Postdoctoral in CIRCULARIS: Consumer Engagement and Behavioural Change in Food Services

The Department of Management at Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, invites applications for a 30-month postdoctoral position in the Horizon Europe-funded project “CIRCULARIS”. We are looking for someone to join our team of consumer behaviour scientists who can bring knowledge of and experience with consumer research, survey methodology, and behavioural change in the context of the circular economy.

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 the 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 research project

CIRCULARIS – Circularity Indicators and Resource Circularity for Food Services – is a Horizon Europe project (Grant Agreement No. 101292246, Call HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-06) running for 36 months from June 2026. The project is coordinated by the University of Piraeus Research Centre (UPRC, Greece) and brings together 10 partner organisations across 5 countries, including Aarhus University (Denmark), the University of Oslo (Norway), the Cyprus University of Technology, and partners in Italy, Cyprus and Switzerland.

CIRCULARIS develops a harmonised circular economy (CE) indicator framework for food services and tests it through pilots with restaurants, hotels and retailers in Greece, Italy and Cyprus. The project combines indicator development, digital and AI-enabled monitoring (including Digital Product Passports), CE governance and certification, and consumer engagement to accelerate the sector's transition to circularity.

Aarhus University is lead beneficiary for two work packages dedicated to consumer engagement and behavioural activation. Together, these work packages aim to transform consumers from passive observers into active participants in circular economy practices in food services – through evidence on barriers and motivators, co-designed digital engagement tools, citizen science, and a rigorous evaluation of engagement pathways. The AU team is led by Professor Polymeros (Pol) Chrysochou.

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher with a passion for consumer research and sustainability to contribute to AU's work package on consumer engagement, as outlined above, and to help translate the findings into publishable research results as well as actionable insights for the project's partners and pilot sites.

Candidates may come from marketing, consumer behaviour, psychology, behavioural economics, environmental psychology, or another relevant discipline within the social sciences.

We envision that you have experience designing and analysing quantitative, cross-cultural survey research, together with a good understanding of behaviour change theory (e.g. COM-B, the Theory of Planned Behaviour, or the Value-Belief-Norm model) as applied to sustainability or circular economy contexts. Experience with citizen science, co-creation, or other participatory research methods is welcome but not required.

Experience with food consumption, sustainability, or circular economy research is an advantage but not a requirement. Note that you do not need to be able to speak Danish, and short periods of travel to the project's pilot countries (Greece, Italy, Cyprus) should be expected.

Key Responsibilities

We expect you to be part of:

• Conducting a systematic literature review and a cross-country quantitative survey across Greece, Italy and Cyprus to identify the psychological, cultural and situational determinants of circular economy behaviour in food services.
• Contributing to citizen science and co-creation workshops with citizens and businesses across the three pilot sites, feeding into the design and refinement of digital consumer engagement tools.
• Contributing to community-based rating systems and continuous feedback loops through which citizens evaluate food providers' sustainability performance.
• Leading the evaluation of consumer engagement pathways using the COM-B model and Behaviour Change Wheel across three phases – baseline measurement, pre/post pilot assessment, and longitudinal tracking.
• Collaborating with technical partners (e.g. on digital tool design) and pilot coordinators to translate empirical findings into engagement strategies and pilot protocols.
• Communicating findings through reports, presentations and stakeholder workshops, and participating in project and consortium meetings.
• Producing high-quality research for publication in leading international peer-reviewed journals and presenting at international conferences.

Qualifications

• You need to have a PhD in marketing, consumer behaviour, psychology, behavioural economics, environmental psychology, or another relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience designing, fielding and analysing quantitative survey research, ideally across multiple countries or cultural contexts.
• Familiarity with behaviour change frameworks (e.g. COM-B, Behaviour Change Wheel, Theory of Planned Behaviour, Value-Belief-Norm) is preferred.
• Experience with citizen science, co-creation, or other participatory/qualitative research methods is an advantage.
• Strong quantitative and statistical analysis skills (e.g. SPSS, R, or similar).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, and the ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary, international consortium.

What we offer

• A 30-month postdoctoral position in an excellent research and work environment, connected to the MAPP research centre.
• An earmarked budget for postdoctoral training, travel, and conference participation.
• Close collaboration with an international consortium of 10 partner organisations across 5 countries.
• The opportunity to work on a high-impact, societally relevant research project connecting consumer behaviour research with circular economy policy and practice.
• Fieldwork and collaboration opportunities in the project's pilot countries – Greece, Italy and Cyprus.
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and computing resources.

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 and 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.

Further information

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/ .

All applications must be made online and received by 30 September 2026.

Further particulars on the position may be obtained from Professor Polymeros (Pol) Chrysochou, polyc@mgmt.au.dk

If you need help uploading your application or have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR-Coordinator Maria Løvgaard Bodin, Tel.: +45 8715 3445, Email: mgb@au.dk

Place of work

Aarhus BSS

Department of Management

Universitetsbyen 61

8000 Aarhus C

Denmark

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.

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.

Application procedure

When you apply for this position it is mandatory to attach the following:

• Application
• Curriculum Vitae. You are encouraged to declare any periods of leave without research activity, including, for example, maternity leave, since your research activities are assessed in relation to your actual research time
• Education (diploma for master's, PhD and possibly higher doctoral degree)
• List of publications (the enclosed publications must be clearly marked on the list of publications)
• Publications. Up to three publications can be included in the application. In the event of several authors the publications must be accompanied by a co-author statement concerning the applicant's share of the collaborative work with the consent of the co-authors. This template may be used for the purpose
• Teaching portfolio. The specific requirements regarding the documentation can be found here

Materials which cannot be uploaded together with the application may be submitted in three copies to Aarhus BSS HR & PhD, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 16, DK-8000 Aarhus C.

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.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

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/