[£20,780 per annum stipend.]

The University of Bristol Business School, in collaboration with CARMA—the EPSRC-funded Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub—invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship focused on consumer psychology and cellular agriculture. This research opportunity is designed for candidates with strong backgrounds in marketing, psychology, neuroscience, neuromarketing, or quantitatively oriented social sciences, and a keen interest in consumer psychology, food innovation, and sustainability transitions.

Supervised by Dr Jasmina Stevanov and Professor Brian Squire, the project aims to identify and quantify the psychological and social factors influencing consumer perceptions and the barriers to adopting cellular agriculture technologies, such as cultured meat. The research will provide insights into attitudinal, affective, and cognitive factors that shape willingness to try and consume cultured meat, and will explore interventions to bridge the gap between consumer intentions and actual consumption.

This studentship is embedded within the wider CARMA project, specifically work package 5, which analyses the societal impact of cellular agriculture and investigates how various groups—including the public, professionals, stakeholders, and policymakers—perceive the technology and its potential futures. The overarching goal is to contribute to robust, evidence-informed discussions about the future of food production.

The doctoral candidate will be expected to master a range of research methods, including online and in-person surveys, behavioural experiments, and advanced psychophysiological techniques such as eye-tracking and biosignal recording (heart rate, skin conductance, and EEG). Prior experience with these methods is advantageous. The University of Bristol Business School supports this research with access to cutting-edge facilities, including the Smart Cinema, Bristol Digital Futures Institute, and MyWorld, which enable the capture of psychological and emotional responses from audiences.

The project will be based at the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, a multidisciplinary research and teaching facility in central Bristol, bringing together expertise in business, digital engineering, computer science, and innovation.

Funding: The studentship provides a stipend of £20,780 per annum.

Eligibility: Applicants must hold a first-class honours degree (or international equivalent) or a strong upper second-class honours (2:1) in Marketing, Psychology, Neuroscience, Behavioural Science, or another quantitatively oriented social science discipline. A relevant master’s degree (completed or in progress) is desirable, but exceptional bachelor-level candidates will also be considered. Experience with surveys, behavioural experiments, and psychophysiological methods is an advantage.

Application Process: The application involves two stages. First, submit a mandatory Expression of Interest (EOI) form outlining your academic background and methodological skills. Only candidates who receive a positive response will be invited to submit a formal application via the University of Bristol’s online portal, selecting 'Management (PhD)' as the programme.

Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 31 March 2026.

For more information and to apply, visit: University of Bristol Postgraduate Application Portal.