Sonja Perkovic wins prestigious Tietgen Award
Sonja Perković (PhD, 2017) has been awarded the prestigious Tietgen Award, one of Denmark’s highest honours for early-career researchers in the social sciences and humanities.
The Tietgen Award recognises outstanding researchers who have demonstrated exceptional academic quality, meaningful societal impact, and strong collaboration with industry and public institutions. As part of the award, Sonja receives a gold medal and a 500,000 DKK research grant (approximately £58,000) to support the next phase of her work.
Sonja has been recognised for her influential research on how people make decisions, and for applying insights from behavioural science to improve consumer protection and public health. Her work sheds light on how individuals navigate increasingly complex digital environments and how evidence-based interventions can create safer, fairer outcomes for consumers.
She plans to use the research grant to launch a new programme exploring how digital platform design guides visual attention and shapes consumer decision-making. The project aims to produce evidence that can strengthen consumer protection policy while supporting fair competition in digital markets.
Reflecting on receiving the award, Sonja said:
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Tietgen Prize. As researchers, we often face uncertainty about whether our work truly makes a difference, so this recognition means a great deal to me. It motivates me to continue pursuing research that not only advances theory but also has real value for society.”
Sonja also credited her time at Leeds University Business School as a key foundation for her career:
“My PhD training at the Business School laid the foundation for everything I do today. It gave me the methodological rigour, interdisciplinary perspective, and academic confidence that continue to guide my research. The mentorship I received at the Business School encouraged me to pursue questions with real-world impact, and that remains central to my work.”
Award recipients such as Sonja exemplify the global impact of Leeds University Business School alumni who draw on their university experience to drive meaningful change in their fields and communities.
Photo credit: Signe Koch
