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ACTIVEPhD and M.A.Sc. Position on Co-Designing Urban Play
published 1 July 25

We are seeking to fill one PhD and one M.A.Sc. Position to join a research project that focuses on participatory design at the intersection of critical interaction design, game development, and urban design.

Start Date
2025/2026

Deadline
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Project Overview
The project will focus on co-developing modular systems for micro-urbanism that engage community members in decision-making processes surrounding the built environment. By integrating both digital and physical systems (e.g., game engines and microcontrollers), this research aims to support interactive-ludic design methods that foster inclusive, community-driven decision-making.

Background
Applicants from diverse fields are welcome. Suitable backgrounds include: Interaction Design or Game Development, Architecture, Urban Design, or Computational Design. Computer Science or Engineering with an interest in design research and Media Studies with a focus on technology and spatial practice.

Skills
Applicants who are already familiar with microcontrollers, game engines and architectural visualization tools (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, Rhino Grasshopper or Houdini), as well as programming in C#, C++, or Python, are encouraged to apply.

PhD applicants should have experience designing and evaluating interactive systems, familiarity with research methods in HCI, participatory design, research by design or critical interaction design, and an understanding of urban studies or community-based design. PhD candidates should demonstrate strong potential for independent research, academic writing, and scholarly communication.

Experience with 3d generative AI and an understanding of multimodal systems in urban design contexts is a plus.

Duration
M.A.Sc. | 2 Years

PhD. | 4 Years

Full funding will be available through multiple sources, including opportunities for a research and/or teaching assistantship. For more details, please check our school website https://carleton.ca/csit/awards-and-support/

Eligibility

M.A.Sc. | Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and meet admission requirements for the M.A.Sc. in Digital Media at Carleton University.

PhD | Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in a related field (or be expected to hold before september 2026) and meet admission requirements for the PhD in Digital Media at Carleton University. Applicants should also have published, or be in the process of publishing, a conference paper in a related field.

How to Apply
Please Send:
1. A brief statement of interest (up to 1 page for M.A.Sc. and up to 2 pages for PhD.)
2. CV
3. Portfolio (PDF, Website or Github)
4. Trasncripts from all previous degrees

To: Hamza Bashandy
Email Subject: MASc - Interactive Urban Play or PhD - Interactive Urban Play

For more information about our graduate program, please check this link for our master program https://carleton.ca/csit/master-of-applied-science-in-digital-media/ and this link for our PhD program https://carleton.ca/csit/phd-program/

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