Tim Ophelders writes:
TLDR: PhD position in Computational Geometry and Computational Topology at TU Eindhoven (TU/e)
Apply here by October 2: https://www.tue.nl/en/working-at-tue/vacancy-overview/phd-in-computational-geometry-and-computational-topology
The Project
Computational geometry and computational topology are areas of research focused on the design and analysis of algorithms for spatial data. These algorithms typically leverage geometric and topological structure present in the data to obtain efficient solutions. This project focuses on computing similarities between networks in a spatial context, such as networks embedded in the Euclidean plane, or on a terrain. We intend to develop topology- and geometry-aware graph edit distances, drawing inspiration from well-studied variants of the Fréchet distance between curves. This project has a vacancy for one PhD student.
Tasks
As a PhD student working on the project, your main task will be to perform research, in close collaboration with your advisory team and others involved in the project. The advisory team consists of dr. Tim Ophelders and prof. dr. Bettina Speckmann. One PhD student is already working on the project. Your tasks as a PhD student also include participating in international conferences and workshops to present your results. Besides working on your research project, you will also assist in some algorithms-related courses, as a teaching assistant (TA).
You will be working in the TU/e Algorithms cluster (algo.win.tue.nl), one of the largest research groups world-wide that focuses on algorithms research. The cluster is known for its research in computational geometry and topology, algorithms for spatiotemporal data, and algorithmic visualization, as well as graph and FPT algorithms. The cluster provides a lively and international environment for your research.
As a PhD student, you do need not speak Dutch: it is easy to get by with English, not only at the university (where all courses are taught in English) but also in everyday life.
Requirements
– A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in computer science or mathematics, with a strong background in algorithms.
– A passion for research in computational geometry and computational topology
– An interest in teaching algorithms-related courses
– Fluency in spoken and written English (C1 level)
Employment Benefits
– Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
– Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 – max. € 3,881), with a year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
– An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children’s day care and sports facilities.
– A staff immigration team and a tax compensation scheme for international candidates.
Applying
All applications should be submitted through the TU/e application website: https://www.tue.nl/en/working-at-tue/vacancy-overview/phd-in-computational-geometry-and-computational-topology
For full consideration, apply by October 2, 2026.
Questions
If you have questions about the position or project, please contact dr. Tim Ophelders ([email protected])
Call for Contributions: TopoInVis Connect 2026 – Topology Meets Artificial Intelligence
Important Dates