Postdoctoral position in the SpeedyFermHub research project

Institut for Virksomhedsledelse; Denmark; On-site; DKK 440,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Aarhus University invites applications for a 24-month postdoctoral position within the SpeedyFermHub project in the Department of Management. You will study consumer-citizen acceptance and market relevance of fermented plant-based foods, contributing to methods for online experiments and consumer testing.

The role blends data collection, quantitative analysis, and collaborative research with national and international partners, with potential teaching duties.

Qualifications

• PhD in management-related field with emphasis on consumer studies or marketing.
• Experience in consumer behavior, food marketing, marketing, sustainable consumption, behavioral science, economics or psychology.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to work independently.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to design, implementation, data collection and analysis of consumer-citizen studies.
• Develop online experimental consumer and sensory studies and survey materials.
• Assist in data collection, quantitative analysis and interpretation.
• Collaborate with national and international partners and publish results.

Skills

Consumer research

Survey design

Quantitative data analysis

Consumer acceptance

Academic writing

Interdisciplinary collaboration

English communication

Education

PhD in Management/related field

Tools

R

Python

SPSS

Stata

Sawtooth

Qualtrics

Job description

Postdoctoral position in the SpeedyFermHub research project

Will you be part of shaping the future of fermented plant-based foods? Do you want to explore how consumers respond to novel plant-based food innovations and how consumer insights can inform product development, market positioning and societal value? Then join the SpeedyFermHub research project as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Management, Aarhus University.

We invite applications for a 24-month postdoctoral position starting in 2027. The position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a new research project focusing on consumer-citizen acceptance, market positioning and the societal relevance of fermented plant-based food innovations.

The starting date is 1 March 2027 or subject to mutual agreement.

The research project

The postdoctoral position is part of the externally funded FutureFoodS project SpeedyFermHub – which aims to support the development, optimization and scale‑up of fermented plant-based food prototypes. Within the project, the Department of Management at Aarhus University contributes expertise in consumer behavior and food marketing, with a particular focus on consumer-citizen acceptance, stakeholder‑informed product development, market relevance and societal positioning. The project is expected to generate high‑quality research on how consumers evaluate novel fermented plant-based foods and how consumer insights can inform product refinement, communication strategies and market positioning.

Job description

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the overall objectives of the project by being involved in design, implementation, data collection, and analysis of consumer‑citizen studies related to fermented plant‑based food prototypes. Therefore, the candidate will contribute to the development of online experimental consumer and sensory studies, including the design of product concepts, survey materials, experimental stimuli and measures of consumer preferences, acceptance and willingness‑to‑pay. The candidate is also expected to contribute to the other phases of the research process, including in‑person consumer testing of final prototypes, and to support the assessment of market trends, entry potential and societal positioning of fermented plant‑based products. The candidate will be involved in data collection, quantitative data analysis, interpretation of findings, preparation of deliverables, writing of academic articles and ongoing development of the project in collaboration with national and international partners. The position is research‑oriented but may involve teaching assignments.

Qualifications

Candidates must hold a PhD relevant to the academic areas of the Department of Management, (preferably within one or more of the following areas: consumer behavior, food marketing, marketing, sustainable consumption, behavioral science, agricultural economics, economics, psychology, or related fields.).

The ideal candidate will have experience with one or more of the following:

• consumer research on food, sustainability, health, innovation or novel foods;
• survey design and online experimental methods;
• quantitative data analysis, preferably including choice modelling, willingness‑to‑pay analysis, segmentation, multivariate statistics, or related methods;
• consumer acceptance, product concept testing, or sensory‑consumer research;
• academic writing and publication in peer‑reviewed journals;
• collaboration in interdisciplinary and international research environments.

Experience with software such as R, Python, SPSS, Stata, Sawtooth, Qualtrics or similar tools will be considered an advantage.

The successful candidate should have strong analytical skills, good communication skills, the ability to work independently, and the ability to collaborate with researchers and partners from different disciplinary backgrounds. Excellent written and spoken English is required.

Who we are

The Department of Management is part of Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University – a top 100 university. Aarhus 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.

You can read more about the Department of Management at: http://mgmt.au.dk.

Further information

For further information about the position and the department, please contact Head of Department/project facilitator Associate Professor, Marija Banovic, Tel.: [phone], Email: [e-mail]

International applicant? Find information about entering and working in Denmark here.

Place of work

Aarhus BSS

Department of Management

Universitetsbyen 61

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/

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here: http://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/

Terms of employment

Salary and terms of employment are governed by the Cirkulære om overenskomst for akademikere i staten (in Danish). You will be employed as Post doc at base pay level 4–8 with additional supplements in accordance with the Cirkulære om protokollat om visse ansættelsesvilkår for videnskabeligt personale ved universiteter (in Danish).

The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The evaluation process

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

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/