معرفی
Dr. Usva Friman is an Assistant Professor of Game Studies and Co-Director of the Game Research Lab at Tampere University. She also holds the position of Docent of Game Culture Studies at the University of Turku. Dr. Friman is currently leading the Academy Research Fellowship project 'Exploring New Dimensions of Game Cultural Agency: From Marginalisation to Empowerment (ENDGAME)' from September 2025 to August 2029, funded by the Research Council of Finland.
Dr. Friman's research focuses on cultural participation and agency, with particular emphasis on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) questions in digital gaming and electronic sports. She approaches these topics through the lens of marginalized individuals' experiences while also examining structural and organizational perspectives within gaming cultures. Her qualitative, humanities-based methodology includes interview and survey studies, online media analysis, participatory research, and ethnography.
Dr. Friman teaches game studies methodology courses in the Game Studies master's degree programme and supervises doctoral researchers in Tampere University's Doctoral Programme in Media, Communication and Performing Arts. She co-founded an 'integrative chapter club' to support doctoral researchers working on their dissertations.
Dr. Friman defended her doctoral dissertation 'Gender and game cultural agency in the post-gamer era: Finnish women players' gaming practices, game cultural participation, and rejected gamer identity' at the University of Turku in June 2022. She subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Tampere University's Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies, where she served as main coordinator from January 2020 to July 2022, researching topics including Nordic esports. In 2024-2025, she managed the PEGASUS research project focused on promoting equity in game culture.
- Academy Research Fellowship from the Research Council of Finland (2025-2029)
Dr. Friman actively supervises doctoral researchers and collaborates on research projects examining game culture, DEI in gaming, and esports. Her work emphasizes ethical research practices and collaboration with stakeholders to create meaningful change within gaming communities and academic practices.
As Co-Director of the Game Research Lab (established in 2002), Dr. Friman helps lead one of the prominent centers for multidisciplinary research into games, play, and their applications. The lab supports doctoral researchers and contributes to the academic discourse through publications and participation in events like #peliviikko (Game Week).
