RESEARCH IS CALLING! WE PROMOTE PIONEERS IN SCIENCE Come and join us
↘ Are you creative, curious, focussed, and If your answer to these questions is yes, the Max Planck enthusiastic about basic research? Society is one of the best places you could be! The Society enjoys international renown, and surveys reveal that it is the preferred employer for many students in the sciences. ↘ Have you successfully completed We welcome applications from individuals of all genders. a university degree or completed your doctorate and want to continue carving In our 86 Max Planck Institutes, cutting-edge scientists conduct interdisciplinary research in areas like physics, out a career in the sciences? chemistry, biology, medicine, computer science, law, the social sciences, art and education. ↘ Would you like to work in Germany and experience an inspiring cultural setting? GETTING IN TOUCH WITH OTHERS
• Collaborate with leading scientists from Germany ↘ Are you excited about conducting and abroad. research in an international environment? • Encounter the latest discoveries in basic research. • Get to know new concepts and ways of thinking. • Exchange and discuss ideas in an interdisciplinary and international environment. • Benefit from multi-disciplinary research training. • Take advantage of state-of-the-art research facilities.
Diversity Mentoring Research Creativity Inspiring Culture Discovery Earn a doctorate Doctoral Students
Max Planck Institutes have a successful track record in Max Planck Schools target ambitious Bachelor's and supporting doctoral students from all over the world. They Master's graduates. Renowned scientists from German offer individual doctorates and are closely networked with universities and research organizations collaborate across universities that officially confer doctoral degrees at the disciplines and institutions to provide an exceptional gradu- end of the period of study. ate training. Three Schools are in the pilot phase: Matter to Life, Cognition, and Photonics. This program is sponsored How to apply: by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. There is no central procedure for admissions. Please contact the Max Planck Institute of your choice directly How to apply: throughout the year and check the websites for application Please check the websites of the Max Planck School of deadlines. your choice for application deadlines. Admission is given after a multi-stage selection process, which varies from Next, there are International Max Planck Research Schools School to School. (IMPRS), graduate schools at Max Planck Institutes, which partner usually with local universities, sometimes with Max Planck Graduate Centers bring together leading fac- further research facilities. They offer structured programs ulty at several Max Planck Institutes and their partner insti- with interdisciplinary curricula. Thesis committees mentor tutions to provide outstanding doctoral research programs the students. in a set of topical research areas. The following Graduate Centers started in autumn 2019: for Computer and Informa- How to apply: tion Science, for Quantum Materials, Max Planck Law. Please contact the Max Planck Institute of your choice directly throughout the year and check the websites for ap- How to apply: plication deadlines. Admission is given after a multi-stage Please check the websites of the Max Planck Graduate selection process, which varies from IMPRS to IMPRS. Center of your choice for application deadlines. Admission is highly selective, either via a special selection procedure or through admission by one of the Institutes involved. Move ahead Postdocs
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW After completing a PhD, early career researchers have the • To qualify for admission, you must have a Master’s opportunity to conduct a research project of their own at a degree (MSc.); an increasing number of IMPRS and Max Max Planck Institute and to develop their scientific profile. Planck Schools also offer programs for graduate stu- The postdoc phase serves to develop the ability to conduct dents with a Bachelor’s degree. independent research. • Doctoral students receive an employment contract for initially three years ensuring sufficient financial support. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Regardless of the type of doctorate, there are binding regulations in the Max Planck Society in order to offer • Postdocs receive a fixed term employment contract of early career researchers reliable, transparent structures between two and six years or bring a grant with them. for their training and career. If researchers come from abroad to an MPI for research • Research projects can be developed in consultation with stay of less than two years, a MPG fellowship can be a supervisor and tailored towards the student’s own inter- awarded. ests, as well as in the Institute’s main areas of research. • Guidelines provide transparency and reliability during that career phase; they include status reviews develop- ing and supporting the way forward.
• As a postdoc you will be part of the department of a
www.mpg.de/en Career www.maxplanckschools.de/en Director at the Max Planck Institute.
www.imprs.mpg.de/en www.mpg.de/graduate-center • The central training catalogue contains seminars espe-
www.institutes.mpg.de cially for postdocs; they convey soft skills and advice for career development and assist in applying for funds.
