Francesca Foffano
Research Student, Associate Lecturer

Interests

Francesca is an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science for the modules of Research methods in Computer Science and Qualitative Approaches to Investigating UX.
They are also a PhD candidate at IGGI (ERPC-Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence) programme with a thesis focusing on understanding player difficulties in addressing game challenges.

Their previous experience included a Research Fellowship at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice for the project AI4EU (Horizon 2020), and research collaborations with Reykjavik University and the charity AbleGamers.

Francescas research interests focus primarily on the theoretical understanding of the perception of player experiences in digital games. Among their research interests:

Experiences of difficulties in digital games (e.g. being stuck)
Emotional experiences and emotional challenges in digital games
Emotional game design
Player and user perception of AI

Qualifications

PhD candidate, EPRC-funded PhD in Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence (IGGI) - ongoing
MSc in Human Computer Interaction, University of Trento
BSc in Psychology Science and Techniques, University of Padua.

Career

Research Fellow collaboration with the AbleGamers charity on the use of games in occupational therapy. 2024
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) for the modules of Human Computer Interaction, Department of Computer Science, University of York. 2022-2023
Research Fellow for AI4EU (Horizon 2020), European Centre for Living Technology-ECLT, Ca Foscari University of Venice. 2020-2021
UX Strategist in Creative Contents, MediaMonks
Research Fellow collaboration at Center for Analysis & Design of Intelligent Agents - CADIA, at Reykjavik University.