In the Exertion Games Lab, we do research through design, which means we design the future of games in order to understand how people play with and through computers in the future. This research approach informs how students in the Exertion Games Lab are supervised.

The following focuses on how the research director, Florian ‘Floyd’ Mueller, approaches the supervision of students, in particular PhD students.

We believe the primary role of the supervisor is in making sure you, the higher degree student, has the best possible support and environment to excel in two aspects of the research journey, Skills and Knowledge:

Skills: Research in the Exertion Games Lab means that you will hone your game design skills by creating exciting digital play systems that provoke and inspire industry and the public (and hopefully make you famous) AND


Knowledge: Research in the Exertion Games Lab also means that you will contribute to knowledge. This knowledge needs to be novel. It also needs to be so abstract that, although derived from 1. Skills, it can stand on its own. A good test for this is if you are able to talk about your research without refering to your game. You communicate this knowledge in scholarly publications.


Achieving both is challenging, and making sure you balance both equally is the primary responsibility of the supervisor to you.

What this means for you

In addition to the Code of Practice that highlights aspects of the student-supervisor relationship, next are aspects specific to undertaking a research degree in the Exertion Games Lab:

Expectations

We would like it if you:

  • Work as part of the lab’s team rather than alone
  • Become a member of the academic staff rather than maintain being a student
  • Guide your own research; there is no more hand holding
  • Submit at least 2 papers each year to conferences or journals
  • Demo your work to sponsors
  • Contribute to the lab and its culture
  • Attend talks and ask questions
  • Maintain your web presence: update paper submissions, projects and press mentions
  • Contribute to Written Feedback
  • Come to the Knock-Knock events, where we give advice to each other’s research projects when they are in the early starting phase
  • Engage via videoconference, twitter, etc. if you cannot be in the lab
  • Find an external academic as collaborator for any project
  • Identify an industry collaborator for any project
  • State your affiliation with the Exertion Games Lab in any publication or press interaction on any project that comes out of the lab
  • Give the other members of the lab the opportunity to be a co-author on any publication or press interaction on any project that comes out of the lab

In return, you can expect:

  • Weekly meetings in which your supervisor focuses solely on your research
  • Feedback from an international perspective
  • An open-plan working environment where you will be exposed to many levels of research expertise
  • A research environment where you can always look over your supervisors shoulder
  • Feedback on your writing within 1 week
  • Equipment support for your work
  • A thrilling lab culture
  • Being introduced to leaders in the field
  • Travel support to attend conferences
If there is anything we have forgotten, please let us know!