Postdoctoral Position in Management: Food Waste Reduction in Tourism and Hospitality (Prof. Maurer, Oswin)

The Free University of Bozen - Bolzano invites applications for a postdoctoral position in Management, focusing on food waste reduction in the tourism and hospitality sector. Supervised by Professor Oswin Maurer, this research project adopts a multi-method, multi-channel, and multi-stakeholder approach to address sustainability challenges related to food waste. The project aims to develop and implement common food waste evaluation metrics, identify impactful solutions for waste reduction at both consumer and business levels, and propose evidence-based pathways for sustainable change. The research activity is structured around a comprehensive three-pillar and two-layer framework. Pillar 1 investigates neurocognitive processes and qualitative data to examine cognitive biases towards food waste. Pillar 2 utilizes quantitative analytics and artificial intelligence to measure actual behavior and assess interventions. Pillar 3 involves field experiments, combining mixed data to validate findings. The two-layer approach distinguishes between demand-side (consumer) and supply-side (business) strategies, including food procurement and inventory management to evaluate the impact across the entire supply chain. This position is ideal for candidates with expertise in management, hospitality, business, psychology, or statistics, and a strong interest in sustainability and interdisciplinary research. Applicants should be comfortable with mixed-methods research, analytics, and neurocognitive or AI-based assessment techniques. The university provides a vibrant academic environment and opportunities for collaboration across disciplines. The application deadline is 09 April 2026 at 12:00 PM (noon). Candidates must submit their applications and publications online, ensuring compliance with the call criteria and recognized language certificate requirements. For further information, consult the university's website and the official call documentation.