PhD Position in Operations Research at Tilburg University CentER Graduate School of Business

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.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Department of Econometrics and Operations Research (EOR) is looking for PhD students in the research track of Operations Research. The EOR department invites candidates with a solid mathematical background and with an interest to contribute to cutting-edge fundamental research in

Operations Research to apply.
As a PhD student you will be an integral part of the EOR department, and you will benefit from a lively, informal, and intellectually challenging environment. We encourage PhD students to collaborate with faculty staff members on their research. As multidisciplinary research group we are involved in a wide variety of topics within deterministic OR, stochastic OR and interactive decision making.
PhD candidates will be employed by Tilburg University and the appointment is intended to lead to the completion of a PhD dissertation. During the first year, you will receive extensive tailor-made training in theory and methods by taking several PhD-level courses, in combination with research training by your PhD supervisors. There will be no teaching responsibilities during this first year. After 18 months there will be a formal GO/NO GO decision. For the remaining period, 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 more detailed information on potential research topics and the educational component, please have a look at https://tilburguniversity.edu/research/economics-and-management/graduate-school/phd-business/operations-research 

REQUIREMENTS

1)    An academic MSc degree that provides a sound quantitative background, such as quantitative economics, econometrics and operations research, mathematics, or another equivalent education profile. 
2)    Completed the previous degree with an excellent GPA (top 10% of class)
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)    For candidates from a university outside Europe: a recent GRE or GMAT test score of at most two years old. 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

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. 

DEPARTMENT

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.  

Tilburg University is one of Europe’s leading universities in the fields of business and economics, ranking #3 in the European Union in the field of Business Research (UT Dallas World Ranking) and #27 in Economics & Business Worldwide (US News Ranking 2023). The School of Economics and Management has 7,000 students (26% international) and 400 academic staff (50% international).  The campus provides a green, academically centered environment with modern facilities and convenient local transportation.  Tilburg’s central position in the Benelux offers excellent regional and international access.  Major airports nearby include Amsterdam (Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium) and Düsseldorf (Germany).  

Read more about the university here.

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.   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information can be obtained from prof. dr. Peter Borm (pemborm@tilburguniversity.edu).