Fully Funded PhD Position in Game Theory for Socio-Technical Systems – University of Groningen, Netherlands

PhD position

8/14/2026

The University of Groningen in the Netherlands is offering a fully funded PhD position in Game Theory for Socio-Technical Systems. The project is situated within the Faculty of Science and Engineering and focuses on applying mathematical and computational methods to complex systems in which human, technological, and organizational components interact.

This opportunity is well suited to candidates with backgrounds in applied mathematics, operations research, computer science, artificial intelligence, systems engineering, economics, or a related quantitative discipline. The research is particularly relevant to applicants interested in smart manufacturing, multi-agent systems, optimization, decision-making, digital transformation, and the mathematical foundations of socio-technical systems.

Position Details

Position: PhD candidate in Game Theory for Socio-Technical Systems
University: University of Groningen
Faculty: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Research environment: Faculty of Science and Engineering / interdisciplinary socio-technical systems research
Location: Groningen, Netherlands
Research areas: Game theory, multi-agent systems, smart manufacturing, optimization, mathematical modelling, artificial intelligence, socio-technical systems
Contract: Full-time PhD employment
Duration: Four years, typically structured as 1 year followed by 3 years after a successful progress assessment
Funding: Fully funded PhD position
Salary: Approximately €3,059–€3,881 gross per month, depending on experience and year of appointment
Application deadline: Check the official University of Groningen vacancy page; the aggregated listing identifies this as a recent opening but does not say deadline

Research Focus

Modern production and service systems increasingly depend on interactions between humans, autonomous agents, organizations, digital platforms, and physical infrastructure. These systems cannot always be understood through purely technical models because decisions made by one participant may influence the objectives, incentives, and behaviour of others.

Game theory provides a formal framework for studying such strategic interactions. In this PhD project, the candidate will investigate how game-theoretic concepts can support the analysis, design, and operation of socio-technical systems. The work may address questions such as how independent agents coordinate, how incentives influence system-level outcomes, and how decision-making can remain robust when information, resources, or objectives are distributed across multiple stakeholders.

Potential research directions may include:

Mathematical modelling of strategic interactions among human and artificial agents.
Coordination and decision-making in smart manufacturing environments.
Distributed optimization and resource allocation.
Mechanism design for socio-technical systems.
Multi-agent reinforcement learning and computational game theory.
Robustness, fairness, trust, and explainability in automated decisions.
Digital twins and intelligent production systems.
Equilibrium analysis and algorithm development for complex networks.

The precise research plan should be confirmed from the official vacancy announcement and discussed with the prospective supervisors.

Eligibility and Skills

Applicants should normally hold, or be close to completing, a relevant master’s degree in one of the following areas:

Applied mathematics.
Computer science or artificial intelligence.
Operations research or optimization.
Systems engineering.
Industrial engineering.
Economics, game theory, or decision sciences.
A closely related quantitative discipline.

Useful preparation may include experience with mathematical modelling, probability, optimization, algorithms, machine learning, simulation, or programming. Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, Julia, R, or another scientific-computing language would be valuable.

Strong applicants should be comfortable working with abstract mathematical concepts while also being interested in real-world systems. The project may require the ability to translate practical problems into formal models, design algorithms, conduct computational experiments, and communicate results to researchers from different disciplines.

Applicants should also demonstrate:

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Academic writing and scientific communication ability.
Motivation for independent doctoral research.
Capacity to work collaboratively in an international research environment.
Excellent written and spoken English.

Funding and Benefits

The position is described as a fully funded four-year PhD opportunity. In the Dutch university system, doctoral candidates are commonly appointed as employees rather than admitted solely as self-funded students. The reported salary range for this opening is approximately €3,059–€3,881 gross per month, with progression during the appointment.

The employment package may include holiday allowance, an end-of-year bonus, pension participation, paid leave, and access to university research and computing facilities. The exact salary scale, benefits, contract terms, and progression conditions should be verified in the official University of Groningen vacancy announcement.

The University of Groningen also provides a structured doctoral environment. Its PhD programmes are designed to support independent research, dissertation preparation, supervision, and professional development. Candidates normally work with supervisors, participate in research-group activities, and complete doctoral training appropriate to their field.

Why Apply?

This PhD is particularly attractive for candidates who want to combine rigorous mathematical theory with practical applications in intelligent systems. It may be a strong fit for researchers interested in:

Game-theoretic modelling of distributed systems.
Physics-informed or structure-aware machine learning.
Multi-agent AI and autonomous decision-making.
Digital twins for manufacturing and infrastructure.
Optimization under uncertainty.
Human–AI collaboration and responsible automation.
Networked systems and strategic behaviour.
Computational methods for complex engineering systems.

The project also offers potential connections to industrial AI, smart manufacturing, cyber-physical systems, operations research, and computational social science. Candidates with experience in machine learning, computational modelling, or engineering systems may be able to connect their previous research to the project through agent-based simulation, optimization, or hybrid mathematical–data-driven approaches.

How to Apply

Applicants should locate the official vacancy through the University of Groningen’s current PhD vacancies page and search for the exact title “PhD position in Game Theory for Socio-Technical Systems.” The official advertisement should be treated as the authoritative source for the closing date, supervisor information, required documents, and submission procedure.

A typical application package may include:

A motivation letter tailored to game theory and socio-technical systems.
An academic CV.
Degree certificates and transcripts.
A brief description of previous research or master’s thesis work.
Evidence of programming, mathematical modelling, optimization, or machine-learning experience.
Contact information for academic referees.

In the motivation letter, applicants should explain why socio-technical systems interest them and identify the methods they would bring to the project. It is helpful to discuss a specific example involving game theory, optimization, multi-agent systems, control, simulation, or data-driven decision-making rather than listing methods without context.

Application Link

Apply through the official University of Groningen Current PhD Vacancies portal and search for “Game Theory for Socio-Technical Systems.” The current vacancies page is available at:

University of Groningen – Current PhD Vacancies

For more personalized tips or templates contact our team.

www.applywithmentors.com