Job - PhD position on Service Logistics

The PhD position focuses in particular on the last buy and reuse of parts for advanced capital goods, as part of the larger project Proactive Service Logistics of Advanced Capital Goods (ProSeLo). This project is sponsored by the Dutch Institute for Advanced Logistics, Dinalog (www.dinalog.nl). As a PhD student, you will collaborate closely with industry, being IBM and Océ technologies (the leading companies in our work package) and Vanderlande Industries. The ProSeLo project as a whole is a collaboration of 10 leading companies in services logistics, as well as three universities. You will develop quantitative models to support decisions regarding the last buy of spare parts for upkeep of advanced capital goods throughout the remaining life cycle when regular manufacturing is discontinued, taking into account alternative sourcing of spare parts. Alternative sources may be (i) failed parts that are returned from the field that can be repaired, and (ii) parts obtained from complete systems that are returned from the field and dismantled (“asset recovery”). Therefore, you also need to develop forecasting methods for the timing and quantity of part usage as well as the supply of parts from alternative sources.

As a PhD candidate you have at least a master’s degree in a relevant field, such as applied mathematics, industrial engineering, or econometrics. A background in stochastic operations research is an advantage. You are able to work both independently as well as in a project team, and you have good communicative skills. You are fluent in English.

We offer a very challenging position in an inspiring environment. As a PhD candidate you will be appointed in a full-time position for a period of four years (38 hours a week), leading to a dissertation and some papers in scientific journals, the latter written in close collaboration with academic and industrial colleagues. The gross monthly salary for a PhD increases from € 2042,- in the first year to € 2612 in the final year (in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). In addition, the University of Twente offers additional attractive employment conditions. We provide a PhD educational programme within the research school BETA (a collaboration between University of Twente and Eindhoven University of Technology).

The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which drives change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university in the Netherlands; divided over six faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. The University of Twente has a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out pioneering research.

The School of Management and Governance (SMG) strives to hold a leading position in the field of business and social sciences and to do joint education and research with the technical schools of the University of Twente. The school focuses on management, governance, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship. In all these fields, the school provides bachelor, master and professional development programmes. In addition, scientific and applied research is carried out in various branches, such as health care, higher education, banking, and services business. Research is accommodated within the university research institutes: The Institute for Innovation and Governance Studies (IGS), and the Centre for Telematics and Information Technology (CTIT). The school has approximately 350 staff and 2,200 students.

 The department Operational Methods for Production and Logistics (OMPL) is part of the School of Management and Governance within the University of Twente. The department currently employs 15 researchers, including PhD students. The group holds a strong record on research in the field of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, research that is characterized by the use and development of quantitative methods, especially from Operations Research. Focal areas include manufacturing and maintenance management, supply chain management and service logistics, transport and distribution, health care logistics and purchasing management. Within the University of Twente, OMPL is responsible for the track on Production and Logistics Management within the master Industrial Engineering and Management.