PhD Position- Consumer Behaviour in the Context of Reusable Packaging

Your job

Do you want to lead innovative research contributing to consumer uptake of reusable packaging? Are you eager to delve into the intricacies of consumer behavior and contribute to sustainable packaging solutions? Then this may be the perfect opportunity for you!

The Marketing and Consumer Behaviour group at Wageningen University and Research is
looking for a PhD candidate in the area of consumer behaviour change, in the context of reusable packaging. This PhD project is part of the NWO funded project Re2Pack. Reusable packaging systems (RPS) have promising environmental benefits compared to single-use packaging, yet have been subject to less integrated attention in science and society, potentially due to the complexity of the required system change. To address this, the project Re2Pack takes an interdisciplinary approach focused on value chains, consumer behaviour, and packaging design, to introduce sustainable RPS. 

As PhD student you contribute to the development of reusable packaging systems. In collaboration with manufacturers, retailers, and packaging providers, you will investigate the consumer perspective in the PhD project. Your responsibility includes the examination of:

• factors that influence acceptability of RPS;
• behavioural interventions that stimulate a change in consumers’ habits in favour of RPS;
• brand image and product use in RPS.

Combined, this will provide key insights into consumers’ response to RPS and concrete intervention elements that can help promote RPS among consumers. It is expected that you will not only develop research skills and competences for the PhD project but that you will also contribute and learn from actively participating in the Re2Pack project. You will work in an interdisciplinary team, together with PhD candidates who focus on design and value chain.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair group Marketing and Consumer Behaviour (MCB) and part of the Re2Pack project, which is led by dr. Erica van Herpen. You will be co-supervised by dr. Ilona de Hooge (MCB group, WUR) and Lise Magnier (TU Delft).

Your qualities

You have:

• a high interest in marketing/consumer behavior, particularly focusing on behavior change;
• the ability to interact effectively with both academic and diverse stakeholder audiences;
• a scientific ambition in conducting and publishing research work;
• curiosity and motivation to address important real-world problems through rigorous academic inquiry;
• willingness to collaborate with individuals from other scientific disciplines.

You also possess:

• a successfully completed MSc degree with background in consumer behavior (e.g. consumer science, marketing, social psychology, behavioral economics). Other backgrounds will not be considered;
• statistical/ modelling skills and experience with quantitative data collection. Surveys, and (lab and natural) experiments are part of this project.

In addition, it would be nice (but not required) if you have experience in qualitative data collection, as one of the studies involves in-depth interviews.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.770 - per month rising to € 3.539,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.
Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling.

Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Erica van Herpen, by email: erica.vanherpen@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, by email: recruitment.ssg@wur.nl

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

Your application should include:

• a motivation letter explaining your interest in and suitability for the position;
• your curriculum vitae, including the grade for your Master’s thesis and overall grade point average (or equivalent) of your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees; also include the names and contact details of 2 academic referees in your CV (only to be contacted after your approval);
• your Master’s thesis (pdf) or a summary (2 pages maximum) of your latest research

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 13 May 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews in the week of 20 May 2024.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/p8ZS122kgP

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.

We are

Wageningen University & Research
TThe mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!


We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.