The Gijs de Leve Prize
The Gijs de Leve Prize is one of the most prestigious distinctions in Dutch Operations Research. It is awarded by LNMB for the best PhD thesis in the Mathematics of Operations Research in the Netherlands.
Named after Professor Gijsbert (Gijs) de Leve, a founding figure of Dutch Operations Research, the prize recognises groundbreaking doctoral work that advances mathematical methods for decision making and optimisation. It highlights excellence across the full breadth of the field, including optimisation, stochastic processes, algorithms, and network models.
The Gijs de Leve Prize aims to:
- Promote high-quality research in Operations Research in the Netherlands
- Recognise exceptional PhD work with strong scientific impact
- Encourage young researchers at the start of their academic careers
The award is presented once every three years and is conferred during the annual LNMB conference, the central gathering of the Dutch OR community.
Selection criteria
The prize is awarded for theses defended within a three-year period, reflecting its selective and high-level nature. Eligible work must fall within the mathematics of operations research, such as stochastic operations research, optimisation, decision processes, and related areas.To be eligible for the award in year n, the PhD thesis must have been defended at a Dutch university between 1 September of year n − 4 and 31 August of year n − 1.
A jury appointed by the LNMB Board evaluates the nominated theses and selects the laureate. The award is presented at the subsequent annual LNMB conference.The selection criteria are as follows:
- Scientific originality and depth
- Mathematical rigor
- Publication record and impact
- Independence of the candidate
- Quality and clarity of exposition
The jury also emphasises diversity of methods and innovation in problem-solving approaches.
Important dates
- Before 1 June of year n − 1: The call for nominations is posted on the LNMB website and is distributed among the LNMB members
- Before 1 September of year n − 1: The final call for nominations is posted
- On 30 September of year n − 1: The submission deadline
Application process
Nominations should be sent to the LNMB Director. The nominator is one or more of the thesis advisors. Nomination materials include:
- four copies of the PhD thesis;
- a pdf file of the thesis;
- a nomination letter of at most 1000 words highlighting the thesis contributions;
- a list of thesis-related publications of the candidate;
- a draft citation (of no more than 200 words).
No further material, such as additional recommendation letters, will be taken into consideration.
About Gijs de Leve
The prize is named after Gijsbert (Gijs) de Leve (1926–2009), widely regarded as the founder of Operations Research in the Netherlands and of LNMB.
De Leve played a pivotal role in shaping the Dutch OR community:
- He was among the first to develop and promote Operations Research in the Netherlands
- He contributed foundational work on Markov decision processes
- He initiated national collaboration through early OR meetings and networks
- He helped lay the groundwork for what later became the LNMB
To mark his impact on the field and in recognition of his lasting influence, LNMB created the prize for the best PhD dissertation in Operations Research.
History of the prize
Since its establishment in 1997, the Gijs de Leve Prize has been awarded to researchers whose PhD theses have made significant contributions to Operations Research.
The prize is awarded once every three years for theses defended in the preceding triennium. From 1997 until 2018, the prize was awarded to the best thesis defended in the preceeding 3 calender years. From 2021 onwards, the prize is awarded to the best thesis defended in the preceeding 3 academic years, with the period 2018-2020 being a transition period (January 2018 – August 2020).
Past laureates
- 1994–1996: Sem Borst
- 1997–1999: Jos Sturm
- 2000–2002: Bert Zwart
- 2003–2005: René Sitters
- 2006–2008: Ton Dieker
- 2009–2011: Leo van Iersel
- 2012–2014: Arnoud den Boer
- 2015–2017: Ward Romeijnders
- 2018–2020: Pieter Kleer
- 2020–2023: Sophie Huiberts
- 2023–2026: accepting now nominations