PhD position in behavioral sciences – Food neophobia in seafood consumption

Do you have a degree in behavioral sciences, social sciences or business administration and want to develop in the areas of seafood consumption, food neophobia and consumer attitudes?

The new strategic initiative BLUE FOOD, center for future seafood, announces a doctoral position with placement at RISE, Bioeconomy and Health, in the unit of Perception and Design.

Blue food has brought together leading universities, institutes, innovation actors, regions, municipalities, organizations and more than forty companies from all over the country under the common vision to make Sweden a leading producer of attractive and sustainable seafood. As an important part of this transdisciplinary research we are now looking for a doctoral student in “Obstacles and fear – food neophobia in seafood consumption”. The PhD student will be part of the young researcher program of the Blue food center and have a supervisor committee from several of the academic partners and one external partner.

About the position
The overall objective of this research area is to obtain knowledge in how to increase the consumption of seafood. This includes understanding consumer preferences and attitudes towards seafood, including underexploited seafood, seaweed and current byproducts of otherwise consumed species. This further requires a development of our understanding of why consumption is limited to small number of species as well as consumer preferences in relation to food preparation practice. The PhD studies comprise of four years of studies, containing three years of thesis work and one year of academic education (i.e., course work and literature studies).

In your daily work you will be part of the unit Perception and Design where we work with perception measurements and consumer behavior on both food products as well as other types of materials. We are based in both Stockholm and Gothenburg and work in a multidisciplinary environment collaborating with researchers from different fields to achieve a complete understanding of the factors influencing perception and behavior.

Overall aim
To increase the understanding of consumers’ preferences and attitudes for different kinds of seafood, mainly targeting underutilized species and side streams for new products. The approach will be transdisciplinary to achieve a holistic understanding of obstacles hindering a higher seafood consumption.

PhD-project scope
Specific goals of this PhD-project are to investigate:
- Obstacles against eating more seafood in Sweden using meta-analysis.
- Food neophobia in eating different types of food, targeting whether there are unique/specific fears surrounding seafood.
- Attitudes and preferences in new species and seafood products, influenced by e.g., sensory characteristics and sustainability aspects
- Sensory communication targeting the consumer experience in e.g. supermarkets, restaurants and schools.

Who are you?
We are searching for a PhD student interested in working in a highly multi/trans-disciplinary area combining marketing, sensory science, behavioral science. You have a degree on an advanced level and have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle in relevant subject area. Relevant subject areas could be e.g. psychology or business administration.

Furthermore, we are looking for a motivated, independent and responsible person that are interested in seafood and seafood consumption. Excellent communication skills in English are a requirement.

Rules regarding education and employment on a doctoral level you will find in Higher Education Ordinance (HF, SFS 1993:100). Only applicants who are admitted to the postgraduate level may be hired. Upon appointment the degree of ability to successfully complete the PhD program must firstly be evaluated.

In your application, please include:
1. Cover letter including justification for the application, i.e., that describes how you as an applicant meets the selection criteria
2. CV
3. An outline of the research that you are interested in (max. five pages)
4. Certified copies of degree certificates and certificates of enrolment in completed university courses including grades, to substantiate fulfilment of entry requirements
5. Copy of a degree thesis or corresponding work and potential other scientific papers
6. Employment certificates and other documents deemed important by the applicant

Please ensure that any documents not issued in English, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish are translated into Swedish or English by a certified translator.

Are we right for each other?
We cannot promise you an easy task, but we can promise you dedicated colleagues and some truly engaging societal challenges to tackle. You will get to work in a dynamic environment offering professional and personal development opportunities. At RISE, we want you to succeed and feel good, because together with your colleagues you contribute to a sustainable future and to securing a leading position for Swedish industry and research globally. RISE can give you the chance to make a real difference. Welcome to Sweden’s Research Institute and Innovation Partner.

Welcome with your application!
Would you like to learn more? Please feel free to get in touch with Penny Bergman, Director Perception and Design, 010-516 57 40.

The closing date for applications is 30 April 2021. Interviews will be conducted throughout the application period. Our trade union representatives are:  Elisabeth Brännvall, Sveriges Ingenjörer, 010-228 45 47 and Anna Jensen, Unionen, 010-228 45 58. Calls from external recruitment companies and sales persons are kindly declined as we rule under the Public Procurement Act.

PhD position, seafood, behavior, marketing, consumption