Assistant Professor in Analytics and Optimization

Are you a researcher in Operations Research? Do you want to work in a collaborative environment to provide excellent mathematics education and to develop an internationally leading research programme? Please apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Assistant Professor in Analytics and Optimization

• Nieuwe Universiteitsgebouw (NU)
• Amsterdam
• The position is available for 0.8-1.0 FTE.

Your function

We are seeking a new colleague who is passionate about scientific research and education. Candidates should have a strong scientific profile and proven expertise in the broad field of Operations Research, particularly in stochastic optimisation, stochastic modelling, reinforcement learning, or related approaches to decision-making under uncertainty. An important part of this position is to connect our expertise with audiences and partners beyond the Department of Mathematics. This includes developing research collaborations and contract research with companies and other external organisations, contributing to professional education, and teaching students from mathematics as well as a variety of other disciplinary backgrounds. We particularly welcome candidates whose research advances the foundations and/or methodology of stochastic Operations Research, and who are motivated to bring this expertise into practice.

The preferred starting date is 1 September 2027 or earlier.

Your duties

• you develop an independent research line in Operations Research
• you initiate and develop collaborations with companies and other external organisations, and pursue research funding from public funding bodies and industry, including joint research projects and contract research
• you contribute to the development and delivery of professional education within our lifelong learning programmes, translating our research methods into learning experiences relevant to professionals
• you teach and supervise students at undergraduate and graduate level, both within Mathematics and Business Analytics and in programmes beyond these disciplines
• you show academic leadership, nationally and internationally, and contribute to departmental activities and the wider academic community.

Your profile

• you have a PhD in mathematics / operations research, preferably with a few years of postdoctoral experience
• you have a strong research record in Operations Research, appropriate to your career stage, demonstrating scientific quality, originality and potential for an independent research programme
• you are motivated to build lasting relationships with companies and other external organisations and to develop collaborative research opportunities. Relevant experience is an advantage
• you are an effective teacher, with an interest in developing education for both academic and professional audiences
• you have good communication and execution skills
• you are fluent in English
• you have a basic teaching qualification (‘BKO’), as required by Dutch universities, or equivalent. If not, you are willing to obtain this qualification

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. The appointment of Assistant Professor is initially for 18 months and leads into a permanent contract. After a positive evaluation at the end of the first year, based on transparent criteria, the initial contract will be converted to a permanent position. Furthermore, a 5-year career track from Assistant Professor 2 (scale 11; UD2) to Assistant Professor 1 (scale 12; UD1) is offered.

Based on full-time employment, and depending on experience, the gross monthly salary ranges from €4.925,00 to €7.573,00 in accordance with Dutch academic salary scales 11, or 12. The job profile (Assistant professor or “Universitair docent”) is based on the Dutch university job ranking system.

Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• good paid parental leave scheme
• flexible working hours

About us

The Department of Mathematics
The Department of Mathematics strives for excellence in research. The department balances pure mathematical research with mathematical research motivated by applications. Researchers in the department are on one hand active at a fundamental and theoretical level, and, on the other hand, work on applications with links to business, the sciences, and societal issues. The department has a strong international research staff with expertise in dynamical systems, topology, geometry and algebra, as well as in stochastics (statistics, data analytics, probability).

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, 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. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research.

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.