PhD in Mining Simulation Models for Circular Supply Chain Processes

The Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) department combines disciplinary knowledge from the humanities, social sciences and technical sciences to solve the complex problems of industries and society. We collaboratively focus on and create responsible and effective innovations for the research themes: Humans and Technology, Supply Chain Management, Sustainability and Circularity, and Value of Data-Driven Intelligence. Introduction Are you a data scientist or industrial engineer interested in mining simulation models (or digital twins) of supply chain processes? Do you want to contribute to more circular high-tech supply chains? Join our exciting STRIDE project at TU/e, in collaboration with industry leaders ASML, Neways, Prodrive, KMWE, and Eriks, where you can make a significant impact in practice and contribute to the transition toward circular high-tech manufacturing.
Job Description We are seeking a highly motivated research assistant to develop innovative methods and tools for process mining and supply chain simulation, culminating in a PhD. This position is part of the STRIDE project (Strategic Design for Circular High-Tech Manufacturing), which aims to embed circularity in both product design and supply chain design for high-tech systems. STRIDE consists of three interconnected work packages: circular product design and multi-criteria evaluation (WP1), circular supply chain network design (WP2), and data-driven simulation of designs (WP3, this position), which together enable integrated decision-making for circular high-tech manufacturing. For the position in WP3, the candidate will

• Innovate and Develop: Create novel methods and tools for mining supply chain processes from data.
• Collaborate with Industry Leaders: Work closely with ASML, Neways, Prodrive, KMWE, and Eriks to understand their circular supply chain, understand the data they have on supply chain process execution, mine supply chain simulation models based on that data, and validate your methods, tools, and simulation models in real-world settings.
• Design for Collaboration: Develop shared modeling and simulation frameworks and visual decision-support environments that enable supply chain partners to collaboratively explore network configurations, responsibility allocations, and circular flow strategies (e.g., repair vs. replace, reverse logistics) based on real-world data.
• Engage with the Research Community: Collaborate with university colleagues and the international research community, discussing your findings and insights on the (inter)national stage.
• Present Your Work: Report your developments at prestigious international conferences, in leading journals, and at industry events.
• Achieve Academic Excellence: Contribute to the field through your research and ultimately write a PhD thesis.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work on impactful projects that bridge the gap between circularity ambitions and day-to-day supply chain realities, develop your skills in both fundamental research and practical application, and contribute to advancements in circular supply chain design. If you are driven by innovation and eager to make a difference in the transition toward a circular economy, we encourage you to apply.
Job Requirements The successful candidate will meet as many of the following requirements as possible:

• You have a Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a similar field of study.
• You have a good background in programming and are interested in developing interactive tools and visualizations.
• You can work on a challenging topic that has both fundamental and applied research aspects, combining mathematical modeling with practical implementation.
• You have a strong affinity with interdisciplinary research and enjoy collaborating with others, including industrial partners from diverse backgrounds.
• Your communication skills are excellent as is your proficiency in English and your ability to collaborate in an international setting.

The preferred starting date is September 1, 2026, but a later or earlier start date can be negotiated.
Conditions of Employment A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!
About us We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here. The Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) department combines disciplinary knowledge from the humanities, social sciences and technical sciences to solve the complex problems of industries and society. We collaboratively focus on and create responsible and effective innovations for the research themes: Humans and Technology, Supply Chain Management, Sustainability and Circularity, and Value of Data-Driven Intelligence. This project will be based in the Information Systems (IS) group of the department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences (IE&IS), in close collaboration with the Operations Planning, Accounting & Control (OPAC) group.
Information Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Remco Dijkman (r.m.dijkman@tue.nl). Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HRServices.IEIS@tue.nl. Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video. Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.
Application We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references. Kindly note that we may reach out to references at any stage of the recruitment process. We recommend notifying your references upon submitting your application.\
• Brief description of your MSc thesis (topic, method, contribution) and other related research projects that you conducted.
• List of Master's and Bachelor’s courses, including grades.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.
Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

Type of employment: temporary position | Contract type: full time | Number of positions: 1 | Full-time equivalent: 1.0 FTE | City: Eindhoven | County: Noord-Brabant | Country: Netherlands | Reference number: 2026/261 | Published: 2026-04-22 | Last application date: 2026-05-22