44230 - Summer Student Future Urban Consumer - Plant & Food Research

Updated: over 2 years ago
Deadline: 17 Sep 2021

Description:

Plant & Food Research (PFR) is a New Zealand science company delivering research and development designed to grow competitive advantage for clients in the horticulture, wine, cropping, seafood and associated high value food sectors worldwide.

Our summer studentship programme creates a special "career experience" for high calibre candidates. Our unique programme includes a full induction training day, a career planning session identifying potential pathways, a specific project - designed for you, as well as a final farewell and awards function.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Masters level student from a social science/consumer research discipline to join our Future Urban Consumer research team for the summer.  This programme is in its third year of activity and continues to build understanding of stakeholder and consumer perceptions and attitudes to emerging food production and processing technologies.

X-ray will replace methyl bromide in the near future as a phytosanitary agent for fresh fruit and vegetables entering/leaving New Zealand.  X-ray technology has potential as a tool beyond biosecurity within food production and processing. 

This summer studentship presents an opportunity to contribute to a discrete piece of this large research programme - a systematic literature review, to provide an overview of X-ray technology as it is currently in use and/or under investigation for use in food production and processing (such as shelf-life extension, food safety measures, etc.). This knowledge will form the basis of subsequent stakeholder and consumer research to gauge attitudes and perceptions to the technology when used for these purposes.

The team is taking an interpretivist approach using qualitative research methods, so there will be the opportunity to work closely with researchers skilled in this approach, and to develop your own qualitative research abilities and talents. 

The outputs of this studentship will be a written report as well as oral presentation of the results via video-conferencing or live meetings.

Duties

  • Systematic literature review
  • Compilation of Endnote bibliography
  • Report and presentation summarising extant literature
  • Supporting ongoing research activities within the team
  • Oral presentations of research findings via video-conferencing or live meetings

Criteria for the Position

  • A Masters student in asocial science/consumer research discipline eg. psychology, sociology, marketing, etc.
  • You should have a strong interest in consumer research (i.e. people) and be able to provide evidence of your capability in this area.
  • You should be self-motivated and thorough, with a focus on results.
  • You should demonstrate excellent interpersonal and writing skills. Be able to work independently as well as part of the team.
  • Be a confident public speaker.

List any Pre-requisites/Criteria: currently enrolled, or recently completed, social science/consumer research discipline at Masters level.



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