PhD position in Information Systems and/or Operations Management at Tilburg University CentER

Your position 

The Department of Information Systems & Operations Management seeks applications for multiple doctoral student positions. As a PhD student you will primarily work on the development, implementation and publication of research projects. The PhD candidate will be based in the Information Systems & Operations Management with their world class faculty contributing to research published in leading outlets and making an impact on our industry and NGO partners, and on the livelihoods of millions. Faculty cover a wide range of research topics and methods and belong to the top 10 ISOM research groups in Europe. You will be able to benefit from the department’s strong research focus and its numerous resources (e.g., databases, research seminars, brown bags, career planning, skills-enhancement workshops, international conferences, contacts with practitioners, etc.). 

You will be enrolled as a PhD candidate in the world-class PhD program of CentER Graduate School of Business, where you will receive extensive training in theory and methods by taking several PhD-level courses (about 36 European credits) in information economicssystems/ operations management, econometrics, machine learning, extensive data analytics and qualitative research methods. The student will collaborate closely with advisors to identify, develop, and carry out their research project. The PhD dissertation will be a product of the student's creativity and initiative, shaped with guidance from the advisors, and will demand a strong dedication to scientific exploration. There is also a travel budget for attending PhD level courses outside of CentER, work visits and conferences. The training can be adapted to the previous educational achievements of the PhD candidate by mutual agreement with the supervisors.  

A PhD dissertation at CentER requires the design and execution of three3 studies. The execution of the research work itself typically involves the conceptualization of the research questions and ideas, data collection, qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of the data, and writing and presenting of academic papers. The aim is to publish those projects in high-quality academic journals. Two advisors will be assigned to supervise your PhD research. Upon successful completion of your courses and your research work, as demonstrated by a submitted and approved PhD dissertation and the subsequent defense, you will be awarded a doctorate by Tilburg University.  

80% of the position’s time will be dedicated to the completion of your PhD research, and 20% to the acquisition of other academic skills through teaching courses and supervising master/bachelor theses within the department. 

For a start by September 2025, we will be recruiting two or more PhD students, with the following specific scopes/projects. In your application, please indicate to which specific scope/project you are applying. 

1.    Operations Management. 

Are you driven to explore the intricate dynamics of operations in the real world? Operations Management addresses critical challenges across industries, and our research examines the strategic, tactical, and operational systems that drive organizational performance. We deploy a range of qualitative and quantiaitive research methods that are empirically grounded, leveraging our local and international corporate and NGO network for impactful research. We are seeking applicants with a solid quantitative background and an demonstrated interest in empirical research. Candidates with a MSc, MPhil, or Research Master in fields like (supply chain) management, business analytics,  industrial engineering, economics, applied mathematics or similar disciplines are ideal. Candidates are expected to develop their own research. Your one-page research proposal is part of the selection procedure.  

Selection committee: Xabier Barriola, Yimeng Niu, Ali Tuna. 

 

2.    Information Systems. 

Organizations and entire societies alike are undergoing massive digital transformation, with consequences for business strategy and governance, regulation, and the humans that are part of these companies and societies. We are seeking students with an interest in topics such as digital transformation in organizations, the adoption of information technology, and the functioning, competition, and regulation of digital markets and platforms. We are seeking applicants with a robust quantitative background (e.g. analytical modeling, econometrics and/or machine learning). Candidates who hold an MSc, MPhil, or Research Master in fields like economics, computer science, econometrics, statistics, or similar disciplines are preferred. Applicants should also be proficient in programming languages such as R, SQL, Python, or others. Candidates are expected to develop their own research within this domain. Your one-page research proposal is part of the selection procedure. 

Selection Committee: Shiva Shekhar, Giannis Kanellopoulos, Xi Wu.  

3.    Circular sourcing: the role of purchasing in narrowing, slowing and closing loops. 

The transition to a circular economy necessitates a fundamental transformation in how we take, make, use, and no-longer-dispose materials. This shift involves extending product lifecycles (i.e., slowing the loop), replacing conventional materials with more sustainable alternatives (i.e., narrowing the loop), and moving towards more and higher-value material reuse (i.e., closing the loop). Collectively, these trends aim to advance more responsible production and consumption of materials, one of the grand challenges of our time. At the same time, the circular transition continues to be slower than desired, with progress towards targets waning. This project focuses on the role of purchasing accelerating the narrowing, slowing and closing of loops, all in concerted effort with public and private stakeholders involved. The project will primarily rely on qualitative research approaches such as longitudinal case studies. Relevant industrial settings for this research include e.g., construction or capital-intensive assets/ equipment. Eligible candidates must possess a solid background in qualitative research. Furthermore, preference will be given to candidates that have taken compulsory or elective master courses in purchasing and supply management or similar. This opening is pending final confirmation of funding, yet applications are welcome and will be reviewed as soon as funding has been confirmed. 

