Within this project there are vacancies for two PhD positions in the following areas: 

• Logistics Internet of Things (Pervasive Systems Group)

This PhD research will focus on a new approach to logistic processes involving cyber-physical networks of logistic entities (e.g., goods, vehicles, infrastructure) that embed smart sensors and business logic. These entities, called Smart Returnable Transport Items (SRTIs), are capable of collecting data from extant IoT devices and social networks. The main goal is to detect unexpected behavior and do adaptive sampling of data generated by collaborating SRTIs in the region of interest, in order to solve problems such as, lost and damaged perishable goods during transportation, waste reduction, handling, and storage throughout the lifecycle of products based on sensing and location capabilities, etc.

• IoT-driven resilient multimodal planning in smart logistics (Industrial Engineering and Business Information Systems Group)

This PhD research will focus on a new approach to use this data input provided by cyber-physical networks of logistic entities (e.g., goods, vehicles, infrastructure) that embed IoT devices in the real-time multi-modal planning of orders. More concretely, the main goal is to improve the resilience and performance of planning decisions in terms of sustainability, efficiency, queue delay, costs and quality, by developing Artificial Logistics Intelligence (ALI) capable of detecting and dealing with emergent phenomena (given large volumes of heterogeneous data) and capable of learning from the experience of human planners using machine learning.

A sound theoretical background in mathematics, data science, machine learning, information systems and supply chain management with a MSc degree in Computer Science, Business and IT, Industrial Engineering, or Statistics. We welcome ambitious candidates with strong communication skills who like to present their work at conferences and project meetings. Fluency in English is required. You need to provide IELTS test results (minimum score 6.5), TOEFL-iBT (minimum score 90) or Cambridge CAE or CPE. An interview and a scientific presentation will be part of the selection procedure. 

Information and application
For more information on the research lines at the Pervasive Systems group see ps.ewi.utwente.nl/.

For more information on the research lines at the Industrial Engineering and Business Information Systems group see https://www.utwente.nl/en/bms/iebis/research/.

Your application should comprise a letter of motivation, a curriculum vitae, a list with grades of courses attended, and, if applicable, a list of publications.

The application deadline is 25-02-2018.

We offer a 4-year full-time position as a PhD candidate appointed at the University of Twente (UT), with a qualifier after 1 year. The salary is accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) for this type of position. Additionally, the University of Twente provides excellent facilities for professional and personal development, a holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus, and a number of additional benefits.

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

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply.

Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social sciences
The Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social sciences (BMS) strives to play a pivotal role in understanding, co-engineering and evaluating innovation in society. Innovation is driven by advances in technology. Through 'social engineering' these technological advances are embedded in society befitting human needs and behaviour, within proper public and private management and business structures. For this the faculty of BMS upholds high quality disciplinary knowledge in psychology, business administration, public administration, communication science, philosophy, educational science and health sciences. All with a focus on the challenges in society. Research is strongly connected to our Institutes on Governance (IGS), ICT (CTIT), Health (MIRA) and Nanotechnology (MESA+).