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Assistant Specialist in Game User Interaction and Intelligence Lab

Job #JPF02014
  • Computational Media / Baskin Engineering / UC Santa Cruz

Position overview

Position title: Assistant Specialist in Game User Interaction and Intelligence Lab
Salary range: The posted UCSC Salary Scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the scale titled, Represented Specialist Series Fiscal Year Non-Exempt. A salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions. A reasonable estimate for this position is $30.42 per hour. The actual salary will be adjusted based on the position's percentage of time which will be variable between 25% and 50%.
Percent time: Variable between 25% and 50%.
Anticipated start: As soon as possible after initial review of the applications.
Position duration: Initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of reappointment. Should the hiring unit propose reappointment; a review to assess performance will be conducted. Reappointment is also contingent upon the availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: December 1, 2025

Next review date: Monday, Jan 5, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Tuesday, Dec 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Professor Magy Seif El-Nasr in the Computational Media department at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for two positions of Assistant Specialist in Game User Interaction and Intelligence Lab. The selected candidate(s) will help develop technical research and intelligent systems for two areas:

1) Alternate reality games, which encompass Discord integrated AI bots, mobile application for tracking location and disseminating game narratives, and a backend system for data logging and analytics. The technical research problem here is the development of a community management system that will integrate different data streams from such games.

2) An intelligent tutor system that integrates an AI character that interacts through visuals and audio and is incorporated into a game system interface. The AI system will be composed of an agent architecture that has access to the interface as well as backend data analytics. The system will integrate eye tracking, visual data from cameras, and log of actions. The job will entail integration and fusion of these data sets towards developing a model of the user. Further, the system will also integrate with some of the research systems we have developed for adaptive learning given the user models.

Applicants with expertise or experience developing user interfaces and front end systems, and/or developing backend data science systems are strongly encouraged to apply.

Game User Interaction and Intelligence Lab: https://guiilab.ucsc.edu/

Computational Media Department: https://engineering.ucsc.edu/departments/computational-media/

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at the time the application is submitted)
  • Bachelor's degree (or equivalent foreign degree) in computer science, human computer interaction, or a related field.
  • Software development experience in building systems that integrate AI APIs, interdisciplinary research, and human-centered design.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Applications are accepted via the UCSC Academic Recruit online system; all documents and materials must be submitted as PDFs.

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research

  • Portfolio - Please provide a PDF that includes active link(s):

    Github account, or any example code developed or systems.
    Videos of work done. If the work is developed by a team, please include a description of your role in the work.

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 letters of reference required

Applications must include confidential letters of recommendation*. Note that your references, or dossier service, will submit their confidential letters directly to the UC Recruit System.

*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC’s confidentiality statement at https://academicpersonnel.ucsc.edu/confidentiality-statements/.

Apply link: https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF02014

Help contact: egregg@ucsc.edu

About UC Santa Cruz

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at jobaccommodations@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4602.

Notice of Availability: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), UCSC publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz, as outlined in campus policy CAPM 102.530.

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

VISIT UC Santa Cruz

Job location

UCSC Silicon Valley Campus in Santa Clara, CA