EUReCA! Student Market Researcher Investigating Affects of Gamification on Consumer Choice

The EURēCA! Student Assistants Program provides introductory opportunities for CU Denver undergraduates to engage in research and creative activities. Students MUST complete the EURēCA! Presentation and Quizzes in Canvas (30min) to apply for all EURēCA! positions. Register Here. 

For more information, view visual guide: Appling for EURēCA! on Handshake, learn more on the EURēCA! Program Website, or email undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu.

Employer/Dept: University of Colorado Denver/ Department of Marketing

Supervisor: Shawn Enriques, PhD

Job Title: EURēCA! Student Market Researcher Investigating Affects of Gamification on Consumer Choice

Job Location/Address: CU Denver Business School / This position can be flexible with some remote and some on-campus components.

Purpose: The student researcher will collaborate with the mentor to identify an interesting research question related to gamification in a marketing context. The student will take the lead in developing the survey/experiment with the guidance of the mentor.

Gamification is defined as adding game-like affordances (scores, competition, badges, levels, etc.) to real-world situations to encourage engagement (with a brand, company, event, etc.).

The student researcher(s) will work closely with the mentor to develop stand-alone research in gamification to create a pilot study on which the mentor will develop a more rigorous research project in gamification. Learn more about Dr. Enriques.

Position Description: The student researcher will develop a research project based on using gamification to improve some marketing outcome. The context will be the choice of the student with guidance from the professor.  This work-study employee will be focused on research including study design, field and/or lab work, method development, data collection, analysis and write-up of their findings.

It is the intent of the project to develop pilot findings to build a journal submission.  Future unpaid (possibly paid) collaboration may continue with the student through the follow-on research process for journal author credit if desired.

Duties and Responsibilities: Duties may include literature review, survey design, data collection and analysis, data cleaning and visualization.

Skills and Knowledge Gained: The student researcher will gain experience in the academic research process, market research, data analysis and visualization, and exercise their imagination in developing a novel research method to investigate gamification in a marketing context.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Ability to work independently
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Familiarity with Excel
• Basic statistical and regression analysis background is helpful

Preferred Qualifications: Marketing courses, Statistics

Position Commitment: 5-8 hours per week

Preferred Work Times: Flexible

Application Requirements:

1. Resume 
2. Cover letter
3. Unofficial Transcripts
4. Work-study is required for this position, all offers will be contingent on a current work-study award. 
   1. First complete 2025-2026 FAFSA or CASFA and confirm work-study eligibility with the CU Denver Financial Aid office. 
   2. Once confirmed, attach email from Financial Aid stating potential work-study eligibility.
   3. Following interview and position offers, the EURēCA! Office will provide Work-study Authorization forms to confirm final work-study award amounts.

Learn more about work-study here or contact the Financial Aid Office with questions: FinancialAid@ucdenver.edu, 303-315-5969.

Length of Employment:

This position is available for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, employment may continue at Dr. Shawn Enriques’ discretion. Please reach out to shawn.enriques@ucdenver with any questions. If both mentor and mentee agree, students can apply to continue with EURēCA! for a second year.