PhD Position in Operations Management and Industrial Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Polytechnic Institute in United States

The Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Business School is seeking a highly motivated PhD student in Operations Management to begin in Fall 2026. This opportunity is ideal for candidates with backgrounds in industrial engineering, operations, manufacturing engineering, applied mathematics, data science, or related fields. The program is designed to prepare students for impactful research in management sciences, operations research, business analytics, supply chain management, and decision analysis, with a strong emphasis on both theoretical and applied business modeling.

Accepted students will join a vibrant academic community and benefit from a teaching assistantship that provides competitive financial support, full tuition remission, and health insurance. Students are expected to assist in teaching and demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills, as well as content knowledge in at least one undergraduate degree area. The PhD program is highly competitive, requiring a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all prior studies, a GMAT score of at least 600 (or equivalent GRE), and, for international applicants, a TOEFL score of 100 or IELTS band of 7.5 unless a waiver applies. Applicants should also show graduate-level knowledge in a business discipline or a relevant field, and undergraduate competency in calculus, statistics, and economics.

The program offers concentrations in Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, and Operations Management. Research in the operations area covers decision-making through quantitative modeling, performance measurement, and real business problem-solving. Students are encouraged to align their research interests with faculty expertise, particularly with Professors Renata Konrad and Joe Zhu, who are leaders in industrial engineering and operations analytics, respectively.

Prospective students should review the application requirements and process on the WPI website, prepare their application materials, and contact a potential faculty advisor before applying. The application deadline for Fall 2026 entry is December 28, 2025. For more information, visit the WPI Business Administration PhD program page or reach out to the listed faculty members.