PhD Optimizing evacuation decisions under infrastructure failure

VU Hoofdgebouw

Amsterdam

1 / 1

School of Business and Economics

PhD

MSc

Sluit op

31-07-2026

Publicatiedatum

12-06-2026

Solliciteer direct

Are you passionate about using cutting-edge mathematical optimization to address real-world challenges in climate resilience? Join our Operations Analytics department to develop novel models for evacuation decisions during extreme weather events.

Your function

Climate change is rapidly increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. The Netherlands, where 26% of the territory lies below sea level, is particularly vulnerable to flooding and other climate-related hazards. Effective a priori evacuation plans are known to reduce loss of life, yet uncertainty surrounding both the spatial development and temporal progression of disasters often renders theoretically optimal evacuation decisions unviable in practice. Designing evacuation strategies that remain efficient, feasible and resilient when critical infrastructure is threatened by large-scale disruptions therefore remains a major challenge in Operations Research.

The RESCUE project develops new multi-stage optimization models for pre-disaster evacuation decisions on critical road and shelter infrastructure subject to failures. Combining robust optimization, stochastic programming and copula theory, the project assesses the resilience of both self-evacuation and shelter-in-place strategies. For this purpose, the project draws on concepts from network flow problems and assignment problems. Models are validated using hydrodynamic simulations of Dutch flash flood scenarios.

Your duties
RESCUE (The Resilience of Evacuation Strategies on Compromised and Unreliable Evacuation infrastructure) is a project from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), funded by the NWO Open Competition - Domain Science. The PhD candidate will be employed at the Department of Operations Analytics and supervised by Dr. Pascal Wissink (PI), in close collaboration with Dr. Markus Leitner, Prof. David Wozabal and Prof. Bas Kolen (University of Amsterdam).

Your duties include:

Conduct high-quality doctoral research leading to journal articles and a PhD dissertation.
Develop optimization models, algorithms, and computational methods for robust evacuation planning.
Present your work at scientific conferences and workshops with academic and industry partners.
Participate in PhD training courses, with the opportunity to obtain a PhD teaching qualification certificate.
Contribute to the teaching activities of the department (lectures, tutorials, exams, grading, etc.).
Work closely with the supervisory team and help translate results into practical recommendations for disaster preparedness.

Your profile

A master’s degree in Operations Research, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Econometrics, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related field with a strong quantitative component.
Strong interest in optimization, mathematical programming and computational methods. Prior knowledge of stochastic programming or (distributionally) robust optimization is an advantage. Affinity with network resilience, climate resilience, or flood risk applications is also a plus.
Strong programming skills in any (object-oriented) programming language. Prior experience with optimization solvers (Gurobi or CPLEX) and simulation tools is an advantage.
Strong analytical writing skills and the ability to present technical results clearly.
Excellent command of English in both speaking and writing.

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply.

What do we offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

a salary of € 3.059,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.881,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment
an employment contract of initially 1 year. If there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of 4 years.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
solid pension scheme (ABP)
contribution to commuting expenses
optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

About us

Operations Analytics
The department of Operations Analytics of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam studies how data can be transformed into better decisions for a variety of processes and operations.

Research efforts are aimed at analyzing data-driven decision-making problems arising in industry and society, in particular related to Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Sustainability and Networks.

By examining the mathematical structure and properties of these decision-making problems and by developing novel data analysis and optimization methods, the Department offers academic and practical insights on how to tackle contemporary challenges. Supported by government research grants and industry collaborations, the research output of the department is published in top-tier journals and valorized in master of science programmes in Transport and Supply Chain Management, in Econometrics and Operations Research, and in executive education.

School of Business and Economics
We at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at VU Amsterdam bring together socially relevant teaching and research in the areas of business administration and economics. We focus on real-life issues that have a huge impact on society, economics and ecology: from robotics to big data, and from job market participation to change management.

Collaboration and cooperation, transparency and social responsibility are four keywords that embody our approach. Students, researchers and staff at SBE share real-world knowledge in order to devise solutions together to global economic and social challenges. In order to make a positive impact on the world, society and the lives of others.

Are you interested in joining SBE? You will work in a stimulating, dynamic and international environment with motivated colleagues dedicated to helping society make informed choices. SBE employs roughly 600 staff, with 7,250 students enrolled in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and 1,700 executive students.

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. Learn more about our codes of conduct

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.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application.

Applications are submitted through the VU Amsterdam vacancy portal. Please submit the following:

Your CV
A cover letter of no more than 1 page stating your abilities and motivation
Academic transcripts
A writing sample of your choice (master’s thesis, published article…)
The names and contact details of two referees

Selection process

Application deadline: 31 July 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The vacancy may close early if enough suitable candidates have applied.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online or in-person interview.
A second round of interviews may be conducted.
An assessment may form part of the application process.
Providing proof of your degree and undergoing a reference check are part of the application process.

The preferred start date is between September and December and will be determined in consultation with the successful candidate.

For informal questions about the project or the position, please contact me directly at [email protected]. Formal applications must be submitted through the VU Amsterdam vacancy portal.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.