PhD on Demand-Side Management for Efficient and Sustainable Transportation

Job description

The transportation system in the Netherlands is under increasing strain due to population growth and changing commuter behaviors, resulting in frequent traffic jams and overcrowded trains during peak hours. The core issue is a mismatch between transportation demand and supply: demand exceeds supply during peak times, leading to congestion, while supply exceeds demand during off-peak hours, causing inefficiency. Expanding infrastructure, such as widening highways or increasing rail capacity, is not always possible and offers only temporary relief. A promising alternative is demand-side management, such as dynamic pricing based on travel times, to better distribute travelers throughout the day. However, this approach risks reducing system accessibility and forcing travelers to adjust their habits, which needs careful management to avoid negative impacts.

This PhD position presents an exciting opportunity to study how demand-side management strategies can be leveraged to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility of transport systems. You will work on developing advanced methodologies and algorithms to optimize such strategies, analyzing the interactions between different modes of transport, and integrating obtained insights into supply models for designing transport networks.

In this position you will be co-supervised by Dr. Rolf van Lieshout and Dr. Nevin Mutlu. Rolf specializes in algorithm engineering for passenger transport systems, with a particular emphasis on incorporating passenger behavior. Nevin Mutlu focuses on revenue management with applications in retail and last-mile logistics.

Job requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) with excellent grades in Operations Research, (Applied) Mathematics, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, or related field. A research master’s degree (e.g., MRes, MPhil) is not required; however, graduating from a program with solid research training will be considered a plus.
• A strong mathematical background.
• Excellent coding skills (e.g., in Java, Python, Julia, MATLAB).
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Ability to be self-propelling and drive your own research.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interested in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

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. €2,872 max. €3,670).
• 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. 

Eindhoven and its metropolitan area are the major hub of the technology sector in the Netherlands, collectively known as the Brainport region. Many global leaders in technology like ASML or Philips are based in the fastest growing region in the Netherlands. The School of Industrial Engineering and its faculty enjoys strong links with the local high-tech industry on all levels.

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 Rolf van Lieshout (email: r.n.v.lieshout@tue.nl) or Nevin Mutlu (email: n.r.mutlu@tue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HRServices.IEIS@tue.nl.

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.
• Brief research statement (max. 1.5 page) explaining your envisioned research direction related to the position in more detail, including a brief review of the literature you find relevant, the contributions you would like to make to this literature, and the research methods you would like to use.
• Curriculum vitae (including the contact details of two academics from a relevant field which we may contact as a reference).
• An academic paper (e.g., master thesis or article) that showcases your academic writing.
• Complete list of courses taken within your educational programs and grades obtained.
   

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.