Aarhus BSS Graduate School, Aarhus University invites applicants for a PhD Scholarship within ITN Marie Curie Project EATFISH: European Aquaculture Training for improving Seafood Husbandry at the PhD Programme Management.

The position is available from 1 September 2021 (or as soon as possible thereafter).

• Organization/Company: Aarhus University
• Application Deadline:  04/02/2021
• Workplace: Aarhus – Denmark
• Water JPI SRIA Themes: Sustainable Water Management

The research project

In this PhD project, the candidate will study how qualities and benefits of aquaculture products are perceived in different consumer segments, how this may influence market opportunities and also develop and test responses of different communication strategies to market and society.

Based on analysis of consumer perceptions and preferences, a cross-cultural segmentation study has to be conducted and form the basis for determining market opportunities, with a particular focus on aquaculture products (based on lower tropic levels, such as marine plants and marine invertebrates). With point of departure based on attractiveness of consumer (food-related life-style) segments, new and targeted communication strategies should be tested to examine how consumers perceive messages, and how new aquaculture products are perceived, accepted and may provide market opportunities. This should be done via surveys as well as experimental set-ups such as for example conjoint analysis and testing of reactions to different stimuli.

The PhD position

We are looking for motivated candidates who can work independently as well as be a part of an international team. The work place will be at the MAPP Centre, Aarhus University in Denmark. Please see more about the centre here.

The candidate will be required/expected to spend a 6-month period abroad, currently planned in Ireland at the Bantry Marine Research Station, in Belgium at ABS-International and/or in the Netherlands at Wageningen University.

The successful candidate is expected to work towards a PhD degree, with a view to completing a doctorate within the contract period. The candidate will be enrolled at the PhD programme at the Department of Management, Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University and must meet the conditions defined for admission to the school. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a Danish master’s degree level, with a documented strong academic background, and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.

Qualifications:

• MSc or equivalent within a relevant scientific area (e.g. Marketing, Psychology, Media, Communication)

• Languages: Excellent working knowledge (written and oral) of English.

• Competence in data analysis tools applied to consumer sciences.

Personal characteristics important for the position are:

• Strong collaborative skills

• Independent and analytic

• Results-oriented and with a strong motivation for the project

• Availability and willingness to travel and work in different places in the world

Mobility requirements for eligibility

The candidates can be of any nationality; however, ITN programs require undertaking transnational mobility when taking up their appointment. The eligibility is determined by the date of recruitment: at the time of appointment, candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment.