PhD in Stochastics and Optimization

Are you eager to apply cutting-edge stochastics and optimization, develop innovative algorithms, and tackle real-life challenges associated with improving accessibility to healthcare in developing countries? The Business Analytics Section at the Amsterdam Business School (University of Amsterdam) invites applications for a PhD position in Stochastics and Optimization. We are looking for highly motivated PhD candidates who aspire to excel in the international academic arena at the highest level.

Background

The Analytics for a Better World institute at the University of Amsterdam applies and develop advanced analytics methods to contribute to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. They had and have several projects in developing countries on improving accessibility to healthcare services. Examples are: optimization of primary healthcare centers in Timor-Leste, stroke centers in Vietnam, covid-19 centers in Nepal, vaccination clinics in Kenya, and water wells in Sudan. Good geospatial accessibility to healthcare services is extremely important for good health. Many low- and middle-income countries do not satisfy the healthcare accessibility goals defined by the United Nations. Currently half of the world’s population do not have access to the healthcare they need. To improve geospatial accessibility to healthcare services in low- and middle-income countries, new mathematical optimization and stochastics techniques have to be developed. The focus in this project is on minimizing the waiting time to the services. The methods will be applied and tested in cooperation with NGOs as Amref, Red Cross, WHO, and World Bank.

What are you going to do?

This PhD research initiative aims to develop queueing models to model waiting time to healthcare services in developing countries, and then develop optimization methods to solve the final nonlinear optimization model. Moreover, it could be the case that discrete-event simulation is needed to calculate the waiting time. One of the options could be to use Machine Learning for Model Learning. Moreover, the aim is to combine the facility location problem with the capacity problem (queueing models). More precisely, you will develop an optimization method to optimize both the number and locations of the facilities, and the capacities, such that the overall time to treatment (travel time + waiting time) is minimized and the costs are less than the available budget. Our partnerships with many NGO’s provide us with access to pertinent data for this research. Visits to healthcare services in one or more of the developing countries are possible, but are not compulsory.

Tasks and responsibilities

The PhD student will work in close collaboration with the supervisory team, the Analytics for a Better World team, additional academic staff, and NGOs. The responsibilities will encompass:

• Developing and applying advanced queueing models to model waiting times for healthcare facilities in developing countries;
• Developing and applying optimization techniques to simultaneously optimize the locations and capacity of healthcare facilities;
• developing open-access software tools (such as R and Python packages or C++ libraries) for applying the newly developed algorithms/models and techniques to real-world applications;
• working in close collaboration with Analytics for a Better World and NGOs to understand the challenge and apply the developed techniques in practice;
• writing up findings for publication in prestigious Operations Research journals;
• presenting research findings at leading conferences;
• attending classes (including those offered by LNMB) and seminars (including those offered at other universities) to further develop thinking and research skills;
• conducting teaching (to a limited degree), including undergraduate tutorials and the supervision of BSc dissertation projects.

Your profile

• Master’s degree (preferably a Research Master´s or MPhil degree) in Stochastics, Operations Research, Business Analytics, Mathematics, Econometrics, or a related field;
• a strong background in modern Stochastics and Optimization;
• excellent programming skills in one or more of the following languages: R, Python, C, C++, and a strong willingness to develop these skills further;
• excellent communication, presentation and writing skills;
• an excellent command of English, ideally with experience writing for a scientific audience.

Our offer

The start date for this position will be determined in consultation, but should be before June 1, 2025.

The compensation package is competitive at the European level and includes several fringe benefits. Favourable tax agreements may apply to non-Dutch applicants.

We offer full-time employment for four years (depending on prior education) with an initial period of 18 months, an intermediate evaluation after 18 months and a possibility to extend it for 30 months (four years in total). The end result should be a PhD thesis. An educational plan will be drafted that includes attendance of courses and conferences at home and abroad.

From 1 September 2024 the gross monthly salary will range between €2,872,- in the first year to €3,670,- in the last year for full-time employment (38 hours per week), excluding holiday allowance (8%) and year-end bonus (8.3%).

In addition, the UvA offers excellent study and development opportunities and encourages employees to continue to professionalise.

What else do we offer you?

The UvA has an extensive package of fringe benefits, including:

• 29 days' holiday with full employment & extra holidays between Christmas and the new year;
• excellent work facilities, including teleworking;
• reimbursement of commuting expenses;
• pension accrual with ABP;
• excellent opportunities for ongoing study and professional development that are strongly supported by the university;
• opportunities to participate in open UvA lectures, earning up to 30 credits per year.