PhD position in Design of Forward and Reverse Supply Chains for Additive Manufacturing in Maintenance

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated and curious PhD candidate to contribute to the design of forward and reverse supply chains for additive manufacturing in maintenance. The successful candidate will join the Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences (IEMS) section within the High-tech Business & Entrepreneurship (HBE) department of the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences.

This PhD position is part of ADD-reAM, a large multidisciplinary project focused on repair and remanufacturing using Additive Manufacturing, involving 18 researchers across 7 universities. Additive Manufacturing (AM) is increasingly applied in repair and remanufacturing; however, integrating AM into supply chains demands new models and methods.

In this PhD project, you will:

• develop dynamic supply chain design models that enable the repositioning of AM equipment based on Defence requirements in conflict zones and other industrial contexts;
• investigate optimal levels within the product structure for deploying AM in repair and spare parts support;
• integrate forward and reverse flows in manufacturing and maintenance environments;
• optimize strategies for part repair and replacement using AM, including consolidation and direct repair options;
• collaborate on real-life case studies from the Ministry of Defence and other consortium partners (e.g., GKN, ProRail).

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic researcher, driven by curiosity, with:

• MSc degree (or equivalent) in Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Operations Management, or a related field;
• A strong passion for, and proven experience in, quantitative modelling, optimization, and decision support;
• The ability to conduct independent research and a willingness to develop writing and publication skills;
• A collaborative mindset and a preference for working in an interdisciplinary and international environment;
• Strong communication skills and an excellent command of English.

Furthermore,

• Security screening executed by the Dutch government is part of the selection procedure. This is particularly important since you will be working with the Ministry of Defence and possibly sensitive technologies such as semiconductor and space technologies.
• As you will be working with Ministry of Defence, you must be a citizen of a NATO member country.

Our offer

We encourage high responsibility and independence, while collaborating with colleagues, researchers, other university staff and partners. We follow the terms of employment by the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Universities (CAO). Our offer includes: a full-time, 4-year PhD position with a qualifying evaluation in the first year; excellent mentorship in a stimulating research environment with excellent facilities; and a personal development program within the Twente Graduate School. It also includes:

• Gross monthly salary of €3,059 in the first year, increasing each year up to €3,881 in the fourth year;
• Excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme;
• 29 holidays per year in case of full-time employment;
• A training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision;
• A green campus with free access to sports facilities and an international scientific community;
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid);
• A full employee status at the University of Twente (UT), including pension, healthcare benefits, and favourable secondary conditions as outlined in the CAO-NU collective labour agreement for Dutch universities.

Information and application

Are you interested in joining our team? Please submit your application before 11 October, 2025 and include:

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications, and motivations to apply for this position;
• A Curriculum Vitae, a list of publications and references, also in your CV please explicitly mention your nationality;
• A course list with grades (both BSc and MSc);
• An IELTS-test, Internet TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT), or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE). Applicants with a non-Dutch qualification and who have not had secondary and tertiary education in English can only be admitted with an IELTS-test showing a total band score of at least 6.5, TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) showing a score of at least 90, or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE).

Additional information can be acquired via email from Dr. Engin Topan ([email protected]) and Dr. Matthieu van der Heijden ([email protected]).

About the department

The HBE department is dedicated to encouraging a supportive and inclusive working culture. Our aim is that all job applicants are given equal opportunities. When we select candidates for employment, it will be on the basis of their competence and ability. To support workforce diversity, we are open to offering flexible working conditions on an individual basis to support work-life balance, which may include contract of employment, working hours and location, or child care arrangements.

The High Business Entrepreneurship corporate video can be watched via this link

About the organisation

At the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS), we unite the worlds of people and technology to address today’s complex societal challenges. We are passionate about understanding human behaviour, fostering responsible innovation, and designing solutions that create societal value. Our educational programmes span disciplines such as Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences, and Health Sciences. Through our bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Professional Learning & Development programmes, and interdisciplinary research themes – including Emerging Technologies & Societal Transformations, Resilience, Smart Industry, Learning, and Health – we empower students and researchers to make a positive societal impact.

At BMS, we combine critical thinking with practical action. From advancing sustainable mobility with innovations like the world’s most efficient hydrogen car to shaping policies that promote digital inclusion, our work contributes to a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable future. Whether it’s exploring how technology influences human behaviour or leveraging data and innovation to transform industries and communities, we ensure that technology serves people – and not the other way around.

As an employer, BMS offers a vibrant, inclusive, and entrepreneurial environment where you can thrive personally and professionally. Join us and become part of a forward-thinking community that equips you to shape the future – for yourself and society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact.