Layla van der Heide-Martin

Dr. Layla van der Heide-Martin is an Assistant Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), affiliated with the School of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences and the Department of Operations Planning Accounting & Control. She also holds the EAISI Mobility Assistant Professor position. Her research addresses operational challenges in transportation and logistics, specializing in shared mobility systems (carsharing, bikesharing, ride-hailing) and strategic fleet design using advanced optimization methods.

Education

• PhD (Dr. rer. pol.) from Technical University of Munich (2020)
• MSc in Information Systems from Technical University of Munich (2017)
• BSc from Cooperative State University Baden-Württemberg (2015)

Research Focus

Layla investigates transportation logistics through multidisciplinary approaches, including mixed integer programming, Markov decision processes, and game theory. Her work balances strategic planning (e.g., fleet sizing) with operational realities, emphasizing collaborations with methodological experts to solve complex mobility challenges. Recent projects target sustainable freight transport and shared system optimization.

Research Output Trends

Her 15+ publications (2017-present) focus on optimization algorithms for vehicle routing, shared mobility economics, and sustainable urban transport. Articles in Transportation Science and European Journal of Operational Research demonstrate consistent themes: algorithmic efficiency, policy impact analysis, and integrated transport systems.

Awards

• Dissertation Prize (2021)
• Best Teacher Propaedeutic, Industria Education Awards (2024)

Advising & Projects

She supervises 6 PhD students and collaborates with postdoctoral researchers. Current grants include:

• SYNERCIZE: Zero-emission construction transport networks (2025-2027)
• Integrated Energy/Logistics Planning for Electric Trucking (2024-2028)
• Innovative Waterway Transportation 2.0 (2023-2026)