Research Centres
Choice Research Centre (CRC)
Choice Research Centre (CRC)
About us
The Choice Research Centre (CRC) advances behavioural and economic knowledge to create positive social impact. It investigates human behaviour by combining theoretical and empirical approaches, using methods such as laboratory experiments and randomised controlled trials to design scalable interventions. Drawing on in-house expertise, CRC delivers both fundamental and applied research that deepens our understanding of human behaviour and translates it into real-world solutions.
The Choice Research Centre also promotes research-inspired education. A core part of its mission is to support the development of early-stage researchers through doctoral supervision and mentoring. The Centre is committed to producing world-leading, interdisciplinary research in behavioural and economic sciences, with the goal of driving innovation and meaningful change—particularly for the benefit of future generations and society at large.
The CRC also hosts the LExEcon (Leicester Experimental Economics) Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility that supports behavioural research and teaching. The lab enables high-quality experimental work and serves as a platform for student engagement and methodological innovation. See LExEcon Laboratory for further details.
Management group members
Professor Fabio Tufano (Director)
Professor Fabio Tufano is the Director of the Choice Research Centre and a Professor of Applied Microeconomics at the University of Leicester School of Business.
Dr Tingyan Jia (Deputy Director)
Dr Tingyan Jia is the Deputy Director of the Choice Research Centre and a Lecturer at the University of Leicester School of Business.
Dr Agustina Martinez (Seminar organiser)
Dr Agustina Martinez is a Lecturer in Economics at the University of Leicester College of Business and the seminar organiser for the Choice Research Centre.
Dr Mert Gumren (Communications Officer)
Dr Mert Gumren is a Lecturer in Economics at the University of Leicester College of Business and the Communications Officer for the Choice Research Centre.
Dr Kaustav Das (Member)
Dr Kaustav Das is an Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Leicester College of Business and a member of the Choice Research Centre management group.
Dr Deepti Bhatia (Member)
Dr Deepti Bhatia is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Economics at the University of Leicester School of Business and a member of the Choice Research Centre management group.
Chang Yu (Member)
Chang Yu is a PhD student in Economics and a member of the Choice Research Centre management group.
Dr Paul Schaefer (Member)
Dr. Paul Schaefer is a Lecturer in Economics at the University of Leicester College of Business and a member of the Choice Research Centre management group.
Rehana Issa (Member)
Rehana Issa is a School Administrator and a member of the Choice Research Centre management group.
LExEcon (Leicester Experimental Economics) Laboratory
LExEcon is dedicated to applying experimental methods to economics and business research. Embedded within the School of Business, the laboratory serves as both a valuable research resource for academic staff and a platform for enriching the student experience.
The laboratory is supported by a dedicated laboratory manager who oversees all aspects of its operation, including session coordination, software development, and technical management.
The School is actively recruiting participants for upcoming experiments. Participants are compensated for their time and effort with payments made via PayPal. You can register online to take part.
Laboratory Manager: Dr Deepti Bhatia
PhD supervision topics
CRC members are happy to supervise PhD students in a number of areas in behavioural and economic sciences including (but not limited to):
- Auctions and market behaviour
- Behavioural game theory
- Development and evaluation of health interventions
- Diversity
- Education
- Labour and Economics of Organisations
- Experimental Economics
- Hate crime and extremism
- Identity Economics
- Inequality
- Individual decision-making
- Public goods and redistribution
- Political economy
- Police decision-making and crime analysis
- Risky choice
- Social networks
- Social norms and similarity judgements
- Salience and attention