IÉSEG School of Management invites applications for a temporary 12-month fully funded postdoctoral position (conditionally renewable), in Propagation prediction and optimization, starting September 2025. The selected candidate will be on the Lille Campus and part of the Department of Economics & Quantitative Methods.

ABOUT IÉSEG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

IÉSEG holds the “triple crown” of international accreditations (AACSB, AMBA & EQUIS) and is a member of the “Conférence des Grandes Écoles”. The School offers Bachelor, Master and Post-Graduate Degrees as well as Executive Education programs. IÉSEG is also one of the leading French business schools in terms of research. The IÉSEG Research Center is accredited by the French CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research). Our Lille Campus is in the heart of Northern France (within the triangle made up by London, Paris and Brussels), and our Paris Campus is located in the biggest European business district of “La Défense”. More information on the school can be found here: www.ieseg.fr/en

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The selected candidate will be part of the department of Economics and Quantitative Methods, which includes more than twenty faculty members who teach and perform research in the areas of optimization, risk theory, game theory, migration and labor economics, measurement of performance in production, health economics, and family economics, among others. More information about the department can be found here: Economics & Quantitative Methods Department

ABOUT THE POSITION

Research will be a strong focus of the selected candidate as he/she/they will contribute to the vibrant research community at IESEG through their commitment to research excellence. He/she/they will join a dedicated research team to conduct high-quality research and be working directly with Profs. Stefano Nasini and Marijn Verschelde. He/she/they will receive regular mentorship and will be expected to disseminate his/her/their research through journal submissions and conference presentations. He/she/they is expected to conduct research with the team members. 

The research will focus on propagation prediction and optimization in the railway setting. The study of train delay propagation is important, as sustainable transportation is crucial for achieving the European Green Deal objectives. However, the increased use of public transportation is limited by its functionality and operational capacity, which is directly linked to network instability and delay propagation. 

The company-funded DOMINO project (Mitigating Delay Propagation in Railway Networks: Optimal Control Room Strategies) focuses on designing specialized machine-learning algorithms that rely on the combinatorial structure of railway networks with the aim of minimizing delay propagation. The research can build on a purposefully designed, granular event-level data structure that encompasses the population of trains and railway control room controllers in Belgium over an extended period. For more information about the research setting, we also refer to the On Track Lab website: www.ontracklab.com/.

The selected candidate is expected to hold a PhD in Optimization, Quantitative Methods, Econometrics, or a related field, and have a proven research track record. The ideal candidate should have a mature research profile in the field of Quantitative Methods and Optimization, with a genuine passion for data analysis and its real-world applications. The candidate is expected to take initiative at the research level and independently address the modeling design and implementation. Previous research background in (some of) the topics listed above is a plus.

The position does not have a teaching component. However, the selected candidate might also be involved in very limited teaching activities in Quantitative Methods at the undergraduate, graduate and/or postgraduate level. All courses will be in English. Professional experience and knowledge of French are a plus, but not a requirement.

Finally, we are looking for candidates who embody our core values of Accomplishment, Responsibility, Integrity, Solidarity, and Engagement, and fit our diverse and international culture in which 50 nationalities are represented. IÉSEG places tremendous value on diversity and inclusion, and we therefore encourage applications from all backgrounds. Underrepresented groups in academia (notably women, minority ethnic groups, people identifying as LGBTQIA+, people with a (non-)visible disability, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and/or economically developing countries) are particularly encouraged to apply, as we are highly committed to ensuring that IÉSEG reflects and benefits from the diversity present in society.

WORKING AT IÉSEG

The selected applicant is expected to begin his/her/their assignment in September 2025 at the earliest. The appointment is for 12 months. Gross salary is competitive with other European research and academic institutions. The researcher will be based on the campus of IÉSEG School of Management in Lille.

At IÉSEG, we are committed to providing a supportive and engaging work environment. To new faculty members (and their partner), we offer a wide range of resources to help them integrate into the country, culture and school, such as individualized French language courses, a relocation allowance, and housing search assistance. Moreover, all faculty members have access to a competitive salary, as well as benefits such as French social security, a complementary health insurance, meal vouchers, a profit-sharing plan, and a contributory pension scheme. Finally, the school actively promotes research, provides resources for active scholars (e.g., funding for conferences and data collection) and offers competitive financial bonuses for high quality international peer-reviewed research publications.

JOIN IÉSEG!

When applying, please upload a single pdf file merging the following documents:

• An updated CV

• The names, affiliations, and email addresses of three references

• A cover letter explaining your motivation to work at IESEG, including a statement about your interest in joining our group and your qualifications.

• Two representative (working) papers

• A research statement

For any further question, please contact us by e-mail at permanentfaculty.recruitment@ieseg.fr

Please, note that applications received by email will not be reviewed. They must be sent through the provided link.

THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A ROLLING BASIS. THE PROCESS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE POSITION IS FILLED.