Assistant Professor, Games and Interactive Media

The Opportunity

The Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) in the College of Sciences (COS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for an assistant professor in Games and Interactive Media, anticipated to begin in August 2026. This job is a 9-month, tenure-track position.

The selected candidate will contribute to the mission of the Games and Interactive Media (GaIM) program by teaching graduate and / or undergraduate courses, conducting research / creative work, providing service activities related to games and interactive media, and participating in NSCM and university service, including committee work. The successful candidate may be expected to teach in different modalities, including face-to-face and online. The ideal candidate will demonstrate creativity in the use of immersive technologies and a desire to share that knowledge in teaching and mentoring students. Furthermore, we are looking for a highly collaborative individual keen to develop partnerships across the university, from the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) and the Modeling and Simulation programs to many other UCF Space U programs, open to the candidate's imagination and interpretation.

Other typical responsibilities include providing appropriate service in student advising (academic and career) and actively participating in the school's academic life. This includes attending faculty meetings, graduations, and assessing student learning. These activities are integral to our commitment to student success and academic excellence. External service expectations may include work with appropriate academic bodies and professional organizations.

Additionally, we are especially interested in a candidate who can contribute through their research, teaching and service to the excellence of our academic community and foster an environment in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive.

The UCF Nicholson School of Communication and Media's (NSCM) undergraduate Games and Interactive Media program (GaIM) is strategically located on UCF's Downtown campus, a few miles north of Disney and Universal Studios and about 45 miles west of NASA Space Coast. The Digital Media graduate program is selective and focuses on developing each student's studio project or thesis. The 2024 Princeton Review ranked the GaIM's undergraduate program #5 worldwide.

UCF's facilities provide students and faculty with innovative teaching, research, and learning spaces. The NSCM / GaIM Maker Space is located at the UCF Downtown campus next to EA Sports and is designed for games and interactive media research, including traditional games, mixed reality (augmented and virtual), physical computing, and web / mobile creation and UI / UX research. This high-tech facility is equipped with several high-performance gaming computers, multiple VR equipment, computers for use with headsets, and eye-tracking equipment. Our program aims to create innovative research at this intersection of entertainment, science, and technology to educate the next generation of graduates to be able to design, develop, and evaluate innovative immersive media experiences, stories, and applications and to broadly enrich the human experience. We value excellence in collaborative game development as well as creative research that goes beyond traditional entertainment.

The UCF Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) provides a student-centered experience at the exciting intersection of technology, media, film, advertising, communications and public relations. Our faculty and staff bring an impressive background of experiencefrom developing health communication to producing Super Bowl commercialsand connect our students to internship and career opportunities. As the premier academic program for communications and media in Central Florida with successful alumni around the globe, NSCM is known for excellence in research, teaching, and service to students and the community. The curriculum blends both the theoretical and applied aspects of the field offering eight bachelor's degree programs, four master's degree programs, and a Ph.D. program in strategic communication. For more information about the school and its GaIM programs, visit https : / / communication.ucf.edu and https : / / communication.ucf.edu / games-and-interactive-media.

UCF, named one of the most innovative public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, is located in Orlando, Florida and is classified as a Very High Research Activity university by the Carnegie Foundation. With more than 70,000 students, UCF is one of the largest universities in the country, offering more than 240 degree programs. For more information, visit http : / / www.ucf.edu.

The UCF College of Sciences (COS) is the largest college at UCF and a powerhouse for the regional and national STEM workforce, spanning the natural, computational, physical, and social sciences and housing centers, institutes and initiatives that serve as hubs for research and innovation. Through sharing and applying knowledge, COS is cultivating pathways for students to solve our world's most pressing and complex problems. With a mission to provide a world-class education in an environment where faculty, staff, and students thrive, research flourishes, and our community prospers, a number of COS academic programs are among those nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report , Princeton Review , and others.

For more information, please visit https : / / sciences.ucf.edu.

Minimum Qualifications :

A terminal degree in an area closely related to developing immersive digital media such as computer science, games and interactive media, or any other appropriate discipline such as information science, AI, software engineering, modeling and simulation, AR / VR / XR, or game engine programming, from an accredited institution by the start of employment.

Must have some teaching or training experience, formal or informal (e.g., tutoring, teaching workshops, creating tutorial videos, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications :

Expertise in one or more of the following areas : AI, industry-standard game engines, API and plugins development, and programming.

Must have excellent communication and organizational skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative educational environment with faculty, students, and administrators.

Experience or ability to teach game development and programming courses at undergraduate and graduate levels.

Experience or ability to teach in different modalities, including face-to-face and online.

Additional Application Materials Required :

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents to be submitted electronically through the Human Resources website, https : / / www.ucf.edu / jobs. In addition to the online application, interested candidates should upload the following :

A letter of application (cover letter) indicating how you are prepared to join the faculty at UCF.

A curriculum vitae (CV) or professional resume highlighting teaching / training and professional experience.

Research statement and portfolio (e.g., publications and / or links to games or applications developed).

Teaching statement and portfolio if available (e.g., class syllabi, example assignments, and student perceptions surveys).

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Note : Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to Dr. Sercan Sengun, Search Committee Chair, sercan.sengun@ucf.edu.

Special Instructions to the Applicants :

N / A

Job Close Date : 01 / 04 / 2026

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow; you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills, and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers :

Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program.

Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.

Retirement savings options.

Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions.

Education assistance.

Flexible work environment.

And moreFor more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions :

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

Department

Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM)

Work Schedule

Varies

Type of Appointment

Regular

Expected Salary

Negotiable

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.

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