PhD position Healthcare Logistics

Organisation
Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative centre of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Belonging to the best research universities of Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

Faculty of Economics and Business
The Faculty of Economics and Business offers an inspiring study and working environment for students and employees. International accreditation enables the Faculty to assess performance against the highest international standards. It also creates an exciting environment of continuous improvement. FEB's programmes, academic staff and research do well on various excellence ranking lists.

SOM, the graduate school and research institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business has available a PhD position in the field of Healthcare Logistics.

Job description
This PhD position is part of the research project “Unburden healthcare with smart logistics”, a project co-funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and executed in collaboration with several partners from the healthcare sector. People increasingly receive care at home and in care institutions, and gain more control over the care they need. Without a good logistics system, however, the healthcare sector will not be able to deliver the right care and cure, and will become too expensive to take care of the future generations at the required quality level. Against this background, the PhD candidate will work closely with healthcare organizations Rivas and Vegro to assess the value of smart logistics solutions for healthcare equipment (e.g. hospital beds, wheelchairs). These logistics solutions make use of real-time data to ensure that healthcare equipment is always ready to use when needed (i.e. available at the right time and place, and in a clean and safe state), with as little equipment in stock as possible. Can smart logistics contribute to reducing health risks, or search time of the healthcare professional? Traditionally, the value of a logistics solution is assessed based on efficiency measures such as the mileage of trucks and the logistics resources needed. In the case of healthcare, it is at least as important to assess the impact of a logistics solution on the efficiency and quality of the care process.

The project will be embedded in SOM’s research programme OPERA.

Qualifications
We are looking for applicants with a Master of Science degree. Students with a background in business administration, operations research, or (medical) engineering are invited to apply. Knowledge of the Dutch language (speaking and writing) is preferred.

Conditions of employment
The University of Groningen offers a gross monthly starting salary of € 2,325 which increases yearly to a maximum of € 2,972 in the fourth year. Based on the gross salary you will receive an additional 8% holiday allowance each year in May, and an additional 8.3 % end of year bonus in December. The full-time appointment is temporary for a period of four years, under the condition of a positive assessment at the end of the first year.

An assessment may be part of the procedure, consisting of psychological tests and an interview.

Starting date: 1 September 2019.

For more general information, please send an email to: [Email Address Removed]

How to apply
You may apply for this position until 3 March 23:59h / before 4 March 2019 European Central Time by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

The application package consists of the following separate documents:
1. Your cv and scan of your passport
2. A motivation letter (1 A4 max) and a short study proposal for the PhD project (2 A4 max)
3. A scan of your diploma including transcripts
4. Proof of English proficiency
5. Other relevant documents.

The documents 1-4 are compulsory and please note that incomplete application packages will not be taken into account.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Information
For information you can contact:

Paul Buijs (for more information on the project itself), [Email Address Removed]
Prof. Taco van der Vaart (for more information on the project itself), [Email Address Removed]
Prof. Erik Buskens (for more information on the project itself), [Email Address Removed]