Researchers at the Department of Operations Analytics study how data can be transformed into better decisions. Research efforts are aimed at analyzing data-driven decision-making problems arising in industry and society.

By examining the mathematical structure and properties of these decision-making problems and by developing novel data analysis and optimization methods, the department offers theoretical and practical insights on contemporary challenges.

We offer a 5-year fully-funded Ph.D. position on one the following research topics:

1. Machine Learning in the Electricity Sector
2. Stability, Complexity and Algorithmic Strategies for Stochastic Dual Dynamic Programming
3. Multi-Stage Stochastic Programming for Energy Planning

More details on these research topics can be found here:
https://surfdrive.surf.nl/files/index.php/s/W94jD55D4Ix2nxW

As a Ph.D. student on these projects your main tasks and responsibilities are:

1. to conduct academic research which will lead to high quality scientific publications and a Ph.D. thesis;
2. to actively participate in international conferences and contribute to projects with academic and industrial partners;
3. to assist in teaching activities of the department.

If you share our enthusiasm for academic challenges and meet the requirements below, we encourage you to apply and indicate the two topics that appeal to you the most.

• A master's degree in Operations Research, Operations Management, (Applied) Mathematics, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering or related field
• Experience with problem-solving, analytical and modeling skills
• Strong motivation and ability to generate high-quality research with the aim of publishing in top-tier journals
• Good oral and written communication skills in English; Dutch proficiency (or willingness to learn Dutch) is not required but is appreciated

We offer you the opportunity to join a young, international and ambitious research group on challenging research topics with a large research and valorization potential. For your project, you will work in close collaboration with a dedicated supervising team
of senior researchers who will guide you through the Ph.D. research process and welcome you in their international research networks.

Depending on your prior education, you will be offered a customized doctoral training program to boost your research and teaching skills and prepare you for an academic career. Job opportunities for doctoral graduates in our research field on the labor market are excellent, both in academia and in industry.

The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2,541 (PhD) per month during the first year and increases to €3,247 (PhD) per month during the fifth year, based on a full-time employment. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.8 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for another 4 years.

Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment,
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus,
• solid pension scheme (ABP),
• contribution to commuting expenses,
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

School of Business and Economics
The School of Business and Economics (SBE) provides high-quality education and excellent research in business administration and economics with a focus on contributing to the social, economic and ecological challenges of our time. Whether it is the use of robots in society or big data, labour market participation or flexibility in the labour market, traffic jams or the housing market, flash crashes in the stock market or choice behaviour in gambling, leadership or change management: we believe in goal-oriented scientific research and understand that progress in academics, the business community and society is achieved through cooperation, openness and social responsibility.

At SBE, all of our highly-motivated colleagues work together closely in a stimulating, dynamic and international environment to achieve our collective goal of encouraging society to make informed choices. Approximately 7,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s students and 1,700 executive students are enrolled at the School, and employs roughly 600 people.