Postdoctoral in PlantTip project: Cognitive Modelling, Consumer Behaviour, and Behavioural Change

Aarhus Universitet; Aarhus; On-site; DKK 314,000 - 486,000; Full time

Job summary

Aarhus University, Aarhus BSS, Department of Management, invites applications for an 18-month postdoctoral position in the Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded PlantTip project, integrating cognitive modelling, consumer behaviour and behavioural change. You will join a team of modellers and researchers to translate findings into publishable results and actionable insights.

We welcome candidates from cognitive science, psychology, computer science, computational social science, consumer research,

Qualifications

• The candidate must have a PhD in a relevant field as listed.
• Strong programming skills and experience with data-driven modelling are preferred.
• Ability to collaborate across experimental and modelling teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop data-driven computational models of consumer, behavioural or cognitive change.
• Use empirical data to calibrate, compare and evaluate models and assess individual vs. societal patterns.
• Collaborate with experimental researchers to translate findings into model assumptions.
• Design computational experiments to test policy interventions and analyze results.
• Communicate findings through reports, presentations and workshops.
• Publish high-quality research in international journals and present at conferences.

Skills

Programming skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Written communication

Education

PhD in cognitive science, psychology, computer science, computational social science, consumer research, behavioural economics, complexity science

Tools

Python

R

Julia

MATLAB

NetLogo

C++

Job description

Postdoctoral position in PlantTip project: Cognitive Modelling, Consumer Behaviour, and Behavioural Change

The Department of Management at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, invites applications for an 18-month postdoctoral position in the Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded project "PlantTip" - with possibility for extension. We are looking for someone to join our team of consumer behaviour scientists and agent-based modellers who can bring knowledge of and experience with modelling cognitive or behavioural change.

The position is connected to the MAPP research centre. MAPP is a world-class interdisciplinary research centre at Aarhus University conducting social science research of highest quality. MAPP is dedicated to research on food systems that results in relevant and positive societal impact (for more information see www.mapp.au.dk ).

The potential starting date is January 2027, subject to mutual agreement.

The research project

The Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded PlantTip project – running from 2025 to 2028 - aims to identify societal tipping points that can accelerate Denmark's transition to more sustainable lifestyles when it comes to more plant-rich diets. We use an innovative connection of behavioural and social experimentation and agent-based models to understand and model how policy instruments, social interventions and commercial marketing measures, consumer-oriented innovations, and social dynamics can be combined to support sustainable change.

In this already ongoing project, we are now moving into the phase of building the model, using available knowledge, data, and theories on consumer behaviour and change. Here, it will be especially important to integrate knowledge on processes of cognitive change and updates among individuals and in interaction with others into our data-driven computational modelling in order to understand broader patterns of consumer change over time.

We therefore seek to welcome another team member to complement the team and contribute to this goal, with some or many of the competences and qualifications outlined below. As we know that the list of useful qualifications is long, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet them all, and to contact us before you apply if you are in doubt. Please also do so in case the position is interesting for you, but you cannot move to Aarhus.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher with passion for the project to help contributing to the computational cognitive or behavioural modelling – as outlined above – as well as being part of translating the findings into publishable research results as well as actionable insights.

Candidates may come from cognitive science, psychology, computer science, computational social science, consumer research,behaviouraleconomics, complexity science, or another relevant discipline.

We envision that you at minimum have both some understanding of and experience with the field of psychology, cognition and behaviour as well as some experience and capability in handling quantitative data and programming.

If you already have used data-driven computational methods to model cognitive or behavioural change in any substantive domain, that would be ideal.

Experience specifically with research on consumers or citizens related to food choice and the food sector is welcome but is not required. Note that you do not need to be able to speak Danish.

What we offer:

• An 18-month postdoctoral position in an excellent research and work environment.
• An earmarked budget for postdoctoral training, travel, and conference participation.
• Membership in an established computational modelling team, including close collaboration with two researchers developing agent-based models.
• Close collaboration with researchers conducting laboratory and real-world behavioural studies.
• Access to empirical and experimental data for developing and evaluating computational models.
• The opportunity to be part of an ambitious research programme connecting computational cognitive and behavioural modelling with consumer research and sustainability policy.
• The opportunity to work on a high-impact and societally relevant research project with a talented interdisciplinary team.
• Collaborations with international partners from academia, industry, and government.
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and computing resources.

Key Responsibilities:

We expect you to be part of:

• Developing data-driven computational models of consumer, behavioural, or cognitive change and formalise relevant cognitive and behavioural mechanisms in computational models, including, where appropriate, learning, decision-making, belief updating, preference formation, habit formation, social influence, norms, identity, knowledge, and values.
• Using experimental, observational, longitudinal, survey, or other empirical data to develop, estimate, calibrate, compare, and evaluate computational models and investigate how changes at the individual level may contribute to aggregate patterns of consumer behaviour and societal tipping dynamics.
• Collaborating with the experimental research team to formulate research questions and translate empirical findings into model assumptions and parameters as well as compare alternative mechanisms and theoretical explanations for observed behavioural change.
• Designing and conducting computational experiments to examine behavioural dynamics and the possible effects of policy interventions and analyzing model behaviour and outputs using relevant methods, including sensitivity, uncertainty, robustness, scenario, and model-comparison analyses.
• Communicating findings through reports, presentations, stakeholder workshops, and participate in project meetings and workshops.
• Producing high-quality research for publication in leading international peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences.

Further particulars on the position may be obtained from Arthur Hermes Hjorth, [e-mail], or Professor Jessica Aschemann-Witzel, [e-mail]

Qualifications:

• You need to have a PhD in cognitive science, psychology, computer science, computational social science, consumer research,behaviouraleconomics, complexity science, or another relevant field.
• Preferably, you have strong programming skills in at least one language used for computational modelling and data analysis, such as Python, R, Julia, MATLAB,NetLogo, or C++.
• Preferably, you have demonstrated experience with data-driven computational modelling of cognitive or behavioural processes and experience modelling how behaviour, cognition, beliefs, knowledge, preferences, attitudes, habits, norms, or values develop or change over time -and experience analysing computational model outputs and evaluating model performance using appropriate quantitative methods.
• We expect you have the ability and willingness to collaborate closely with agent-based modellers, experimental researchers, and researchers from other disciplinary backgrounds, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary research environment.

Who we are

The Department of Management is part of Aarhus BSS , Aarhus University – a top 100 university. A arhus BSS has achieved the triple-crown AACSB , AMBA and EQUIS accreditations.

The department has an international research and teaching environment, employs approximately 160 Danish and international researchers, academic staff, and PhD students. We excel in business management, including strategy, innovation, marketing, organisation, digitalisation, and accounting. Our aim is to deliver high-quality research, with a strong emphasis on publishing in leading academic journals and presenting at recognised conferences.

The Department of Management offers a stimulating international environment. The department conducts research and covers teaching in a broad range of areas. More information about the department is available at http://mgmt.au.dk/enhed/ .

We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Place of work

Aarhus BSS
Department of Management
Universitetsbyen 61

8000 Aarhus

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information here: https://internationalstaff.au.dk/relocationservice/

Please find more information about research opportunities at Aarhus University here: http://international.au.dk/research/

The evaluation process

After the application deadline, an assessment committee is appointed. Please note that the assessment of applicants is based solely on the material received prior to the application deadline. For further information, see Guidelines for Assessment Committee, Aarhus BSS .

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 37,000 students (FTEs) and 8,700 employees and has an annual revenue of EUR 1.106 billion. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

Administrationscenter Aarhus BSS - Aarhus BSS HR & Ph.d. [phone] [e-mail]