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Friman Usva

Assistant Professor (tenure track)

Description

I am an Academy Research Fellow (2025–2029), Assistant Professor of Game Studies and Co-Director of the Game Research Lab at Tampere University. I am also a Docent of Game Culture Studies at the University of Turku. In 2025–2029, I am an Academy Research Fellow, leading the ENDGAME project funded by the Research Council of Finland: https://projects.tuni.fi/endgame. My research is focused on cultural participation and agency, as well as DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) questions, in digital gaming and electronic sports. I explore these topics as experienced by people participating in these cultures – especially as marginalised individuals – but also from structural and organisational perspectives. My methodological approaches are qualitatively oriented and based in humanities, including e.g. interview and survey studies, online media analysis, participatory research, and (online) ethnography. I highly value and seek to develop good, ethical research practices based on the highest standards. Overall, my aim is to create new, research-based knowledge and practices in close collaboration with stakeholders and participants in the field to initiate positive change, as well as to develop and promote good practices and working conditions within the academia. I teach game studies methodology courses in the Game Studies master’s degree programme and supervise game studies doctoral researchers in the Doctoral Programme in Media, Communication and Performing Arts at Tampere University.

Keywords

game studies, game research, game culture studies, esports, digital gaming

Affiliations

Tampere University
Assistant Professor (tenure track)
Primary
2025
Primary
Source: Tampere University
Tampere University
Postdoctoral Researcher
2022 - 2025
Source: Tampere University
Tampere University
Researcher
2020 - 2022
Source: Tampere University

Education (4)

Academic supervision and guidance (5 ECTS)
2024
Tampere University
Doctor of Philosophy
University of Turku
Master of Arts
University of Turku
Bachelor of Arts
University of Turku

Publications (42)

Open access publications

2025
Performance enhancement and health
Open access
DOI
10.1016/j.peh.2025.100378
Peer-reviewed
2024
Open access
DOI
10.4324/9781003410591-58
Peer-reviewed
2023
Pelitutkimuksen vuosikirja
Open access

Granted funding (1)

Research Council of Finland
2025 - 2029