How to apply:
The positions are advertised in journals (both German and international), on the Institute websites, and on the Max Planck Society’s online jobboard. Those interested in a specific research topic pursued by one of the Max Planck Institutes, can also contact the Institute directly. Be a research group leader Research Group Leaders
The Max Planck Society is keen to identify exceptional All Max Planck Research Group Leaders receive a early career researchers and postdocs from all over the five-year W2 contract which can be extended twice by two world to lead their Research Groups. Research Group Lead- years in the event of positive evaluation. ers are responsible for a small number of employees and They are independent of the Board of Directors and will have their own budget, which guarantees them independ- be evaluated by the Institute’s Scientific Advisory Board. ence – the ideal starting point for their further scientific Despite their scientific autonomy, Group Leaders take an career. There are different types of such leading positions: active and supportive part in the Institute’s life.
(1) MAX PLANCK RESEARCH GROUP LEADERS How to apply: Max Planck Research Groups offer postdocs – selected Once a year (usually in autumn), there is a central call for at the end of a rigorous competitive procedure – the applications in international journals as well on the Max opportunity to build a successful profile in the scientific Planck Society’s website for Free Floating Max Planck community. All Max Planck Research Group Leaders have Research Groups. Institute-specific Max Planck Research complete freedom in how they conduct their research. Groups are announced in journals and on the Institutes’ websites whenever there is an open position. These posi- There are tions are financed centrally by the Max Planck Society. • Institute-specific Max Planck Research Group Leaders, located at a specific Institute and usually thematically Collaboration with TU Munich linked to the Institute concerned; although suggestions for Once a scientist has been confirmed as leader of an individual research projects can be submitted individually. open-topic Max Planck Research Group, they can take the entrance evaluation for the TUM’s tenure track procedure • Free Floating Max Planck Research Group Leaders, and apply for a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at TUM. who can choose the Max Planck Institute they want to work for. These positions are not subject to any thematic restric- tions but open-topic. (2) LISE MEITNER GROUP LEADERS To recruit and promote exceptionally qualified female sci- entists the Max Planck Society has set up the Lise Meitner Excellence Program which includes up to ten groups each year. This program offers outstanding female talents trans- parent and attractive internal career perspectives.
• Lise Meitner Groups are furnished with their own resources for their entire duration of five years. • Each researcher in the program receives the offer to take part in the tenure track process, which – following a positive decision by the tenure committee – will lead to a permanent W2 post with group equipment. • Asserting oneself in this procedure means to enter the pool of candidates who have the opportunity to become director at a Max Planck Institute.
How to apply: A call for applications will be published in spring. A com- petitive multistage selection process will follow, closely aligned with the Max Planck Institutes interested in hosting Lise Meitner scientists.
(3) RESEARCH GROUP LEADERS • are located at a specific Max Planck Institute and appointed by its Board of Directors • usually get a fixed term contract following the TVöD (Collective Wage Agreement for the Civil Service). Each Institute decides itself upon budget and appointments.
How to apply: Each Max Planck Institute selects its own candidates.
Please contact an Institute of your choice at any time.
www.mpg.de/en Career
https://www.mpg.de/lise-meitner-excellence-program https://www.mpg.de/max-planck-research-groups https://www.mpg.de/research-groups What we do for you
Help with the formalities of moving to Germany Sign Up: A career building program for female postdocs Career planning and career perspectives Minerva-FemmeNet: Childcare places in day-care centres A mentoring network for female scientists Financial support for day-care facilities Regional Mentoring cooperations in Baden-Württem- A family service for help in finding private care attendants berg, Hessen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Elisabeth Schiemann Kolleg: Guidelines on mentoring especially for female group leaders of “Maternity protection in the laboratory” Institutes belonging to the Chemistry, Physics & Opportunities for part-time work and flexible Technology Section working hours. Since 2006: Audit certificate for a family-friendly personnel policy Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation: funding for female doctoral students with children Gender Equality Officers at the Max Planck Institutes AcademiaNet: For doctoral students: courses on soft skills Max Planck Directors can nominate excellent female researchers to this platform For postdocs and research group leaders: seminars on leadership, communication techniques, Starting in 2020, the Planck Academy will bundle all and management skills personnel and career development offerings
