Open PhD positions
The Department of Information Systems & Operations Management seeks applications for multiple doctoral student positions in Operations Management. As a PhD student you will primarily work on the development, implementation and publication of research projects. The PhD position will be based in the Department of Information Systems & Operations Management with their world class academic staff contributing to research published in leading outlets and making an impact on our industry and NGO partners, and on the livelihoods of millions. Faculty cover a wide range of research topics and methods and belong to the top 10 ISOM research groups in Europe. You will be able to benefit from the department’s strong research focus and its numerous resources (e.g., databases, research seminars, brown bags and reading groups, career planning, skills-enhancement workshops, international conferences, contacts with practitioners, etc.).

You will be enrolled as a PhD candidate in the world-class PhD program of CentER Graduate School of Business, where you will receive extensive training in theory and methods by taking several PhD-level courses (about 36 European credits) in information economics/ operations management, econometrics, machine learning, extensive data analytics and qualitative research methods. The student will collaborate closely with advisors to identify, develop, and carry out their research project. The Ph.D. dissertation will be a product of the student's creativity and initiative, shaped with guidance from the advisors, and will demand a strong dedication to scientific exploration. There is also a travel budget for attending PhD level courses outside of CentER, work visits and conferences. The training can be adapted to the previous educational achievements of the PhD candidate by mutual agreement with the supervisors. 

A PhD dissertation at CentER requires the design and execution of 3 studies. The execution of the research work itself typically involves the conceptualization of the research questions and ideas, data collection, qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of the data, and writing and presenting of academic papers. The aim is to publish about those projects in high-quality academic journals. Each PhD student works with two faculty advisors, of at which at least one is senior.  Upon successful completion of your courses and your research work, as demonstrated by a submitted and approved PhD dissertation and the subsequent defense, you will be awarded a doctoral degree by Tilburg University. The Ph.D. dissertation will be a product of the student's creativity and initiative, shaped with guidance from the advisors, and will demand a strong dedication to scientific exploration.

80% of the position’s time will be dedicated to the completion of your PhD research, and 20% to the acquisition of academic skills through teaching courses and supervising master/bachelor theses within the department.

For a start by September 2024, we will be recruiting at least 5 PhD students in Operations Management with the following specific scopes/projects. Note that in a separate call, we are also seeking 3 PhD students in Information Systems. In your application, please indicate to which specific scope/project you are applying.

1.    Operations Management (open) – preferred focus: Sustainability transitions in supply chains and networks. Supply chains/networks face increasingly stringent requirements when it comes to sustainability transitions. Of particular interest are chain-wide (i.e., scope 3) emissions, the reduction of which will require product and process innovations along the supply chain. Compliance with the recently introduced Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive furthermore requires manufacturers to accurately report on the impact of their corporate activities on the environment and society, also upstream. What gets measured gets done, but sustainability reporting should be a means to an end, not an end in itself. Big challenges reside in how sustainability initiatives, such as Scope 3 emissions reduction, can effectively be paired with meaningful sustainability reporting. Digital supply chain technologies may hold great potential here, yet leveraging this potential is challenging. It is up to the candidate to develop their own proposal/research idea.  Research has a strong empirical orientation and applicants must demonstrate ability to collaborate with industry partners.
Faculty leads: Wendy van der Valk, Xichen Sun, Ece Gülserliler.

2.    Analytical Modeling of Freight Matching Systems. Freight matching platforms have been growing substantially and offering new services. This project is part of a large consortium project funded by the Dutch Research Council in which you are expected to develop stochastic models to model freight matching platforms in interaction with other services, such as scheduled services and intermodal transportation. We are seeking students with a strong background in stochastic processes, queuing analysis, and game theory, such as a Master’s degree in applied mathematics, operations research, or similar. Advanced theoretical training will be provided through the highly reputed Netherlands Network for Operations Research (LNMB). This project is funded by the Dutch Research Council as part of the National Science Agenda ORC project “It’s a Cargo Match!”; the scope for the research has hence been defined, while candidates are expected to further develop this into specific research projects. 
Faculty leads: Jan Fransoo, Frans Cruijssen.

3.    Understanding Users’ Behavior in Freight Matching Platforms. Freight matching platforms, on-demand service platforms connecting shippers and carriers, offer a huge potential to improve transport efficiency and sustainabiltiy. However, their long-term success hinges on the collaborative behavior of participating companies (e.g., sharing of capacity, degree of information sharing, trust and opportunism). This project is part of a large consortium project funded by the Dutch Research Council in which you are expected to study the strategic behavior of shippers and carriers within a freight matching platform, considering both pecuniary incentives and behavioral factors. We are seeking applicants with a strong background in mathematical modeling and game theory, and an interest in experimental methods.  Candidates who hold an MSc, MPhil, or Research Master in fields like economics, applied mathematics, econometrics, or similar disciplines are encouraged to apply. This project is funded by the Dutch Research Council as part of the National Science Agenda ORC project “It’s a Cargo Match!” ; the scope for the research has hence been defined, while candidates are expected to further develop this into specific research projects.
Faculty lead: Eirini Spiliotopoulou

