers, websites and video games and we have a purpose-built multimedia studio with high definition vision mixing, HD cameras and full audio and video recording facilities.

Role
You will teach on undergraduate courses in the School using pedagogic approaches that deliver a first class student experience. You support the academic development of students through 1-to-1 and small group tutorial sessions. You will provide excellent academic and pastoral support to students and be able to signpost students to relevant support services within the university when appropriate.

This PhD project proposes to develop an enhanced haptic device based on Research Instruments Ltd’s micromanipulator Integra Ti. The goal is to design and develop serious games, the purpose of which are to train embryologist using the micromanipulation haptic device. The serious game will help embryologist gain fine motor skills without risk to human material.

Full details of this project and others available can be found at http://tinyurl.com/mmu-irc-phd

Ideal Candidate
You will be a self-motivated individual with a first degree or higher degree in Computer Science, Computing, Information Systems, Digital Technology or a closely related subject area and a postgraduate level qualification in a relevant area, with significant continuing professional development activities. You will have the ambition to join an academically vibrant community and make significant contributions to teaching.

Closing date: 16 November 2015.
To apply please visit our careers site: http://www2.mmu.ac.uk/jobs/vacancies/index.php

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