The Bucharest University of Economic Studies invites applications for a part-time Postdoctoral Researcher position within the aiTrust project, titled "A Study of Consumer Trust in Online Reviews and Social Media Comments in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." The project, led by Principal Investigator Maria Petrescu, aims to investigate how consumers perceive and interpret information from online reviews and social media comments, especially as artificial intelligence increasingly generates such content. The research will explore the impact of AI-based tools on consumer trust, purchasing decisions, and behavior, using a multi-method and multi-stakeholder approach to develop a comprehensive framework for online trust and its connection to AI-generated content.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will engage with advanced topics including artificial intelligence, sentiment analysis, social networking analysis, marketing and management strategy, public policy, marketing data modeling, and consumer behavior. The role offers opportunities to present research findings at international conferences and collaborate intensively within a committed team. Flexible working hours and a dynamic group environment are provided.

The position is part-time (80 hours/month), with a gross hourly salary of 80 lei, and is funded until June 30, 2026. Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent in economics, business mathematics, business informatics, marketing, or management. Essential skills include solid knowledge of statistics and data analysis, marketing, strategy, consumer behavior, market research, modeling of economic phenomena, probabilistic reasoning in artificial intelligence, and the study of online social media user behavior. Experience with IBM SPSS, R, USINet, and eViews is required, along with scientific publications in digital economy, digitization, social media studies, public policy, or crisis effects on digitization. Advanced English proficiency and strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills with international and multidisciplinary teams are necessary.

Specific responsibilities include collaborating with the project team to carry out research activities, creating algorithms and statistical methods, disseminating partial and final results, and supporting the achievement of project objectives. The application deadline is March 16, 2026. For further information or questions, contact Prof. Mihai Orzan at [email protected]. Additional details and the application process can be found on the project website.

This opportunity is ideal for researchers interested in the intersection of economics, marketing, artificial intelligence, and digital consumer behavior, offering a chance to contribute to cutting-edge research and policy recommendations in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.