Title of research project

LudIA – When AI Enters the Game: Practices, Tensions, and Professional Reconfigurations in the Board Game Sector.

Research Engineer

Contract type Contrat (CDD) Category A Workload Fulltime

Scientific field Sociologie, anthropologie, sciences de l’éducation

WorklJob Descriptionoad

Description of the offer Job Description – Research Engineer (Postdoctoral Researcher) (12 months) Project Title LudIA – When AI Comes into Play: Practices, Tensions, and Professional Reconfigurations in the Board Game Industry Scientific Background The LudIA research program is part of the structural projects initiative of the inIdEx Cultural Industries and Artistic Creation (ICCA) program. Its objective is to analyze the introduction and uses of artificial intelligence (AI) within the board game industry, a rapidly growing cultural sector characterized by forms of creative work that remain largely artisanal and collaborative. While the effects of AI have been extensively studied in the film, audiovisual, and publishing industries, board games remain a relatively underexplored field. The LudIA project seeks to understand how AI is reshaping professional practices, cooperation between different occupations (game designers, illustrators, publishers, project managers), and regimes of authorship. The project is jointly conducted by the ISMÉE laboratory and the LabSIC laboratory at Université Sorbonne Paris Nord. Responsibilities of the Postdoctoral Researcher Recruited for a 12-month period, the postdoctoral researcher will actively participate in all phases of the project. Main responsibilities include: Conducting a literature review on AI in cultural industries and creative labor; Contributing to the development of the theoretical framework and research tools (interview guides, analytical grids); Mapping AI-related practices through the analysis of online traces and professional controversies across occupations (designers, publishers, project managers, playtesters, etc.); Contributing to the constitution of the research corpus (selection of recent board games and analysis of production contexts); Conducting part of the semi-structured interviews with professionals in the sector (designers, illustrators, publishers, project managers); Carrying out a case study following the development of a company offering AI services dedicated to the board game industry; Participating in field observations during professional events (such as the Cannes International Games Festival, SPIEL Essen, etc.); Managing transcription, coding, and contributing to the qualitative analysis of data (using software such as NVivo); Contributing to scientific outputs (articles, interim reports) and participating in dissemination activities aimed at both academic and professional audiences (seminars, workshops, final conference). The postdoctoral researcher will be fully integrated into the project team and involved in reflections on the national and international development of the research. They will also be responsible for data management and for organizing meetings and exchanges with industry professionals. Candidate Profile Academic Background and Research Skills PhD in sociology, education sciences, information and communication sciences, or related disciplines; Strong command of qualitative research methodologies (interviews, observations, discourse analysis); Strong interest in cultural industries, creative labor, digital technologies, and/or artificial intelligence; Ability to situate empirical research within a structured theoretical framework. Operational Skills Experience conducting interviews and qualitative analysis; Excellent writing skills in French (and scientific English); Ability to work autonomously; Interest in cultural and professional environments, with availability for occasional travel. Additional Assets Knowledge of the board game industry or, more broadly, game and leisure cultures; Familiarity with contemporary debates on AI, authorship, and digital technologies; Experience in scientific dissemination or knowledge transfer toward non-academic audiences. Employment Conditions Contract type: Postdoctoral fixed-term contract Duration: 12 months Period: October 2026 – September 2027 Salary: €2,300 net per month Workplace: Université Sorbonne Paris Nord (Villetaneuse campus), with occasional travel in France and Europe Scientific Supervision The postdoctoral researcher will be supervised by: Vincent Berry, Professor, ISMÉE laboratory Benjamin Barbier, Associate Professor, LabSIC laboratory Aurore Deramond, Associate Researcher, ISMÉE laboratory Nathalie Roucous, Associate Professor, ISMÉE laboratory Vinciane Zabban, Associate Professor, ISMÉE laboratory The successful candidate will work closely with the other members of the project team. Application Process Applications must include: a detailed CV; a cover letter explaining the applicant’s interest in the LudIA project; a copy of the PhD diploma or proof of successful defense; optionally, one or two representative research outputs (publication, report, deliverable). Applications must be submitted through the Rubis platform of Université Sorbonne Paris Nord.

Field of research Social Sciences ; Sociology, Education and Training Sciences ; Information and Communication Sciences

Skills Qualitative research methodologies (interviews, observations, discourse analysis); Excellent writing skills in French (and in scientific English); Ability to work autonomously.

Knowledge Knowledge of gaming and leisure worlds or, more broadly, of cultural industries, creative labor, digital technologies, and/or artificial intelligence; Familiarity with contemporary debates on AI, authorship, and digital technologies.

Work environment

Location Villetaneuse

Laboratory Centre de Recherche Interuniversitaire Expérience, Ressources culturelles, Education

Degree level

Degree required PHD

Experience required Additional Assets

- Knowledge of the board game industry and the professional gaming sector;
- Familiarity with contemporary debates on AI, authorship, and digital technologies;
- Experience in scientific dissemination or knowledge transfer toward non-academic stakeholders.

Additionnal information

Start date 10 01 26

Job Type Contrat (CDD)

Salary 3521 € per month

Contract duration 12 mois

Composition of the selection jury

(Président(e)) Vincent Berry

Application deadline 06 25 26

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