The Department of Information Systems & Operations Management seeks applications for two doctoral student position at the intersection of intelligent information systems, more specifically in digital decision making, artificial intelligence, and analytics. The two PhDs focus on understanding and modeling the conception, design, development, deployment, and regulation of AI technology in the context of complex (business) information systems. The study includes technologies and methodologies centered on leveraging data and information to facilitate digital and intelligent business decision-making through optimal human-machine cooperation and alignment. 

As a PhD candidate you will primarily work on the development, implementation, and publication of your research. Both the PhD positions will be based in the Department of Information Systems & Operations Management. The department with their world class academic staff contributes to research published in leading outlets and aims to make an impact on industry and society at large. Faculty covers a wide range of research topics and methods and belong to the top 10 ISOM research groups in Europe. You will be able to benefit from the department’s strong research focus and its numerous resources (e.g., databases, research seminars, brown bags and reading groups, career planning, skills-enhancement workshops, international conferences, contacts with practitioners, etc.).

As a PhD candidate, you will be enrolled in the prestigious PhD program of CentER Graduate School of Business, receiving extensive training in cutting edge research topics in (for example): generative AI, machine learning, data analytics, econometrics, quantitative finance, and qualitative research methods. In short, you will benefit of:

• Comprehensive Training: Receive extensive training in theory and methods through PhD-level courses (about 36 European credits) tailored to your educational background and research needs including scientific writing and English.
• Expert Supervision: Work closely with three faculty advisors, including at least one senior advisor, ensuring high-quality mentorship and guidance.
• Research Resources: Access numerous resources, including databases, research seminars, brown bags, reading groups, career planning, skills-enhancement workshops, and international conferences.
• Financial Support: That includes a personal computer, cloud-based computation, as well as travel budget for attending PhD-level courses outside CentER, work visits, and conferences.
• Collaborative Environment: Engage with an (inter)national research group and collaborate with leading institutions in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Italy. 
• Teaching Experience: Dedicate 20% of your time to acquiring academic skills through teaching courses and supervising master’s and bachelor’s theses within the department.

Please be aware that the PhD program in Business requires that you follow PhD courses in the first year. The courseload amounts to 36 ECTS, which is the equivalent for 6 full courses. The course program is composed by your supervisor and PhD program coordinator. 

80% of the position’s time will be dedicated to the completion of your PhD research, and 20% to the acquisition of academic skills through teaching courses and supervising master/bachelor theses within the department.

Topics of research
For a start by October 2024, we seek to recruit two PhD candidates in intelligent information systems. Specific topics of research includes, but are not limited to:

1. (Generative) AI for business environments:
   − Data Validation and Analysis: Develop best practices for validating and enriching datasets to ensure inclusivity and AI-Act compliance, eliminating unintentional biases.
   − Model Development: Identify optimal feature sets using evolutionary algorithms and develop interpretable machine learning models for predictive analysis.
   − Explainable AI Techniques: Create methods for explaining AI decisions through feature importance and counterfactual reasoning, providing actionable insights and uncovering model biases.
2. Explanatory business intelligence and analytics 
   − The analysis and development of intelligent data cleaning and data integration methods, i.e., novel entity resolution methods for business databases and intelligence. 
   − The analysis and development of artifacts that automate analytics and storytelling with AI in business dashboards (like PowerBi), to improve business decision-making.

Faculty leads: Hans Weigand, Francesco Lelli, and Emiel Caron.

Your skills to be developed
During your study you will practice and improve the following skills:

Hard skills:

• Strong background in business intelligence & analytics, machine learning, and (generative) AI.
• Strong programming skills (in Python).
• Experience with data validation, model development, and AI (explainability) techniques.
• Knowledge of AI (large language) models and their deployment. 

Soft skills:

• Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
• Strong communication skills for presenting research findings and collaborating with peers and experts.
• Ability to work independently as well as in collaborative research environment;
• Strong organizational and time-management skills to balance research, coursework, and teaching responsibilities.

