Are you an expert in game theory, optimization, and strategic decision-making? Are you looking for a career development opportunity with a structured tenure-track system and the potential to become a Full Professor within 10 years? Do you want to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges in smart cities, energy networks, and cyber-physical systems? The University of Groningen is hiring an Assistant Professor to strengthen our research and teaching in these fields.
As an Assistant Professor, you will develop your own research line, combining theoretical advancements with practical applications. You will apply convex, distributed, stochastic, and robust optimization methods to engineering problems in transportation, logistics, energy systems, and manufacturing. This hands-on focus will make your research highly relevant and engaging for engineering students.
Your teaching will be research-driven and inspiring, integrating the latest breakthroughs into our curriculum. You will also mentor bachelor, master, and PhD-candidates, helping them prepare for real-world engineering challenges. Additionally, you will acquire research funding and contribute to the university’s academic community.
As an Assistant Professor with a focus on research, your key responsibilities will include:
- set up and develop with guiding and inspiring leadership your own research line while striking the right trade-off between independence and collaborative spirit within the basic unit Optimization and Decision Systems (ODS);
- teaching in Industrial Engineering and Management, Mechanical Engineering, and Systems and Control;
- supervising PhD candidates;
- securing external funding for research projects;
- promoting the societal relevance of your research;
- contributing to the faculty’s organization, including participation in committees and working groups.
At the Assistant Professor level, your time allocation will be approximately 60% research, 30% teaching, and 10% organizational tasks.
Where will You work
At the University of Groningen (RUG) researchers from various domains are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. The University is currently ranked in the top 100 of various influential rankings. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The RUG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.
The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) offers teaching and research in a wide range of scientific disciplines, from traditional disciplines such as physics, mechanical engineering and biology to interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence and industrial engineering and management. At FSE, education, and research are strongly intertwined, and we value a strong disciplinary basis for our students. Our community has an open and informal character with students and staff from all over the world. FSE was the first on the European mainland to introduce a tenure track career policy, 20 years ago, and with significant success.
The position we offer will be embedded in the Engineering and Technology institute Groningen (ENTEG). ENTEG research is highly multidisciplinary in nature and focuses on fundamental and engineering research on the development of new and innovative processes and products. The aim is to conduct excellent research and education in engineering sciences and technologies that contribute to a sustainable and smart society. The position will be embedded in the ODS-group of ENTEG. The mission of this group is to promote a modern vision of optimization and decision systems as cross-disciplinary areas intersecting Operations Research Engineering, Systems and Control Engineering, Computational Social Science and Quantitative Economics.
We are looking for a candidate who:
- holds a PhD in Systems and Control, Operations Research, Mathematical Optimization, Game Theory, or a related field;
- has an excellent publication record in top international journals and conferences;
- can develop and lead an independent research line;
- has a passion for mentoring students and innovative teaching;
- possesses a strong international network;
- demonstrates potential to secure external research funding;
- has strong communication (fluent in spoken and written English) and collaboration skills;
- preferably experience abroad (e.g., during PhD, postdoc, or equivalent).
New faculty members are expected to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within three years and, if they do not already speak Dutch, to learn the language within five years.
For more details of the embedding of the position we refer to
https://www.rug.nl/fse/meet-the-faculty/vacatures/vacatures/structuurrapporten/18032025-game-theory-profile-report-cpse.pdf Please look at this profile report before you apply.
We provide a tenure-track system through our Career Paths in Science and Engineering. In accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (cao-NU), we offer you as starting conditions:
- a tenure-track position with the possibility of a permanent appointment within 1-3 years;
- promotion to Associate Professor after five years and Full Professor after approximately 10 years. For more information about Career Paths in Science and Engineering, see: rug.nl/fse/cpse;
- a competitive gross monthly salary between € 4,537 and € 7,056 (scale 11 or 12 cao Dutch universities), depending on experience
- 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
- generous parental leave and pension scheme;
- the option for a part-time appointment (0.8 or 0.9 FTE);
- mentorship and career development programs;
- dual career support for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.
More information about the employment conditions of the University of Groningen:
https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/You can apply by sending the following:
- a cover letter detailing your motivation and qualifications;
- a CV, including a publication list, teaching experience, and references;
- a statement of teaching goals and experience;
- a research statement, outlining your scientific interests and future plans;
- a list of five self-selected papers, describing your contributions.
You may apply for this position until 18 May 11:59pm / before 19 May 2025 Dutch local time (CEST) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).
The first online selection interviews will take place in week 24.
The University of Groningen aims to be a University where students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality is a shared responsibility, and we work constructively to create a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. Therefore, we particularly invite applicants from underrepresented groups to apply. For more information, please see our diversity policy webpage:
https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-and-inclusion/diversiteit-en-inclusie-bij-de-rug/
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the NVP’s Recruitment Code:
https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode
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