Department of People and Technology, Roskilde University, invites applications for a position as PhD in Operations Research from November 1st, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position as PhD is limited to a period of 3 years. The project will be related to Center for maritime and marine research and part of the interdisciplinary project Maritime Knowledge HUB with focus on regulations for emission withing maritime transport.

Description of the PhD project
The title of the PhD project is:

Smart Seas: Enabling Data-Driven Sustainable Maritime Operations
.

Environmental regulation will reshape maritime shipping, but we lack knowledge of how industry actors can comply while maintaining viable business models. The PhD project should address this knowledge gap by examining how to optimize sustainability in maritime operations through intelligent, data-driven strategies that will help reduce GHG emissions and environmental impacts.

The aim is to integrate maritime datasets (e.g., AIS, EU MRV) and analyze current operational sustainability using operations research and machine learning techniques to predict emissions and operational changes under alternative fuel scenarios and assess the impact of EU and IMO regulations (e.g., ETS, EEXI, CII).

These insights from the project should enable the design of intelligent decision-support tools and dashboards that can provide real-time, sustainability-focused operations. The PhD project should include predictive models and optimization frameworks to guide the shipping sector’s transition. Moreover, the PhD student is expected to publish research in international journals and to participate in international collaboration. To apply please provide a project description and plan for the desired PhD project.

The Doctoral School
You will be enrolled as a PhD student at People and Technology which has approximately 50 PhD fellows. The Doctoral School offers work-in-progress seminars, thematic professional development seminars, PhD courses, feedback, and social activities for enrolled PhD fellows. As a PhD fellow, you will also be part of a research group.

For more information about the Doctoral School contact Head of PhD School at the Department of People and Technology, Associate Professor Sine Lehn ([email protected]).

As a PhD student you will be associated with the research section Computer Science and Digitalization.

Responsibilities and tasks
The PhD position is an educational position, and the main tasks are in accordance with chapter 3, Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions (https://ufm.dk/en/legislation/prevailing-laws-and-regulations/education/files/engelsk-ph-d-bekendtgorelse.pdf),

Qualifications
You must hold a master’s degree or equivalent within Computer Science, Operations Research or Applied Mathematics. Qualifications within the following areas are required

• Linear and Integer programming
• Machine learning
• Programming

We also emphasize the following qualifications:

• Knowledge of Maritime area and AIS data
• Python for data handling
• Metaheuristics

You are required to be enterprising and to possess good communication skills and to be a visible, involved participant in the department’s daily activities, in addition to being willing to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration across the department.

Assessment
In the assessment regarding employment consideration will be given to;

• Relevant Master’s degree or equivalent (according to Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/transparency-tools/qualifications-frameworks/other-qualifications-frameworks/danish-qf-for-higher-education?set_language=en&cl=en).
• Any additional academic requirements stated in the job advertisement.

In the assessment regarding enrollment consideration will also be given to the following criteria:

• Educational skills and any further professional qualifications
• Grades at Master’s programme or equivalent
• Quality and relevance of the project description
  • Considerations regarding state of art and methodology shall be included in your project description
  • Your project description shall be no more than 4 pages, excl. references
• Quality and relevance of the methodical and theoretical choices
• Consistency and coherence between the problem and the choice of method and theory
• If the PhD project seem realistic and feasible
• Ability to complete the PhD project

Relevance of the project to the profile of the research group in Computer Science and Digitalization.

Questions
For further information about the position, please contact project manager Line Reinhardt on tel. (+45) 4674 3497 or [email protected]

Terms of employment
The employment is fulltime, 37 hours per week and you will refer to Head of Department Peter Kjær.

The position will be filled according to the Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

According to the Pay Transparency Directive, the salary ranges for the various job categories at Roskilde University are listed here.

Application procedure
After the deadline for applications the Head of Department will shortlist applicants for assessment with assistance from the recruitment committee including the chairperson of the assessment committee.

Shortly after the application deadline all applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected for assessment.

The shortlisted applicants will be informed about the composition of the assessment committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the composition of the committee and - later on - their assessment.

Once the recruitment process is completed, all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Application
To apply for the position go to www.ruc.dk/en/job/

Only applications in English are accepted.

Applications must include: 1. Cover letter 2. CV 3. Documentation of education including grades from Master’s programme or equivalent 4. Your description of the PhD project 5. Your time schedule of the PhD project 6. If applicable: Documentation for any research experience, work experience or publications.

Please submit your application no later than 15-08-2026.

Material received after this date will not be taken into consideration.

Roskilde University wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

The hiring process at Roskilde University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Application deadline: Apply no later than 15. August 2026

Location: Roskilde Universitet