09.05.2025
Are you passionate about scientifically sound research? Do you have the ambition to obtain your PhD on the hot topic of AI driven customer experience and support?
If you have the right academic background and are ready to start a 4-year journey in our open, international and collegial environment, apply for this post.
The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University is looking for enthusiastic PhD researchers to join our team.
Inspirational position under the ConsuWAIS "Consumers Wanted AI Support" project, award winning by VIHREN 2024 programme of BNSF.
| 1. | Position in the team | Researcher R1 (project PhD student) on an employment contract within the ConsuWAIS Project |
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2.
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Your function
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• Conducting cutting-edge research in the fields of artificial intelligence and consumer behavior. • Designing, developing, and evaluating artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques and algorithms related to consumer behavior and manipulative online practices. • Identifying gaps and proposing appropriate scientific solutions. • Applying and evaluating generative AI technology to enhance the customer experience. |
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3.
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Education required
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Master’s degree in:
The diploma must be recognized by Sofia University if the awarding institution is not Bulgarian. |
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Expertise required
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• Expertise in one or more of the following research areas: behavior change technology, consumer influence, data science, artificial intelligence, computational modeling, reasoning and knowledge representation, digital communications, UX. • Programming in Python, R, SQL; experience with tools such as Google Analytics, AWS, Looker, Tableau, or similar is a plus — or a willingness to learn. • Excellent command of both English and Bulgarian. • Publications in the field are a plus. |
The CONTEXT
The current project ConsuWAIS aims to provide the much-needed understanding on how to protect consumers from manipulative marketing practices, and thus offering wanted AI support.
In particular, we focus on how to:
- enhance the information exchange capacity;
- navigate well informed consumers’ choice along AI interaction, and thus,
- preclude the abuse of user-generated content.
A holistic framework will be developed encompassing key factors driving the efficiency of information exchange when it comes to Human-AI interaction. Based on profound literature audit, empirical work and analysis of deceptive online practices that can be harmful to humans, countermeasures will be sought. User centred adviser- ConsuWAISer will be developed, to offer consumers smart advice and experience, without sacrificing ethics and explainability of the AI system in use.
You will be part of a team along with another PhD and a Postdoc, reporting to PI.
Please indicate which topic you are applying for:
Topic 1: AI driven customer experience
Your task: To study the leading persuasion strategies, nudge techniques applied by AI to make a purchase decision, and how consumers react to such (manipulative) marketing practices.
Topic 2: AI-driven customer support
Your task: To explore how AI as a recommender system can help navigate well-informed choices that are not only profitable for the company, but can help customers to build digital self-defence, in deliberate choice and action while shopping online.
What do we offer?
Inspirational position under the ConsuWAIS project, VIHREN 2024 programme by BNSF. You will work at the faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University.
- A starting salary of BGN 2300 (gross per month on a full-time basis) with possibility to increase, subject to positive performance evaluation.
- A position for 1 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 12 months, with the possibility of extension, upon a positive assessment by the PhD minimum and the implementation of the project.
Working at FEBA
The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University "St. St. Kliment Ohridski” is a leading institution in the country and the Balkan region for training and research in the field of economics and management. FEBA ranks first in the national rating in the field 3.8 Economics.
The training programs at FEBA are highly interdisciplinary, combining economics, financial, managerial and legal disciplines and the so-called STEM disciplines - applied mathematics, statistics, computer and information technologies. The balanced teaching of classical and contemporary theoretical and empirical models and concepts develops practice-oriented skills based on solid theoretical knowledge and prepares students for effective decision-making through the use of modern methods and tools, including working with real data and applied data of modern analytical software applications.
We are continuously working towards being a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive place to work, learn and improve. We are a team of enthusiastic, driven colleagues, passionate about learning and development. We encourage autonomy and responsibility in an engaging work environment. Having a positive mindset and collegial atmosphere, we are genuinely interested in sharing experience and opinions. Your knowledge, experience and ideas are very much appreciated. You will have the opportunity for professional and personal growth. You will get support by experts in the academic and business fields. You are inspired to participate in academic courses and conferences to enlarge your knowledge and to master skills. Staying on top of leading technology trends, you could further develop in the field of interest and to accelerate your career.
If you meet the job criteria, please apply with the necessary documents:
- Application
- Motivation letter (in English, 1 page max)
- Written short concept for the doctoral thesis (in English, 2 pages max, literature does not count towards page limit)
- CV
- Diploma of higher education (The diploma must be recognised by Sofia University, in case the awarding institution is not Bulgarian)
- Contact details of two referees (for recommendations)
- In case they are available: Other diplomas, certificates and acquired qualifications, Diploma for a scientific degree
- Results of language exams/certificates
For details on procedure, see the page in Bulgarian language
Contact:
Dr. Svetlana Bialkova, PI of the ConsuWAIS project, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (sbialkova@feb.uni-sofia.bg)
Documents must be submitted by 16:59 EET, 09.09.2025 electronically to sbialkova@feb.uni-sofia.bg