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Associate Professor in Algorithms, Optimization and/or AI in Aviation

Department of Information and Computing Sciences

Application deadline:
15 August 2021

Job description

Utrecht University is working together with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to translate challenging problems related to aviation and logistics into scientific questions. The joint aim is to develop scientific breakthroughs around these questions and put them into practice. Utrecht University attaches great value to making fundamental connections, not only within science but also with partners with whom we share our ambitions and core values.

As part of the Dutch program Kickstart AI, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Utrecht University are collaborating through joint appointments of academic staff, providing access for the next generation of AI talent to education, training, and leading academics. This position is the result of a collaboration between the Operations Decision Support department of KLM and the Department of Information and Computing Sciences of Utrecht University.

Are you an experienced medior or senior academic, who can lead and contribute to this collaboration, then we would like to hear from you. You will investigate how technologies from the fields of AI, operations research, and/or computer science can be deployed and further developed to organize the operations of a complex organization like KLM in the best possible way.

You will set up this cooperation in close collaboration with colleagues within our Department of Information and Computing Sciences and our Faculty of Science, KLM, and with the contact persons within the supporting domains. You will take care of, amongst others:

• performing cutting-edge scientific research, inspired by challenges and problems in airline operations;
• identifying scientifically relevant research areas in the front-line of airline operation innovation;
• consulting at KLM on its innovative digitalization of airline operations and logistics;
• supervising PhD students and Postdocs investigating related topics;
• contributing to and developing education in themes relevant for the research;
• supervising Bachelor's and Master's theses;
• acquiring further financial resources for research;
• coordinating contacts with software-project groups and MSc students;
• forming and maintaining a network around the research theme within the university and KLM, but also with other external partners;
• presenting the research both within and outside the university and KLM.

Qualifications

We are looking for a motivated and committed medior or senior academic who fits well with the following qualifications:

• a PhD in computer science, AI, operations research, applied mathematics, or another relevant field;
• extensive experience in and a vision for research within the field of computer science, AI, operations research, applied mathematics;
• extensive experience in the acquisition of research funding and the supervision of research projects, interest in the development of the Researchers;
• successful supervision of PhD and Master's students;
• relevant experience in teaching (delivery, innovation, and quality assurance) within the field of computer science, AI, operations research, applied mathematics;
• excellent command of the English language;
• a team player with good communication, presentation, and leadership skills, able to inspire stakeholders in industrial and academic settings;
• collaboration skills for complex contexts, forming and maintaining networks;
• affinity with business and industry-driven problems and commercial goals, preferably in aviation and logistics;
• able to identify trade-offs and prioritize for impact and innovation, with a strong result-orientation.

Offer

• a position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE), initially for a period of 5 years. The position will be subject to a mid-term evaluation after approximately 2.5 years and an end-term evaluation. Following a positive evaluation the position will become permanent after 5 years;
• a full-time gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience - ranging between €4,538 and €6,940 (scale 12, 13 or 14 of the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities (cao));
• salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8,3% per year;
• a pension scheme, collective insurance schemes and partially paid parental leave based on the

;

• special perks include the assistance of two new PhD students funded by the Department and the KLM in order to start up your research.

In addition to the employment conditions laid down in the cao for Dutch Universities, Utrecht University has a number of its own arrangements. For example, there are agreements on professional development, leave arrangements and sports. You will also be given the opportunity to expand your terms of employment via the

. This is how we like to encourage you to continue to grow.
For international employees, the University offers help with finding housing, child care and schools, as well as a partner programme and a Dutch language course.

More information about working at the Faculty of Science can be found
.
Utrecht is an attractive city located in the Netherlands, one of the world’s most open and connected countries. Utrecht University reflects this philosophy by offering a flexible work/life balance that prioritizes your well-being within an understanding and supportive, family-friendly environment.

The research offers:

• access to a wealth of historical and real-time data detailing every aspect of KLM operations;
• ability to test models and algorithms in live operations with real impact;
• collaboration with and support by an academically active R&D department of KLM Operations (ODS).

About the organisation

The
is nationally and internationally renowned for its fundamental and applied research in computer science and information science. In our constantly changing (digital) society, the Department of Information and Computing Sciences is constantly looking for new, realistic ways to push the boundaries of both science and social application. We contribute to innovative information technologies through the development and application of new concepts, theories, algorithms, and software methods. We collaborate extensively with partners inside and outside the university, including the focus areas of Applied Data Science, Human-centered Artificial Intelligence, and Game Research.

The department provides Bachelor's programmes in Computer Science and Information Science and six English-language Research Master's programmes in these areas.

At the
, there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Physics. Each of them is made up of distinct institutes that work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups - the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects.

is a friendly and ambitious university at the heart of an ancient city. We love to welcome new scientists to our city – a thriving cultural hub that is consistently rated as one of the world’s happiest cities. We are renowned for our innovative interdisciplinary research and our emphasis on inspirational research and excellent education. We are equally well-known for our down-to-earth atmosphere and the can-do attitude of our people. This fundamental connection attracts Researchers, Professors, and PhD candidates from all over the globe, making both the university and the Faculty of Science a vibrant international and wonderfully diverse community.

About KLM

For 100 years, KLM has been a pioneer in the airline industry. KLM is the oldest airline still operating under its original name. The Dutch airline aims to be the most customer-focused, innovative, and efficient airline in Europe, offering reliable service and top-quality products.

In 2019, before the Corona crisis, KLM carried a record of 35.1 million passengers, offering its passengers direct flights to 171 destinations with a modern fleet of more than 172 aircraft. The airline employs a workforce of more than 28,000 people worldwide. The KLM network facilitates connections between all the world’s key economic regions and is a powerful engine driving the economy of the Netherlands. KLM has been the front-runner in the development of advanced optimization tools, simulation models, and machine learning methodologies to resolve issues concerning fleet, crew, ground operations, and network in the case of travel disruption. These tools are not only used within KLM itself but more generally in the industry to improve airline operations.

Today, the Corona crisis has a worldwide impact on the airline industry. At KLM the innovative use of data, advanced machine learning, and optimization algorithms are proving their value by reducing the impact of the crisis and allowing for the optimal use of new opportunities.

Operations Decision Support (ODS)
Optimizing and digitizing airline operations is the key to gaining a competitive advantage in the airline industry, as other factors, such as seats, routes, and aircrafts, that once set airlines apart, have now become commodities.

Every day KLM’s Operational Control Center makes trade-offs that affect flights, passengers, crew, and ground staff on-time performance and profitability. The many operational processes of KLM strongly interact with each other resulting in vast complexity. Today, these processes produce a huge amount of data and offer increasing opportunities to implement decisions digitally, offering myriads of opportunities for research and development, and improvement on the old ways of working. Operations Decision Support, a new department founded in 2017, took the initiative to digitize

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