Within the School of Business and Economics at Maastricht University, we are looking for a PhD candidate who wants to contribute to innovative research in Econometrics, Operations Research and/or Social Choice. You can apply for this position and find more information through the following link: https://www.academictransfer.com/nl/jobs/358864/phd-position-in-econometrics-operations-research-andor-social-choice/).
You will join one of two projects, both positioned at the intersection of theory, data, and societal application.
In the first project, you will work on data-driven decision-making in modern operations. Many organizations rely on both prediction and optimization to make complex decisions – from hospital resource planning to energy management. In this PhD project, you will develop new methods that closely integrate predictive models with (heuristic-enhanced) optimization techniques. You will train machine learning models with the final optimization problem in mind, ensuring transparency and explainability in decision support. You will collaborate with real-world partners, including a university hospital, last-mile logistics providers, and energy companies.
The second project focuses on participatory budgeting: a democratic innovation that enables citizens to decide how public budgets are spent. You will combine insights from combinatorial optimization and computational social choice to develop theoretical results on fairness and incentive compatibility. In collaboration with participatory budgeting initiatives in the city of Maastricht, you will translate these insights into concrete policy recommendations.
The PhD position is within the Department of Quantitative Economics, details on the department can be found here: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/department-quantitative-economics.
The evaluation of candidates will begin mid-March and continues until the position is filled. Promising candidates will be contacted by email. The proposed starting date is 1 September 2026.
Applicants are requested to submit the following:
* Motivation letter, in which you describe your interest in the position.
* CV
* Grade list
* The names of at least two relevant scholars for reference letters
* Optional: A research proposal
What we offer
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:
* A 18-month contract of 1 FTE with the prospect of a 2.5 year extension, based on mutual satisfaction.
* A gross monthly salary starting from €3059,00 towards €3881,00 in 4 years (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
* 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day).
* Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.
* Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
* A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
* A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
* An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.