PhD position in Stochastic Operations Research – Optimisation of cross-border patient flows and healthcare capacities

Job description
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Several mathematical models will be developed in the work package “Intelligent control of patient flows and capacities” of the CARE-FLOW project. The first two models optimize patient flows and capacities for hospitals and follow-up care organizations in Germany and the Netherlands on an individual basis, given internal demand forecasts. The third model will optimize the control and planning in the cross-border region, considering the exchange of demand forecasts between the different healthcare providers. The models will be implemented prototypically in software products to later be used by relevant decision-makers. You will work closely with the key stakeholders in the project and with Dr. Anne Zander, Dr. Daniela Guericke and Prof. Dr. Richard Boucherie.
This position is embedded in the project CARE-FLOW. The project’s objective is to develop and evaluate algorithms for the healthcare sector and improve the management of patient flows and capacities in the cross-border region to ensure access to and efficiency of healthcare, considering emergency medical services, hospitals, and follow-up care institutions. The consortium comprises universities, specialized private companies, and healthcare providers from both sides of the border.
Your project will be embedded in the inter-faculty research team, CHOIR (Centre for Healthcare Operations Improvement and Research). CHOIR is a research center within the UT that focuses on Operations Research methods for Healthcare Logistics, such as multi-appointment scheduling, surgery scheduling, and resource allocation in times of scarce healthcare capacity. CHOIR is one of the most active and productive research groups in the field of Operations Research and Management in Healthcare. More information about the CHOIR here.

Your profile
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– You have acquired a Master’s degree in mathematics, operations research, econometrics, industrial engineering, or a closely related discipline.
– You have sophisticated programming skills.
– You are an enthusiastic and highly motivated researcher.
– You have a creative mindset and excellent communication skills.
– You have a good team spirit and like to work in an interdisciplinary and internationally oriented environment.
– You are proficient in English.
– The UT and the faculty of EEMCS are inclusive toward underrepresented groups and strive to increase the proportion of female staff. Female applicants are particularly welcome.

Our offer
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– As a PhD candidate at UT, you will be appointed to a full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year, within a very stimulating and exciting scientific environment;
– The University offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues;
– Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU);
– You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 2.901,- (first year) to € 3.707,- (fourth year);
– There are 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;
– The flexibility to work (partially) from home;
– A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
– Free access to sports facilities on campus
– A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid);
– You will have 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;
– We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other staff.

Information and application
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Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the ‘Apply now’ button below before April 16, 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, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, a list of publications and references.
– A copy of your Master’s thesis or, if it is not yet available, an outline and summary of your thesis.
– 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, internet. TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT) showing a score of at least 90, or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE).
The screening will start immediately and will continue until the position has been filled.
The CARE-FLOW project offers another PhD position, which is available at the Faculty of Behavioral, Management, and Social Sciences (BMS).
For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Anne Zander via the following email address: [email protected].

About the department
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The position will be in the Applied Mathematics department. The Applied Mathematics department has an active research portfolio in stochastic operations research, algorithmic discrete mathematics, complex networks, statistics, systems theory, computational science, and artificial intelligence with applications in health care, energy systems, traffic, and imaging. Find out more information about the MOR-group here, about SACS here and about MDS here.
Our research group, Stochastic Operations Research (SOR), conducts mathematical education and research of internationally high standards in the areas of stochastic processes and mathematics of operations research to contribute to the development of mathematics in a multidisciplinary engineering environment and contribute to a better understanding and functioning of our increasingly complex society. More information about EEMCS-SOR can be found here.

About the organisation
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The faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) uses mathematics, electronics and computer technology to contribute to the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). With ICT present in almost every device and product we use nowadays, we embrace our role as contributors to a broad range of societal activities and as pioneers of tomorrow’s digital society. As part of a people-first tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.