Design and Development of a Gamification Design Platform

Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), based in Trento, Italy, is a top-tier research and innovation institution operating across science and technology through 12 research centers and more than 450 researchers. The Foundation is structured into two main clusters: Technology & Innovation and Humanities & Social Sciences. More information: https://www.fbk.eu/en/about-us/. 

The MoDiS (MOtivational DIgital Systems) Research Unit belongs to the Digital Society Center and focuses on the development of motivational systems and digital strategies that support behavior change. MoDiS specializes in game-based and persuasive approaches tailored to different user groups and applied across various domains, including sustainability, education, and public engagement. More information: https://modis.fbk.eu/. 

The Digital Society Center conducts interdisciplinary research in areas such as integrative AI, socio-technical systems, and intelligence at the edge, working closely with public institutions, companies, and universities to foster sustainable digital transformation. 

Planned Activities 

MoDiS is offering an internship aimed at supporting the refinement and further development of an existing gamification design platform, with a particular focus on integrating a user research module. 

The intern will be involved in: 

  • Conducting a preliminary literature review on gamification design and user research integration; 
  • Collaborating with interaction designers to revise and improve system usability and functionality; 
  • Designing and implementing new features, both on the back end and front end;
  • Developing a module to support user feedback collection and analysis;
  • Contributing to iterative development cycles based on internal testing and evaluation. 

This internship offers hands-on experience in a dynamic research environment that bridges design, software development, and behavioral science.

Requirements 

  • At least a Bachelor's degree (or near completion) in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related fields; 
  • Experience in both front-end and back-end development (e.g., HTML/CSS/JS, Python, databases); 
  • Interest in gamification and user-centered design; 
  • Ability to work collaboratively with designers and researchers; 
  • Fluency in English (minimum level B2). 

Internship Information 

  • Type: Curricular internship (no allowance); 
  • Duration: 3 to 6 months, based on the candidate’s availability and background;
  • Location: Remote, hybrid, or in-person at Povo (Trento, Italy). 

Other benefits:
  • Access to the internal canteen (except for UniTN students); 
  • Opportunity to work at the intersection of research, design, and development;
  • Supportive and interdisciplinary working environment; Support for the search for accommodation at the affiliated structures (no allowance). 

Additional Opportunities: 

This internship may be extended into a full research thesis for interested candidates. How to Apply 

Interested applicants should complete the online form available in the “Internship Opportunities” section at https://jobs.fbk.eu/, attaching the following documents in PDF format: 

  • Curriculum vitae 
  • Motivation letter 

For any information, contact Simone Bassanelli (sbassanelli@fbk.eu)