PhD Position: The impact of music on consumer behavior

We are looking for a PhD student who will study the influence of music on consumer behavior. This research is part of the EU project Music360, which aims to enhance our understanding of the value of music. Within the project, you will use theory and research from psychology, marketing and related fields to develop a framework that links different aspects of music to consumers' feelings and cognitions (including customer satisfaction), as well as observable behaviors such as spending, and the duration and frequency of visits.

In the project you will collaborate with senior researchers within our group, as well as representatives from the music industry and retailers in several European countries. The project will thus involve a true combination of academic and practical tasks. In addition to this, you will spend about 20% of your time on teaching tutorials and supervising bachelor thesis in the department's programs.
We are looking for a PhD student who will be excited to work with us to further understand how music influences consumers. We aim to contribute to the field of research on music and consumer behavior, but also to develop insights that are of practical relevance to the music industry and policy makers within the EU.
Empirically, these projects will combine survey research and (online) experiments, as well as field studies with our European partners. We are looking for a doctoral student who is comfortable working with these methods, and who is familiar with relevant psychological theories, frameworks and concepts. In addition, it is important to have some level of relational and project management skills that help in the coordination of the project.

We seek applications from candidates who fulfil the following requirements:

• Masters' degree (preferably research master) in marketing, psychology, business, communication science or related disciplines
• Statistical skills and experience with statistical software packages (e.g., SPSS, R)
• Excellent speaking and writing skills in English language
• A working knowledge of the Dutch language is preferred
• Interest in (popular) music
• Basic project management skills
• Good relational skills

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2,541 (PhD) per month during the first year and increases to €3,247 (PhD) per month during the fourth year, based on a full-time employment. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 1 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a duration of 4 years.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment,
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus,
• solid pension scheme (ABP),
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use modest charge,
• contribution to commuting expenses

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor - from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

School of Business and Economics
The School of Business and Economics (SBE) provides high-quality education and excellent research in business administration and economics with a focus on contributing to the social, economic and ecological challenges of our time. Whether it is the use of robots in society or big data, labour market participation or flexibility in the labour market, traffic jams or the housing market, flash crashes in the stock market or choice behaviour in gambling, leadership or change management: we believe in goal-oriented scientific research and understand that progress in academics, the business community and society is achieved through cooperation, openness and social responsibility.

At SBE, all of our highly-motivated colleagues work together closely in a stimulating, dynamic and international environment to achieve our collective goal of encouraging society to make informed choices. Approximately 7,000 Bachelor's and Master's students and 1,700 executive students are enrolled at the School, and employs roughly 600 people.

Marketing Department
We are a research oriented group that offers a stimulating environment and a dynamic international culture. Our faculty publishes in the major marketing journals, as well as several other (top level) outlets in economics, psychology, decision making, and interdisciplinary journals. We have a strong international network with many collaborations and visits across Europe and the US, and are home to the European Association of Consumer Research conference in 2023. The department offers courses at all levels from Bachelor to MSc and MBA, and participates in the school's PhD program. Our MSc in Marketing (in English, 150-200 students) has been rated best in The Netherlands. The department's language of communication is English, teaching is either in English or in Dutch