KU Leuven-Melbourne Joint PhD: Trustworthy and insightful algorithms for industrial decision making

ORBEL (SOGESCI-B.V.W.B.); Oost-Vlaanderen; Sur place; EUR 30 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research university in Belgium is offering a PhD position in combinatorial optimisation for logistics and production. This role involves research on cutting and packing problems alongside experts from the University of Melbourne. The ideal candidate should have a Master's degree in a relevant field and be proficient in programming languages like Java, C++, or Python. A strong interest in optimisation and communication skills are essential. This position offers a one-year contract with an opportunity for extension.

Prestations

Collaborative work environment

Opportunity to extend contract

Engagement with international researchers

Qualifications

• Strong interest in combinatorial optimisation is essential.
• Ability to work with precision and meet reporting deadlines.
• Experience in an English-speaking environment is advantageous.

Responsabilités

• Research on cutting and packing problems for logistics and production.
• Employ Instance Space Analysis methodology for algorithm development.
• Collaborate with the University of Melbourne on the project.

Connaissances

Programming skills

Combinatorial optimisation

Excellent communication skills

Fluency in English

Formation

Master's in industrial engineering, engineering technology, engineering or computer science

Outils

Java

C++

Python

Description du poste

KU Leuven-Melbourne Joint PhD: Trustworthy and insightful algorithms for industrial decision making

The CODeS research group is part of the Department of Computer Science at KU Leuven. The overall research theme of CODeS includes the design, analysis and application of heuristics for combinatorial optimisation problems. CODeS investigates the construction of models, the behaviour and the application of metaheuristics for combinatorial optimisation and has been highly active in these fields for over a decade. CODeS' research lab, located in Gent has a prolific history of collaboration with industrial partners. Note: this project will be partially performed at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Project

Cutting and packing problems are difficult optimization problems frequently occurring within logistics and production. These problems consider the cutting of smaller items from larger items (or packing smaller items within larger items) in one, two or three dimensions. Items can be regular or irregular in shape. Well known examples include the cutting of material (glass,wood, metal, …)and container/pallet loading. Although considerable research on this type of problems has been performed, the current state-of-the-art is far from optimal and many algorithmic challenges still exist. Especially, more insights on the generaland industrial applicability of the existing algorithms are needed.

This doctoral research project will employ the promising methodology of Instance Space Analysis to cutting and packing problems. It will provide insights in the existing datasets from the literature as well as many real-world datasets obtained from Belgian and Australian companies active in the cutting and packing industry. In addition, this methodology will provide insights in the performance of algorithms on these datasets and will help to further improve them.

Problem modelling and algorithms will be studied at KU Leuven, while for the instance space analysis we rely on the expertise of the University of Melbourne.

Profile

• You have a master's in industrial engineering, engineering technology, engineering or computer science, with a strong interest in combinatorial optimisation.
• You are a talented programmer with knowledge of at least one, ideally several, programming languages (e.g. Java, C++, Python).
• You can work with precision and are able to report your progress in an accurate and timely fashion.
• You have excellent communication skills, with fluency in both written and spoken English. Experience working in an English-speaking environment is a plus.

Offer

• A great work environment surrounded by experts in a variety of combinatorial optimisation domains.
• A one-year contract which can be extended.
• Start a PhD program in the Faculty of Engineering Technology at KU Leuven
• Collaborate with talented researchers and professors from the University of Melbourne

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Tony Wauters, tel.: [phone], mail: [e-mail] or Prof. dr. ir. Greet Vanden Berghe, tel.: [phone], mail: [e-mail].