Graduation Project: Multi-objective optimization: The new optimum – ORTEC – Zoetermeer

Job description

ORTEC serves several industries where routing is a crucial part of the operations, such as retail, e-grocery, and parcel delivery. In these businesses, there is a growing demand for optimization engines that not only look at efficiency, but also consider other objectives such as customer service level and driver happiness. In many cases, multi-objective optimization problems are solved by optimizing on weighted sum of the different objectives. While this is a straightforward approach, it lacks flexibility in the day-to-day use due to the abstract cost structure.

Instead of defining an abstract relationship between the different objectives beforehand, planners are looking for more insight in the tradeoff between objectives, and the option to choose the solution that best fits their needs. The goal of this research is to investigate different ways of handling multi-objective optimization and providing insight in the tradeoff between the objectives.

As a thesis student, you will study the different ways to handle multi-objective optimization and the best methods to provide multiple solutions with a different trade-off between the objectives (pareto front). You will investigate how both exact solution methods and heuristics take into consideration the latter’s typical optimality gap and variance in solution quality.

Who you are

You are in your last year of your Masters in the field of computer science, operations research, mathematics, or other similar areas.

Experience with traditional operations research methods such as metaheuristics/local search methods and/or some programming experience is a plus.

You can communicate fluently in English or Dutch, verbally and in writing.

You are able to travel to the Zoetermeer office of ORTEC for a few days a week. Hybrid working is possible.

You are available for 32-40 hours a week.

You are available for a minimum of six months.

You live in the Netherlands and study at a Dutch University.

What we offer

Entrance to the most passionate powerhouse in applied mathematics. We share a drive to use our problem-solving skills to improve our planet, from the world at large to our own backyard.

Inclusion in a company founded by graduate students back in 1981, which today still fosters its students by:

Excellent supervision during your graduation project.

Good internship allowance, laptop, and other office facilities.

An open, kind, and fun culture.

The Student Pool, a group that organizes all kinds of activities for graduate students at ORTEC, including Thursday afternoon drinks at our own bar “ORTap” (government regulations permitting).

The next steps:

Did we peak your interest? Then upload your  CV, motivation letter and grade lists  (BSc and MSc in one PDF if applicable). The recruitment process will consist of two online assessments: a personality and intelligence test, and an interview. 

What to expect

We will help you to thrive in your field of expertise. We offer development programs, tailored to your individual needs and function requirements, including opportunities to attend courses and seminars. We offer challenging, practical hands-on experience with opportunities to work abroad. We operate in a flat organizational structure that keeps communication lines short. The atmosphere is open, informal, cooperative and positive.

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