Faculty lead: Wendy van der Valk 



4.    Revolutionizing healthcare operations through regional virtual care centers

In healthcare, emerging technologies are empowering healthcare organizations to change the way healthcare is delivered. For example, emerging technologies have resulted in the establishment of virtual care centers (VCC). VCCs are novel hospital wards and they monitor patients’ vital signs and a range of symptoms and guide patients remotely. Virtual care is used for a variety of patient groups and has resulted in various positive outcomes such as reduced hospital length-of-stay and re-admission rates, and increased patient satisfaction and empowerment. The next step is to include general practitioners in the VCC, creating a regional VCC. Through regional remote monitoring, both GP practices and hospitals can rearrange their daily care provision and balance supply and demand. It is unclear how to realize a successful collaboration between GPs and hospitals for this regional VCC. The project will primarily rely on qualitative research approaches such as (longitudinal) case studies. Candidates are expected to have a solid background in qualitative research at the MSc or Research Master level, while also having demonstrated interest or experience in healthcare.  Given the empirical nature of the work and the use of the Dutch language in the healthcare sector, candidates who are able to speak, read, and/or write fluently in Dutch are preferred. This opening is pending final confirmation of funding, yet applications are welcome and will be reviewed as soon as funding has been confirmed.  

Faculty lead: Vincent Peters 

 

5.    Preparing for ramp-up: Organizing Manufacturing capacity for times of crisis. 

Nations are facing increasing threats due to environmental and geopolitical tensions. The latter might cause sudden production needs of goods in very high quantities, requiring tight coordination between the government and private firms. It is unclear how such preparations are best done. This project aims to better understand problems of acute mass scaling needs in manufacturing in times of geopolitical crises and develop tools to better prepare for such mass scale-ups. Candidates are expected to have sound analytical and quantitative training at the MSc or Research Master level, such as in programs of Industrial Engineering, Business Analytics, or Operations Research, while also having a demonstrated interest in conducting empirical research with governmental and industry partners. Given the research environment and access to information, there is a strong preference for candidates with Dutch nationality who are fluent in reading and speaking in Dutch. This opening is pending final confirmation of funding, yet applications are welcome and will be reviewed as soon as funding has been confirmed. 

Faculty lead: Jan Fransoo 

Requirements:

Your profile 

1. An academic Master’s or MPhil/Research Master’s degree in business analytics, economics, econometrics, supply chain management, operations research or another relevant field that is deemed an equivalent to the previous education profile. 
2. Completed the previous degree with an excellent GPA (top 10% of class as guideline) 
3. Proficiency in English to be proven by means of an IELTS score of at least 7.0, with no sub scores below 6.5, a TOEFL score of at least 100 (internet based) or 600 (paper based), a Cambridge CAE (at least B) or a Cambridge CPE. Exemptions can be provided upon request to native English speakers or to candidates who have obtained their bachelor’s and master’s degree in English in the European Union, the UK, Canada, USA, Australia, or New Zealand. 
4. A solid quantitative background, to be proven in one of the following ways: 
   
   1. candidates with a MSc or MPhil degree from a Research University in the European Union need to have at least 24 ECTS credits in quantitative and research methods courses during their BSc and/or MSc or MPhil programs. If this is not the case, but you would still like to be considered for admission, you are welcome to hand in a GRE or GMAT test score to show your quantitative competences. 
   
   2. candidates with a MSc or MPhil degree from a university outside the European Union: please provide a recent GRE or GMAT test score. 

Salary Benefits:

What do we offer?

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment. Our offer includes:

• A position based on 1,0 fte (40 hours per week)
• A salary of €2872 gross per month in the first year, up to €3670 gross per month in the fourth year for full-time employment, based on UFO profile Promovendus and salary scale P. 
• This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 8 under b of the CLA DU. You will initially receive a temporary contract for the duration of 18 months to assess your suitability. The evaluation will take place after about 14 months. If suitable, this contract will be followed by a new fixed-term contract of 30 months. (N.B. program is 4 years, full-time).
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. 
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave. 
• The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of €2 per day.
• Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transportation. 
• A monthly internet fee of €25.
• An Options Model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center. 
• A moving allowance (subject to conditions). 
• Employees from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for the 30/20/10% tax facility.
• A pension with ABP; the most sustainable Dutch pension fund.
• Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research or a language course at our Language Center. 
• A work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities. 
• A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport. 

For more information, see our website and the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. 

40 hours per week

Warandelaan 2