1. An academic Master’s or MPhil/Research Master’s degree in Information Systems, Information Management, Business studies, Computer Science & Informatics, Econometrics, Industrial Engineering or another relevant field that is deemed an equivalent to the previous education profile.
2. Completed the previous degree with an excellent GPA (top 10% of class as guideline)
3. Proficiency in English to be proven by means of an IELTS score of at least 7.0, with no sub scores below 6.5, a TOEFL score of at least 100 (internet based) or 600 (paper based), a Cambridge CAE (at least B) or a Cambridge CPE. Exemptions can be provided upon request to native English speakers or to candidates who have obtained their bachelor’s and master’s degree in English in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia, or New Zealand.
4. A solid quantitative background, to be proven in one of the following ways:
   -  candidates with a MSc or MPhil degree from a Research University in the European Union need to have at least 24 ECTS credits in quantitative and research methods courses during their BSc and/or MSc or MPhil programs. If this is not the case, but you would still like to be considered for admission, you are welcome to hand in a GRE or GMAT test score to show your quantitative competences.
   -  candidates with a MSc or MPhil degree from a university outside the European Union: please provide a recent GRE or GMAT test score.

Your valuable contribution will be rewarded with attractive benefits and sufficient attention to work-life balance. Our offer includes:

• A position based on 1.0 fte (40 hours per week)
• An appointment for the total of 48 months. The selected candidate will initially be appointed for 18 months, with an extension for the following 30 months based on a positive evaluation. The evaluation will take place after about 14 months.
• A starting gross salary is € 2,770 per month (for a full-time appointment) in the first year, up to € 3,539 in the final year. 

In addition to your monthly salary, you will receive 41 vacation days (for a 40-hour work week), a holiday allowance (8%), and a year-end bonus (8.3%). We reimburse the full cost of sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, or public transportation. We have a moving expenses scheme that makes it attractive to live close to the university. You will be enrolled in the ABP pension fund through us. Our Options Model allows you to choose from a variety of facilities at a tax advantage. You can work in a hybrid manner: on campus and from home. Researchers from outside the Netherlands may qualify for temporarily a tax-free allowance of 30%/20%/10% (tax regulation changed as of January 1, 2024) of their taxable salary if they meet the relevant conditions. The university applies for this allowance on your behalf. 

Your work environment 
You will work in a pleasant working environment; a green campus with plenty of facilities, and at a leading, entrepreneurial, and innovative university in the humanities and social sciences. The university employs 2,400 staff members and hosts 20,000 students of some 100 different nationalities. For nearly a century, the university has worked in a tradition of contributing to society. We strive to be a community where differences in age, gender, orientation, and cultural and religious backgrounds are valued, with equal opportunities for colleagues and students and where decisions take into account the importance of preserving Earth for future generations. Read more about the university here.

Increasing your value 
Tilburg University is rated among the top Dutch employers and has excellent terms of employment.
With us, you will find everything you need to maximize your potential and development. We offer excellent facilities and support for research, education, and making societal impact. In all three of these areas, we “recognize and reward” you in line with national university aspirations. With great opportunities such as obtaining a senior teaching qualification, collaborating in an academic collaborative center, or participating in our Connected Leading program. We attach great importance to team spirit and have a clear, shared vision of (personal) leadership (Connected Leading). Developing qualities such as self-reflection, dialogue, and transparency are central to this. We expect managers to embrace this and continue developing in this respect. Read more about careers at Tilburg University and personal development here.

Tilburg School of Economics and Management

Tilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM) is one of Europe’s leading centers for research in business and economics, with research rankings consistently among Europe’s top 10 across various business domains, including Information System and Operations Management. In addition to the strong research focus and collegial research climate, it offers a wide variety of educational programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, with about 7,000 students enrolled. The School is well-connected to both policy makers and industry in the region and internationally, providing ample opportunities for creating impact with research.
Tilburg School of Economics and Management