Master thesis internship: Solving the roster problem using predefined shift sequences
In short
Job description
ORTEC helps many of the world's best-run organizations make better data-driven decisions. Our decision support software and data science expertise enable you to improve your business results and make a positive impact on the world.
With workforce being increasingly scarce, it is vital to make efficient use of workforce by scheduling employees at the right time (and the right place). Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that employees have more influence than ever on their schedules (e.g. days on / off requests, working time preferences). Additionally, adherence to complex labor rules (e.g. enough daily/weekly rest) is imperative. Consequently, creating an employee schedule from scratch, with the objective of optimizing employee utilization, presents a significant challenge for planners.
When optimizing employee rosters, both planners and staff usually appreciate seeing familiar elements from their existing scheduling practices in the new, algorithm-generated rosters. Many organizations follow established patterns for consecutive shifts, such as: assigning at least two consecutive days with the same working hours, or implementing a forward rotation schedule in which an early shift is followed by a late shift, and then by a night shift.
This research investigates how adhering to predefined shift sequences affects the process of matching employees to available shifts, balancing operational needs with the preferences and conventions valued by both planners and employees.
What can you expect to do?
• Review existing literature and methodologies related to the nurse scheduling problem and employee assignment.
• Familiarize yourself with the concept of recognizability and express it mathematically
• Adapt the existing model and algorithm such that it can handle predefined shift sequences
• Evaluate the impact on the algorithm based on the solution, runtime etc.
Who are you
• You are currently living in the Netherlands, studying at a Dutch University, and communicate fluently in Dutch or English, verbally and in writing.
• You are a master student in Operations Research, Econometrics, Applied Mathematics or another related field and looking for a graduation project.
• You like programming and can hunt for bugs.
• You have experience with heuristics.
• You are available for a minimum of six months to a maximum of nine months, ideally starting in March, April, or May 2026.
• You can travel to the office (in Zoetermeer) at least twice a week
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:
o Excellent supervision during your graduation project,
o Good internship allowance, laptop, and other office facilities,
o An open, kind, and fun culture.
o Access to Young ORTEC formal and informal events
The next steps:
If you're an enthusiastic graduate student seeking a hands-on experience that combines analytical thinking, multidisciplinary collaboration, and problem-solving, we invite you to join us on this exciting assignment by uploading your CV, motivation letter and grade lists (BSc and MSc in PDF if applicable) by the 16th of January 2026. The recruitment process will consist of two online assessments and an interview.