This time of transition calls for people who can further advance the world and science forward. 
People who, in keeping with our values, are curious, connecting, caring, and courageous.  
 
Your position 
The Department of Econometrics & Operations Research has a vacancy for a 15-month Postdoctoral Researcher within the recently funded ZonMw project “Real-time spatial data-driven modeling of infectious disease outbreaks”. The project is a consortium project, and the postdoc will collaborate closely with the other partners from universities (Eindhoven, Utrecht), university medical centers (Utrecht, Leiden), and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).

At the start of an epidemic of an infectious disease, real-time information on the spatial distribution and transmission patterns of the pathogen is crucial for implementing effective containment strategies. Since time and manpower are scarce at the start of a pandemic, it is crucial to know on forehand which
real-time data are useful to collect and how the data could be included in epidemiological modeling to provide useful information during the early stages of the pandemic. This research project therefore aims to integrate spatial real-time information on wastewater, mobility and contact behavior in epidemiological transmission models and to establish which data sources are most essential for prediction accuracy at the beginning of an emerging pandemic.

Within this project, the main task for the postdoc positioned in Tilburg is to integrate spatial wastewater- and mobility-enhanced models and develop an interpretable machine-learned decision-support methodology for assessing the added value of different data sources when estimating the current state and future trajectory of the epidemic. The spatial models themselves are developed by the other partners, in collaboration with Tilburg.

The postdoctoral researcher will be supervised by dr. Martijn Schoot Uiterkamp. The job can include a teaching task including thesis supervision, which will be consistent with the role of postdoctoral researcher.

Your profile
Tilburg University believes that academic excellence is achieved through the combination of outstanding research and education, in which social impact is made by sharing knowledge. We recognize that excellence is achieved through team effort and individual skills. 

More specifically, we are looking for a candidate who:

• Has PhD degree or is near completion of a PhD degree in epidemiology, econometrics, operations research, mathematics,  (bio)statistics, computer science, or related fields;
• Has demonstrated experience in research through publications in international journals and/or conferences; 
• Has demonstrated experience with inter- and/or transdisciplinary research collaborations, exemplified e.g., by prior involvement in projects of that kind ;
• Has demonstrated experience in working with large datasets;
• Has strong analytical, mathematical, and programming skills;
• Has excellent English-language academic communication skills (both written and oral);
• Has the ability to independently carry out research and collaborate within a team;
• Can efficiently explore and adopt new subject matter;
• Is enthusiastic about using data to contribute to public health and pandemic preparedness.

Prior experience with infectious disease modeling and/or (interpretable) machine learning is a plus.

Your valuable contribution will be rewarded with attractive benefits and sufficient attention to work-life balance. Our offer includes:
Postdoc position

• A position based on 1,0 fte (40 hours per week);
• A temporary contract for 15 months at 1,0 FTE;
• A gross salary is € 3,858 and maximum € 6,148 per month for full time employment, based on salary scale 10 or 11 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. It depends on your relevant work experience if you are scaled as a Researcher 4 or 3.
• Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system for salary scaling that is based on relevant education and work experience.

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% of their taxable salary if they meet the relevant conditions. The university applies for this allowance on their behalf. 

Tilburg University

About Tilburg University 
Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainably, and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex social issues and help society move forward.
We educate our 19,500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge, skills, and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity, we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care, an inclusive labor market, the energy transition, and digitalization.
About Tilburg University | Tilburg University

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. 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.
Tilburg School of Economics and Management