WE ARE LOOKING FOR A phd candidate in behavioral aspects of in-store transparency interventions.

With your PhD research, do you want to contribute to consumer understanding of what it takes to make healthier and more sustainable choice in (online) store? Are you a team player looking forward to work with a partner PhD candidate at Groningen University specialized in econometric modeling? Do you have an open eye to make your academic research relevant to societal challenges (science for impact)?

In a joint research project sponsored by TKI Agri & Food (AF18060) in collaboration with leading Dutch retailers and the Marketing department of University of Groningen, Wageningen University offers a PhD position on the behavioral aspects of information transparency and actionability of in-store interventions.
Although information about healthfulness and sustainability of choice alternatives in (online) stores is abundant, the actual attention for and effective use of such information by consumers is quite limited. This project builds on the assumption that consumer-friendly transparency and actionability of (nutrition and sustainability) information is a key factor in making the available information matter, thereby stimulating healthful and sustainable choices in store. The aim of the research project is to fundamentally understand consumers' (non-) use of information and to apply and validate those insights to build and test consumer-relevant decision support systems (ranging from information salience and transparency to hand-held information and decision tools) that can overcome the neglect of societally relevant information at point of purchase.

Working closely with a partner PhD candidate at the University of Groningen (specialized in econometric modeling aspects) you will focus on the consumer behavioral aspects of information transparency and actionability to enhance consumers' well-informed choices at the point of purchase. Your thesis, built on publications in scientifically respected journals, will develop the conceptual frameworks and empirical illustrations that reveal (and hopefully contribute to solutions of) that key societal challenge.

WE ASK

• A successfully completed MSc degree related to behavioral aspects of consumer decision making (please add exam scores and list of relevant courses). Experience is retail choice environment is an advantage.
• A passion to contribute to creative out of the box solutions to make information more effective through transparency and actionability.
• A strong passion for quantitative research (including methodological design and analysis), but with an open eye to qualitative approaches that may inform the quantitative analysis.
• A team player, open to collaboration across the scientific fields (econometric modeling and behavioral aspects), and between scientific approach and business relevance for the retailers involved.
• A result-oriented attitude to contribute to scientific progress and (retail-)business relevance.

WE OFFER

A challenging position with, depending on your experience, a competitive salary from a minimum of € 2325 to a maximum of € 2972 for a full working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities (scale P).

In addition, we offer:

• 8% holiday allowance;
• a structural year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions;
• flexible working hours and holidays can possibly be determined in consultation so that an optimal balance between work and private life is possible;
• excellent pension plan through ABP;
• 232 vacation hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes;
• a flexible working time: the possibility to work a maximum of 2 hours per week extra and thereby to build up extra leave;
• a choice model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan;
• a lively workplace where you can easily make contacts and where many activities take place on the Wageningen Campus. A place where education, research and business are represented;

Wageningen University & Research stimulates internal career opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a learning environment.

We offer a versatile job in an international environment with varied activities in a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

Wageningen University & Research

WE ARE
The mission of our University is to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With approximately 30 locations, 5,000 employees, and 10,000 students, it is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the unique approach of Wageningen.

About our group
General information about the Marketing and Consumer Behavior Group of Wageningen University can be found on https://www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Chair-groups/Social-Sciences/Marketing-and-Consumer-Behaviour-Group.htm and at https://www.marketingandconsumerbehaviour.nl/

Equal opportunities employer
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.