Graduate Assistant in Operations Research / Optimization
Introduction
UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.
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Presentation
To complete the team, the Departement of Operations at the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Lausanne (HEC Lausanne) invites applications for the position of Graduate Assistant in Operations Research / Optimization.
Job information
Expected starting date: August 1st , 2026 or mutually agreed dateContract length: 1 year, renewable 2 x 2 years. The total maximum duration is 5 years
Activity rate: 100%
Salary: Gross salary starting at CHF 67'568.- per year (following 2025 official salary grid)
Workplace: University of Lausanne, Chamberonne Campus
The open position is fully funded by the University of Lausanne. The successful candidate will get the opportunity to attend international conferences to present her/his work, and to travel and learn from leading experts through our wide network of academic and industry collaborations.
The successful candidate will have to apply to the doctoral program in Business Analytics :
https://www.unil.ch/hec-phd/en/home/menuinst/programs/phd-in-business-analytics.html
Your responsibilities- - A minimum of 50% of the regular working hours will be dedicated to the completion of the PhD thesis.
- A maximum of 50% of the regular working hours will be dedicated to teaching, administrative and technical tasks, as well as supporting the research activities of Professor Virginie Lurkin.
The successful candidate will work toward the completion of a PhD thesis focused on the development and application of operations research methods for choice-based optimisation in dynamic slot management. The research will address decision-making problems that incorporate customer choice behaviour, time dynamics, and uncertainty.
The thesis will consist of several research projects leading to publications in peer-reviewed academic journals. Specific topics will be defined jointly with the PhD student, based on their interests and alignment with the department’s research scope.
The PhD student will also have teaching responsibilities, both at BSc and MSc level. In particular, she/he will be responsible for the exercise sessions of some of our courses (e.g., Production Planning and Scheduling), she/he will supervise student projects, and she/he will help with administrative and technical tasks.
Your qualifications
MSc, or equivalent university degree, in one of the following areas: Mathematics, Computer Science, Industrial Engineering, Econometrics, or related domains. Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience in the field of Operations Research.
Excellent English proficiency is required, as well as a basic level (B1) in French at the time of hiring.
Good programming skills in at least one programming language (C++, Java, C, Python).
What the position offers you
We offer a nice working place in a multicultural, diverse and dynamic academic environment. Opportunities for professional training, a lot of activities and other benefits to discover.
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Contact for further information
Professor Virginie Lurkin : E-Mail schreiben
More information about the Department of Operations can be found under https://www.unil.ch/do/home.html
Your application
Deadline for application: June 19, 2026
Please send the following documents in PDF format:
- Motivation letter, including a statement of personal areas of interest in research
- Curriculum vitae
- Copy of diplomas and course grades
- Electronic version of a research work (e.g., master thesis, term paper, conference paper)
- The contact details of two reference persons
The University of Lausanne is committed to promoting gender equality and strongly encourages applications from female candidates.
Only applications through this website will be taken into account. We thank you for your understanding.
Additional information
UNIL is committed to:- equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
- ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
- offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
- supporting early career researchers.
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