Job description

The labor shortage in the Netherlands has become a critical issue, affecting 75% of employers in recent years (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, 2024). This trend is driven by demographic shifts, increasing demand for part-time work, and heightened job satisfaction expectations, leading to intensified work pressure on existing employees. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a potential solution to these challenges, with pioneering systems like AlphaZero and ChatGPT demonstrating AI's capability to enhance worker productivity and optimize supply chain decisions.

Despite these advancements, the transition from theoretical models to real-world applications remains limited. This gap largely stems from a focus on technical algorithm functionality without adequately considering the human aspect crucial for practical deployment. Typical implementations keep humans in the loop, allowing employees to modify the algorithm's final output based on their unique insights and broader evaluation criteria, such as market share or sustainability. However, the support for making these adjustments is often inadequate, with outputs presented in a "take it or leave it" fashion, limiting the potential for human intervention to enhance decision-making effectively.

This Phd project aims to create a human-centric system that seamlessly integrates human knowledge into algorithmic decision processes, such as complex optimization models and reinforcement learning. By developing collaborative mechanisms, we supports humans in working effectively with complex decision algorithms. As part of the Phd project, you will

develop novel algorithms and methods that underlie collaboration mechanisms to enable us to streamline human-algorithm interaction
develop a realistic game-like environment of a supply chain context. This game environment will be used to test and evaluate the developed collaboration mechanisms (see here for an example).

A collaboration mechanism may entail interaction, feedback or automation mechanism. For examples of research in that area, you can have a look at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4292438, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2022.03.017.

The research project includes a consortium of interested companies, such as ASML and Fokker Services, which will give practical insights on challenges in human-machine collaboration. The problem setting will focus on supply chain management, inventory management, and transport management.

We are looking for someone who has the ambition to perform rigorous research that can be published in top journals in the field of Management Science and Operations Research.

Start date: As soon as possible; preference for but not required to start before February 1, 2025.

Job requirements

A Master's degree in Operations Research, Econometrics, Industrial Engineering, (Applied) Mathematics, or a related field.
Strong analytical and mathematical skills and demonstrated competence for data-driven research.
An interest in human behavior, ideally knowledge on behavioral operations management, human-technology interaction, or a related field.
The ability to work on a challenging topic that has both fundamental and applied research aspects.
Proven excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proficiency in English and an ability to collaborate in an international setting.
Motivation to develop teaching skills and coach students.

Conditions of employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,770 max. €3,539).
A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

Information and application

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.
Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact Christina Imdahl (c.imdahl@tue.nl) or Willem van Jaarsveld (w.l.v.jaarsveld@tue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment.

You can also contact Najat Loiazizi, HR Advisor, HRServices.IEIS@tue.nl or +31 40 2474465.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
Curriculum vitae and the contact information of two references.

A list of publications can be included, but is not mandatory.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.