Assistant Professor of Operations Analytics (Machine Learning & Sustainability)

Are you passionate about research and teaching in data-driven operations research and operations management, and eager to join a young, dynamic group? Then Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam would like to get to know you.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is seeking a colleague to help build and extend the department's reputation for excellence in research and teaching in Operations Analytics, with a focus on machine learning, AI, and sustainability.

Your function

We seek a new colleague who will help build and extend our department's reputation for excellence in research and teaching. Our research creates impact through publications in top international academic journals and close collaboration with companies. Our teaching spans a range of quantitative courses at bachelor's, master's, Ph.D. and postgraduate level, along with thesis supervision.

For this position, the candidate is expected to strengthen the research and teaching of the department at the intersection of machine learning/AI and sustainability from both a fundamental and an applied operations perspective, with applications in supply chain management and networks. We welcome candidates with a strong foundation in either quantitative sustainability management or machine learning, and particularly value candidates whose work connects the two. The candidate is expected to engage with companies and other societal stakeholders, in line with the department’s research and impact strategy.

Your duties

• teaching and course coordination in quantitative courses and thesis supervision in the BSc and MSc programmes of the School of Business and Economics
• initiating, conducting, and supervising high-quality research at the interface of machine learning and sustainability management
• publishing in top-tier journals and acquiring research grants
• engaging with companies and other societal stakeholders, in line with the School’s societal impact strategy, and contributing to postgraduate education
• contributing to the development of the department and school, for example through administrative and organisational tasks, and taking on committee roles as your career progresses

Your profile

• a (nearly) completed PhD in Operations Research, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Management Science or a related quantitative field
• a solid background in quantitative research
• a strong interest in analyzing and modelling real-life problems in sustainability and operations using state-of-the-art quantitative methods, witnessed by international scientific publications in mathematical optimization and/or machine learning
• affinity with machine learning and quantitative sustainability methods and the ability to contribute to the department’s research and teaching in this area
• demonstrated teaching experience at university level
• good communication skills to interact successfully with students, industry, and academic partners; experience in curriculum or course development is a plus
• fluent in English (command of Dutch language is a plus)

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable.

• a position for at least 0.8 fte
• your employment contract will initially last 18 months
• this can be converted into a permanent contract depending on performance in light of criteria formulated at the start of the contract
• candidates should be willing to acquire a basic qualification in teaching as demanded by Dutch universities, if they do not already have one
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

About us

Operations Analytics

The department of Operations Analytics of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam studies how data can be transformed into better decisions for a variety of processes and operations.

Research efforts are aimed at analyzing data-driven decision-making problems arising in industry and society, in particular related to Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Sustainability and Networks.

By examining the mathematical structure and properties of these decision-making problems and by developing novel data analysis and optimization methods, the Department offers academic and practical insights on how to tackle contemporary challenges. Supported by government research grants and industry collaborations, the research output of the department is published in top-tier journals and valorized in master of science programmes in Transport and Supply Chain Management, in Econometrics and Operations Research, and in Ph.D. and postgraduate education.

School of Business and Economics

We at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at VU Amsterdam bring together socially relevant teaching and research in the areas of business administration and economics. We focus on real-life issues that have a huge impact on society, economics and ecology: from robotics to big data, and from job market participation to change management.

Collaboration and cooperation, transparency and social responsibility are four keywords that embody our approach. Students, researchers and staff at SBE share real-world knowledge in order to devise solutions together to global economic and social challenges.

You will work in a stimulating, dynamic and international environment with motivated colleagues dedicated to helping society make informed choices.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet.