PhD Position in Economics and Management: Private Label Foods, Consumer Decision-Making, Sustainable Consumption, and Food Waste Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra in Slovakia

The Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra is offering a PhD position in Economics and Management, focusing on the topic of private label foods and the Slovak consumer. The research will explore decision-making processes, sustainable consumption, and food waste, with an emphasis on behavioral mechanisms such as habits, emotional preferences, social norms, and heuristics. The position is based at the Institute of Marketing, Trade and Social Studies, and the study programme is Agrarian Trade and Marketing.

Private label foods are increasingly important in Slovakia, especially given rising prices and a growing interest in sustainability. Consumers perceive these products differently from traditional brands, considering factors such as price, quality, safety, credibility, and image. The dissertation aims to examine how private label foods impact sustainable consumption and both rational and irrational consumer decision-making, including post-purchase behavior and food waste.

The empirical research will involve a questionnaire survey and experimental scenarios comparing private and traditional brands across various combinations of price, sustainability labeling, package size, and visual presentation. Data will be analyzed using multivariate statistical methods, consumer segmentation, regression, and choice models to identify determinants of private label acceptance and their relationship to sustainable consumption and waste. The expected outcome is a model describing the relationships between perception of private labels, decision-making determinants, and behaviors related to sustainability and food waste.

Financial coverage for this position is provided through APVV, Visegrad Fund, and VEGA, supporting tuition and research activities. The dissertation can be written in Slovak or English, and both full-time and part-time study options are available. Applicants should have a background in Economics or a related field, proficiency in English or Slovak, and ideally experience with statistical analysis, consumer research, or marketing.

For more information about the doctoral study, visit the doctoral study information page or the Slovak page. The application portal is available at this link. The supervisor for this position is doc. Ing. Ingrida Košičiarová, PhD. For research-related questions, contact [email protected]. Administrative queries can be directed to [email protected].

The application deadline is 31 May 2026, and the position starts on 1 September 2026. The university is located in Nitra, Slovakia, at Trieda Andreja Hlinku 2. This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in consumer behavior, sustainable consumption, and advanced quantitative research methods in economics and marketing.