We are looking for an ambitious PhD candidate who would like to join a team of researchers within the context of the project "Sustainable Transportation and Logistics over Water: Electrification, Automation and Optimization (TRiLOGy)" funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). In this project, you will investigate how to optimize fleet management decisions both at the strategic level as well as at the operational level with dynamic and stochastic approaches. You will also interact with our industrial partners (Zoev City, Municipality of Amsterdam, Flying Fish and DEMCON Unmanned Systems), with the Amsterdam Institute of Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS) and with MIT researchers working on the AMS Roboat project.

In this project, you will develop mathematical models for (i) strategic level decisions (i.e., fleet sizing, fleet mix and facility location) considering also the behavioral shift towards water transportation, and (ii) operational level decisions, namely routing, with dynamic and stochastic vehicle routing problems together with efficient solution algorithms. The interaction between the two levels will be also studied for an integrated framework. In collaboration with our partners we will develop case studies for both on-demand mobility and logistics solutions. You as the PhD student will apply the models to these case studies and generate insights towards real life applications together with the team. You will be supervised by Assist. Prof. Bilge Atasoy. Moreover, parallel to this position, there will be another PhD student working on autonomous navigation within the same project under the supervision of Assist. Prof. Javier Alonso-Mora. You will be regularly interacting with that PhD student for having consistent assumptions when necessary and also for making sure the outputs can be used by the autonomous navigation.

We are seeking an enthusiastic researcher who has expertise and/or interest in one or more of the following areas:

• Fleet management models for fleet sizing, fleet mix;
• Dynamic vehicle routing problems for mobility and logistics applications;
• Optimization models under uncertainty;
• Large scale transportation optimization.

You have obtained an MSc or an equivalent degree or expect to obtain an MSc soon related to these areas (Transportation Optimization; Transportation Planning; Operations Research; Industrial Engineering; Applied Maths). Very good spoken and written English and the ability to work in an international team are critical. As this position involves mathematical modelling and algorithm development, good level of computer programming skills is essential.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. Please visit www.tudelft.nl/phd for more information.

Technische Universiteit Delft

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

The 3mE Faculty at Delft University of Technology trains committed engineering students, PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers in groundbreaking scientific research in the fields of mechanical, maritime and materials engineering. 3mE is the epitome of a dynamic, innovative faculty, with a European scope that contributes demonstrable economic and social benefits.

The Department of Maritime and Transport Technology (M&TT) studies how to develop, design, build and operate marine, dredging and transport systems and their equipment. New generation transport and marine systems require the further development of the knowledge of the dynamics and the physical processes involved in transport, dredging and marine systems, the logistics of the systems and the interaction between the equipment and control systems.

The Transport Engineering and Logistics (TEL) section is part of the Department of Maritime and Transport Technology (M&TT) in the 3mE Faculty. The focus is on the development, design, construction and operation of transport systems and equipment. Education and research deals with transport-related topics that involve both technological and logistics issues. The combination of transport technology and logistics is considered one of the strong points of the TEL section.