4.    Handling labor and building space shortages. The Netherlands, and in particular the province of North-Brabant plays a pivotal role in supply chains, be it local or global. The region harbors many established logistics service providers that together represent a turnover of 2.4 billion euro, or 15% of the gross regional product. Increasingly, the sector is confronted with limitations that ask for a variety of transitions that are necessary to remain sustainable and profitable. In this research project, which builds upon a collaboration with ten reputable logistics companies in Brabant, we focus on two developments that are expected to significantly change the logistics industry: shortage of skilled labor and spatial restrictions for logistics real estate. We are seeking applicants with a strong background in mathematical modeling, and an interest in experimental methods and interdisciplinary approaches.  Candidates who hold an MSc, MPhil, or Research Master in fields like supply chain management, economic geography, organizational and management studies, or other relevant disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Faculty leads: Frans Cruijssen, Jan Fransoo

5.    Leveraging sustainability developments and AI advances for a stronger logistics industry. The Netherlands, and in particular the province of North-Brabant plays a pivotal role in supply chains, be it local or global. The region harbors many established logistics service providers that together represent a turnover of 2.4 billion euro, or 15% of the gross regional product. Increasingly, the sector is confronted with limitations that ask for a variety of transitions that are necessary to remain sustainable and profitable. In this research project, which builds upon a collaboration with ten reputable logistics companies in Brabant, we focus on two developments that are expected to significantly change the logistics industry: environmental footprint reduction and the advent of artificial intelligence. We are seeking applicants with a strong background in mathematical modeling, and an interest in interdisciplinary research.  Candidates who hold an MSc, MPhil, or Research Master in fields like data science and AI, computer science and engineering, innovation management, supply chain management, or other relevant disciplines are encouraged to apply
Faculty leads: Frans Cruijssen, Jan Fransoo

1)    An academic Master’s or MPhil/Research Master’s degree in business studies, economics, econometrics, operations research, industrial engineering or another relevant field that is deemed an equivalent to the previous education profile.
2)    Completed the previous degree with an excellent GPA (top 10% of class as guideline)
3)    Proficiency in English to be proven by means of an IELTS score of at least 7.0, with no sub scores below 6.5, a TOEFL score of at least 100 (internet based) or 600 (paper based), a Cambridge CAE (at least B) or a Cambridge CPE. Exemptions can be provided upon request to native English speakers or to candidates who have obtained their bachelor’s and master’s degree in English in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia, or New Zealand.
4)    A solid quantitative background, to be proven in one of the following ways:

1. candidates with a MSc or MPhil degree from a Research University in the European Union need to have at least 24 ECTS credits in quantitative and research methods courses during their BSc and/or MSc or MPhil programs. If this is not the case, but you would still like to be considered for admission, you are welcome to hand in a GRE or GMAT test score to show your quantitative competences.
2. candidates with a MSc or MPhil degree from a university outside the European Union: please provide a recent GRE or GMAT test score.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Your valuable contribution will be rewarded with attractive benefits and sufficient attention to work-life balance. Our offer includes:
⦁    A position based on 1,0 fte (40 hours per week)
⦁    An appointment for the total of 48 months. The selected candidate will initially be appointed for 18 months, with an extension for the following 30 months based on a positive evaluation. The evaluation will take place after about 14 months.
⦁    A starting gross salary is € 2,770 per month (for a full-time appointment) in the first year, up to € 3,539 in the final year. 

In addition to your monthly salary, you will receive 41 vacation days (for a 40-hour work week), a holiday allowance (8%), and a year-end bonus (8.3%). We reimburse the full cost of sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, or public transportation. We have a moving expenses scheme that makes it attractive to live close to the university. You will be enrolled in the ABP pension fund through us. Our Options Model allows you to choose from a variety of facilities at a tax advantage. You can work in a hybrid manner: on campus and from home. Researchers from outside the Netherlands may qualify for temporarily a tax-free allowance of 30% (tax regulation may change as of January 1, 2024) of their taxable salary if they meet the relevant conditions. The university applies for this allowance on their behalf. 

Your work environment 
You will work in a pleasant working environment; a green campus with plenty of facilities. At a leading, entrepreneurial, and innovative university in the humanities and social sciences. The university employs 2,400 staff members and hosts 20,000 students of some 100 different nationalities. For nearly a century, this organization has worked together with a tradition aimed at contributing to society. We strive to be a community where differences in age, gender, orientation, and cultural and religious backgrounds are valued, with equal opportunities for colleagues and students and where, moreover, all decisions take into account the importance of preserving the Earth for future generations.  
Read more about the university here

Your school
Tilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM) is one of Europe’s leading centers for research in business and economics, with research rankings consistently among’s Europe’s top 10 across various business domain, including those in Information Systems (#2 UTD) and in Operations Management (#8 UTD). In addition to the strong research focus and collegial research climate, it offers a wide variety of educational programs at the undergraduate and graduate level,  with about 7,000 students enrolled. The School is well-connected to both policy makers and industry in the region and internationally, providing ample opportunities for creating impact with research.

Increasing your value 
Tilburg University is rated among the top Dutch employers and has excellent terms of employment.
With us, you will find everything you need to maximize your potential and development. We offer excellent facilities and support for research, education, and making societal impact. In all three of these areas, we “recognize and reward” you in line with national university aspirations. With great opportunities such as obtaining a senior teaching qualification, collaborating in an academic collaborative center, or participating in our Connected Leading program. We attach great importance to team spirit and have a clear, shared vision of (personal) leadership (Connected Leading) . Developing qualities such as self-reflection, dialogue, and transparency are central to this. We expect managers to embrace this and continue developing in this respect. Read more about careers at Tilburg University and personal development here.