Taco van der Vaart

Prof. Taco van der Vaart is a Professor and Department Chair at the Department of Operations, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen. His expertise lies in Supply Chain Management, Health Care Operations, and Buyer-Supplier Relationships. He holds a PhD in Business Administration (2000) and an MSc in Mathematics from the University of Groningen.

Research Interests: His work focuses on supply chain sustainability, healthcare logistics, and the integration of operations management principles in complex systems. Notable contributions include studies on physician payment dynamics, emergency care coordination, and global value chain governance.

Professional Roles: He has served as President of the European Operations Management Association (2019–2022), Director of Graduate Studies at the SOM Research School, and currently chairs the Department of Operations. He also contributes to ancillary roles like the Advisory Board of the Politecnico di Milano School of Management.

Recent Research Trends: His recent publications emphasize healthcare operational challenges, such as patient flow management in emergencies and supplier sustainability in global supply chains. Collaborations span international institutions, reflecting his global impact in operations research.