Aulona Ulqinaku

Aulona is a Lecturer (i.e., Assistant Professor) of Marketing at Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds. Her research interests cover the effect of psychological threats (such as low self-esteem, social exclusion, fear of death, nihilism, etc.) on individuals and their consumption preferences and choices. In line with this research stream, Aulona has focused on how consumption of specific types of brands or reminder of specific people (e.g., heroes) can help individuals overcome the damaging effects of psychological threats on their behavior. Moreover, Aulona does research on the effects of restrictions (such as financial constraints, physical restrictions, or dietary restrictions) on self-control, risk-taking behavior, and consumption preferences. A topic that interests Aulona a lot is that of heroes and antiheroes and why/how they affect individuals behavior and temporal perceptions.

Aulona's research has been published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, Journal of Advertising, British Journal of Social Psychology, Annals of Tourism Research and has received the Park Best Paper in Journal of Consumer Psychology award. Her work has been presented at leading academic conferences and doctoral colloquiums such as the Association for Consumer Research and European Marketing Academy.

Aulona did her PhD in Business Administration and Management (major in Marketing and minor in Organization) in Bocconi University in Milan. She also holds a MSc in Marketing Management and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Management from Bocconi University.