Assistant Professor in Mathematics of Operations Research

Teaser Text

The Faculty of Science and the Mathematical Institute are looking for two Assistant Professors in Mathematics of Operations Research

What You Will Do

The Mathematical Institute at Leiden University in the Netherlands has two openings for the post of Assistant Professor in Mathematics of Operations Research, starting autumn 2026 though an earlier start might be possible. 

In this post you are expected to:

• (further) develop your own identity as a researcher;
• acquire national or European research grants to support your own research line;
• be actively involved in teaching and contribute to the development of our curriculum;
• (co-)supervise PhD candidates, BSc/MSc students from our programs in Mathematics and MSc students from our program in Statistics & Data Science;
• contribute to the administrative tasks of the institute.

Where You Will Work

The Mathematical Institute (MI) is one of the eight institutes within the Faculty of Science and has a strong international orientation. The institute's mission is to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge by developing and applying high-quality mathematics while offering a wide range of mathematical programs in a friendly and intellectually stimulating environment. We believe that mathematics is a fundamental part of human knowledge, and we take pride in our role as guardians of this rich scientific discipline. We are dedicated to expanding the frontiers of mathematical knowledge and applying our expertise to solve challenges in other sciences, society, and industry. Additionally, we actively promote mathematical literacy through various outreach activities.   The Mathematical Institute focuses on four key research themes:

• Algebra, Geometry, and Number Theory;
• Analysis and Dynamical Systems;
• Probability, Operations Research, and Dynamics;
• Statistics.

There is extensive collaboration between these themes. For more information about the Mathematical Institute, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/mathematics.

What You Bring

We are looking for someone who can work independently. Every job is different, so in the beginning we help you settle in with our onboarding activities. If some of the work activities are new to you, we will look together at what you need, and draw up a development plan. This position is a good fit for you if you recognise yourself in the following:

• you have a firm background in the Mathematics of Operations Research;
• you hold a PhD in Mathematics or closely related discipline;
• you have a track record (evidenced by publications in highly ranked journals) with a profile in the area of stochastic and/or deterministic Operations Research;
• you have a keen interest, and preferably some experience, in industrial research interactions;
• you have an interest in the use of data-driven techniques in Operations Research, and an interest to connect with AI research in the Faculty of Science;
• you are equipped to play a role in the intra-faculty focus area in complex networks;
• you are equipped to teach classes in stochastic and deterministic Operations Research, and to supervise master and bachelor projects;
• you have an interest in supporting the Mathematical Institute, through participation in committees and other organisational work.

If you recognize yourself in this profile — or even if you don’t meet every requirement but feel this is the right role for you — we warmly encourage you to apply.

Additional Requirements to fulfil after hiring

Leiden University requires teaching staff to obtain the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). Successful applicants that do not already possess this qualification or its equivalent must be willing to obtain this qualification within two years;
Newly hired staff not already holding a Dutch language proficiency certificate at level B2 or better, are required to obtain such a certificate within two years.

What We Offer

Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.   You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you on the topic of your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.  

We Also Offer:

• an employment contract for the duration of one and a half year with a view to permanent employment. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
• a salary €4728 - €7297 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (Scale 11-12);
• a holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
• flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription and bicycle scheme;

For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions

What We Find Important

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.

Want To Apply Or Find Out More?

If you want to apply straight away, click the application button. Please ensure that you include the following documents:

• cover letter
• 2 page research plan
• 1 page teaching statement
• curriculum vitae 
• list of all publications
• names of two reference persons with affiliation and email address who may be contacted during the selection process.

  If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Prof.dr. Michel Mandjes, at m.r.h.mandjes@math.leidenuniv.nl. You can apply until 12/05/2025.    To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions

• A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas) may be part of the selection procedure.
• Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from this.