1 PhD Student position on Consumer understanding in relation to waste generation, handling, reuse and by-product valorisation in Netherlands | Wageningen UR

The WASTE2 Refresh program aims to contribute towards reducing food waste across the EU, by exploring and explaining the factors influencing food waste, and supporting effective and targeted interventions. The overall program answers to the current need to develop a better understanding of business and consumer behavior in relation to waste generation, handling, and re-use. The REFRESH consortium, together with its supporting partners, represents a unique European partnership with leading universities, research institutes, private businesses, governments, civil society and other actors and stakeholders. The program entails different projects, and is subsidised by the EU. We are looking for a PhD student for the project on consumer behavior in relation to food waste.

The recognition that consumers contribute significantly to overall food waste has only recently started to generate research into consumer perceptions, motivations, and practices that contribute to food waste. Food waste can result from behaviour at different stages of the consumption life cycle: during planning, shopping, storage, preparation, and consumption. Yet, detailed understanding of how drivers of food waste relate to these stages is lacking. This PhD project will focus on (1) structuring existing knowledge and insights on the drivers of food waste at the consumer level, (2) empirically investigating the types of food waste and underlying reasons for its generation using qualitative research techniques, (3) validating the resulting conceptual model using quantitative techniques in a survey across European regions, and (4) testing potential intervention strategies to reduce consumer food waste in experiments. The PhD thesis will consist of a number of high quality publications in renowned international scientific journals in the fields of consumer behaviour and/or nutrition. The candidate will work from the Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group of Wageningen University.

Requirements

A highly motivated candidate for the project on 'Consumer understanding in relation to waste generation, handling, reuse and by-product valorisation'. We seek for a candidate with a MSc in (social) psychology, marketing / consumer behaviour, or a related field. The candidate should be able to connect theoretical rigor with practical application, and be motivated to work within a broader multidisciplinary team. Excellent communication skills in English are expected.

Supervision of the project will be managed by Dr Erica van Herpen and Prof Dr Hans van Trijp, both from the Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group.

Conditions of employment

A full-time appointment (1.0 fte, 38 hours/week) for a period of 18 months with extension of 30 months. Salary ranges from € 2125,- (gross) in the first year to € 2717,-(gross) in the fourth year based on full-time employment.

Organisation

Wageningen University & Research centre

Delivering a substantial contribution to the quality of life. That's our focus - each and every day. Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society - such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, we don't do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on 'the quality of life', turning ideas into reality, on a global scale. Could you be one of these people? We give you the space you need.