About the opportunity
Bulk shipping plays a vital role in global trade, transporting commodities such as iron ore, coal, grain, and fertilizer. Unlike liner shipping, bulk vessels operate without fixed schedules, requiring operators to adapt vessel deployments to changing market opportunities and operational constraints. SCRUB (Scheduling, Cleaning and Routing under Uncertainty in Bulk Shipping) is a 2-year research project funded by the Danish Maritime Fund that aims to develop novel mathematical models and decision-support tools. Based in Copenhagen, the successful candidate will work within a vibrant, interdisciplinary research community at DTU Management, collaborating closely with leading Danish shipping companies to improve routing, scheduling, and fleet utilization under operational uncertainty.
Salary and benefits
- Appointment based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations
- Negotiable salary supplements in accordance with DTU's salary structure for scientific staff
- A 2-year (24 months) full-time research position
- Opportunity to work in an international environment with collegial respect and academic freedom
Who can apply?
- Hold a PhD degree (or equivalent) as a formal qualification
- Strong expertise in mathematical optimization
- Experience with large-scale algorithm design and implementation
- Knowledge of decision making under uncertainty
- Ideally, some exposure to machine learning methods
- A passion for research and for pushing the scientific frontiers, alongside a desire to work with real industrial challenges
- Excellent programming skills and good collaboration skills
- Fluent in English, spoken as well as written
Required documents
- Application (cover letter)
- CV
- Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD in English)
- List of publications
- A research statement (2-3 pages) explaining ideas and suitability for the role
When to apply
- Application deadline: 15 September 2026 (23:59 Danish time)
- Stated starting date: 1 January 2026 or according to mutual agreement
How to apply
- Open the online application link
- Fill out the online application form
- Attach all required materials in English combined into one PDF file
Additional information
- Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Richard Lusby via email at rmlu@dtu.dk or telephone +45 4525 3084
- All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply
- Open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates due to research in critical technology subject to export control and security rules
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- PhD holders with strong expertise in mathematical optimization and large-scale algorithm design.
- Researchers with knowledge of decision making under uncertainty and machine learning.
- Candidates with excellent programming skills and a desire to work with industrial partners.
What should you think carefully about?
- The position is a full-time, two-year contract.
- Qualified candidates may be subject to open-source background checks due to export control and security rules.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This is a perfect opportunity for early-career researchers to bridge the gap between academic mathematical modeling and industrial application in the shipping industry.
Our take
Highly recommended for PhDs in mathematical optimization who want to apply their research to real-world maritime logistics challenges.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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