Dr Carmen Mal

Professional biography

Carmen joined the Open University Business School in November 2017 as a Lecturer in Marketing. She received a Bachelor degree in Business Management from University of Oradea, Romania (2002), a MSc in Global Business Analysis (2013) and a PhD in Business Management (2018) from Alliance Manchester Business School, the University of Manchester, UK. Carmen was awarded a Merit Scholarship during her undergraduate degree (by University of Oradea, Romania), a  Specialist Masters Scholarship and the competitive Manchester Business School Doctoral Studenship for pursuing her masters and doctoral studies (both awarded by Alliance Manchester Business School, UK). Before pursuing her PhD she  worked for 11 years in the private sector, mainly in the retail sector. 

Research interests

Carmen's research interests are broadly in the areas of individual consumer and societal wellbeing, currently with a specific focus on stigma related issues and inclusion. Carmen is an ad hoc reviewer for Journal of Consumer Behaviour, Psychology&Marketing, Journal of Marketing Management and Journal of Product&Brand Management; additionally, she has previously reviewed for the Association of Consumer Research Conference and Academy of Marketing - Global Brand Conference. 

Teaching interests

At the Open University Business School, she is currently contributing to the production of B323 'Brands, branding, and society' and is leading the production of B212 'Consumers in interconnected societies'. Previously, she has contributed to the production of B206 ‘Understanding customers’ and B126 'Business data analytics and decision making'. She also chaired  the presentation of  B206 ‘Understanding customers’  and  the presentation of  BXM191 'Business and finance fundamentals in practice'. She was the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion champion for  B206 ‘Understanding customers’.  Carmen has tutored at residential schools for MBA students (B870 'Managing in a changing world' and B716 'Management: perspectives and practice'). She has also been the director of some of these schools. Carmen is Senior Fellow HEA.

Carmen has supervised PhD students to successful completion and is currently supervising PhD students in the area of green demarketing. Carmen is available to supervise PhD students with research interests compatible with hers.

External collaborations

Carmen is currently collaborating with researchers from UK, Canada and France on research projects related to consumer identity  and brand activism.