Post Doctoral Research Associate in Consumer Behaviour

The scope of the RtP project is wide ranging, from sustainable production to nutritional enhancement, to processing and manufacturing innovation to evaluation of health benefits and consumer acceptance together with modelling of all the above. This ambitious project is therefore highly multi-disciplinary and employs 6 research staff (PDRAs and technicians). One of these posts is for a full-time postdoctoral researcher with relevant training and experience in consumer behaviour for a period of 17 months from 8th May 2024.

This position will be based in the internationally renowned Department of Agri-Food Economics and Marketing, University of Reading.

The post holder will be responsible for:

Research:

• Working within the consumer behaviour project team and with the wider Raising the Pulse consortium on the consumer-related elements of this large multi-disciplinary food systems project


• Conducting desk research involving literature review and evidence aggregation


• Analysing existing datasets (e.g. National Food Survey, National Diet and Nutrition Survey) to understand eating habits and food choices


• Designing consumer studies, submitting ethical clearance applications, collecting and analysing primary data using qualitative, survey-based and choice experiment approaches


• Regular progress reporting, achieving milestones and deliverables within the project time frame


• Preparing reports and drafting manuscripts for publication in leading academic journals


• Disseminating project findings through participation in national and international conferences.


• Collaborating with colleagues within the consumer behaviour team, the wider Raising the Pulse consortium and the University in the development of original research


Enterprise & Outreach:

• Preparing press releases and contributing to web-based content about the project activities/results


• Liaising with industry partners external to the University


• Attending and presenting at relevant seminars, conferences, and other events


Leadership & Management:

• Providing supervision of related student research projects


• Managing project progress and the meeting of deadlines under the supervision of the consumer behaviour project lead


• Organising and participating in project group meetings


• Liaising with the wider Raising the Pulse project team on joint research objectives


• Participating in Department and School level meetings


You will also have:

• PhD in Marketing/Consumer behaviour or related subject from a reputable university


• Good publication record in peer-reviewed journals