Post Doctoral Research Associate in Consumer Behaviour

'Raising the Pulse (RtP)' is a £2.5M UKRI Transforming the UK Food System project based on the concept that considerable health and environmental benefit would result if we could make it easier for the population to eat more UK grown pulses. The pulse best suited to the UK, the faba bean, is naturally high in protein, micronutrients and fibre, and has the lowest environmental impact of all crops. However, most of the population will not significantly increase their consumption unless they are successfully incorporated into familiar looking and tasting, economic and convenient staple foods, such as bread.  

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

Interview date: 07/05/2024

Informal contact details

Contact role: Supervisor
Contact name: Dr Elena Millan
Contact phone: 0118 378 6193
Contact email: elena.millan@reading.ac.uk

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

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