Health management
GETTING IN TOUCH WITH OTHERS At various Max Planck Institutes, there are also local Internal networks at every career level: alliances of researchers at different career levels as well as alumni. Additionally, the Max Planck Alumni Association is The PhDnet represents the interests of the doctoral stu- a cross-disciplinary association facilitating its members to dents and serves as a communication platform. stay in contact with their former Institute, and be updated www.phdnet.mpg.de on the activities of the Society. www.mpg-alumni.de PostdocNet The recently established PostdocNet enables scientific exchange and career development at postdoc level. www.postdocnet.mpg.de
LeadNet is bringing together senior scientists, research associates, project and group leaders. www.leadnet.mpg.de Where we are
BAD MÜNSTEREIFEL DRESDEN GÖTTINGEN KAISERSLAUTERN MÜNSTER SITES ABROAD Effelsberg Radio Observatory MPI for the Physics of Complex MPI for Biophysical Chemistry Sub-institute of the MPI for Soft- MPI for Molecular Biomedicine (branch of the MPI for Radio Astro- Systems MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organi- ware Systems (see Saarbrücken) nomy, Bonn) MPI for the Chemical Physics of zation PLÖN JUPITER, FLORIDA / USA Solids MPI for the Study of Religious and LEIPZIG MPI of Evolutionary Biology Max Planck Florida Institute BAD NAUHEIM MPI of Molecular Cell Biology and Ethnic Diversity MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology for Neuroscience MPI for Heart and Lung Research Genetics MPI for Experimental Medicine MPI for Human Cognitive and POTSDAM MPI for Solar System Research Brain Sciences MPI for Gravitational Physics FLORENCE, ITALY BERLIN DÜSSELDORF MPI for Mathematics in the Scien- (for sub-institute see Hanover) Kunsthistorisches Institut MPI for Human Development MPI for Iron Research GmbH GREIFSWALD ces MPI of Colloids and Interfaces in Florenz – MPI Fritz Haber Institute of the MPS Greifswald sub-institute of the MPI MPI for Molecular Plant Physiology MPI for Molecular Genetics ERLANGEN for Plasma Physics, Garching MAGDEBURG LUXEMBOURG (CITY), MPI for Infection Biology MPI for the Science of Light MPI for the Dynamics of Complex ROSTOCK LUXEMBOURG MPI for the History of Science HALLE AN DER SAALE Technical Systems MPI for Demographic Research Max Planck Institute Luxembourg MPU for the Science of Pathogens FRANKFURT AM MAIN MPI for Social Anthropology for International, European and MPI of Biophysics MPI for Microstructure Physics MAINZ SAARBRÜCKEN Regulatory Procedural Law BOCHUM MPI for Brain Research MPI for Chemistry MPI for Computer Science MPI for Cyber Security and Privacy MPI for empirical Aesthetics HAMBURG (for branch see Manaus) Sub-institute of the MPI for Soft- NIJMEGEN, NETHERLANDS MPI for European Legal History MPI for Meteorology MPI for Polymer Research ware Systems (see Kaiserslautern) MPI for Psycholinguistics BONN Ernst Strüngmann Institute MPI for Comparative and Internatio- MPI for Research on Collective MPRU for Neurogenetics nal Private Law MARBURG SEEWIESEN ROME, ITALY Goods MPI for the Structure and Dynamics MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology MPI for Ornithology Bibliotheca Hertziana – MPI for Mathematics FREIBURG of Matter MPI for Art History MPI for Radio Astronomy (for MPI for Immunobiology and Epi- MARTINSRIED NR. MUNICH STUTTGART branch see Bad Münstereifel) genetics HANOVER MPI of Biochemistry MPI for Solid State Research Caesar research center MPI for Foreign and International Hanover sub-institute of the MPI for MPI of Neurobiology MPI for Intelligent Systems Criminal Law Gravitational Physics, Potsdam BREMEN MÜLHEIM AN DER RUHR TÜBINGEN MPI for Marine Microbiology GARCHING HEIDELBERG Max Planck Institute for MPI for Developmental Biology MPI for Astrophysics MPI for Astronomy Chemical Energy Conversion MPI for Intelligent Systems COLOGNE MPI for Extraterrestrial Physics MPI for Nuclear Physics MPI of Coal Research MPI for Biological Cybernetics MPI for Biology of Ageing MPI for Plasma Physics MPI for Medical Research (independent foundation) Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of MPI for the Study of Societies (see also Greifswald) MPI for Comparative Public Law the Max Planck Society MUNICH MPI for Plant Breeding Research MPI for Quantum Optics and International Law Institute / Research center MPI for Metabolism Research MPI for Innovation and Competition Subinstitute / Branch JENA MPI for Physics Other Research Institution CONSTANCE MPI for Biogeochemistry MPI of Psychiatry Associated Research Institute MPI for Animal Behavior MPI for Chemical Ecology MPI for Social Law and Social Biology & Medicine Section MPI for the Science of Human Policy Chemistry, Physics & DORTMUND History MPI for Tax Law and Public Finance Technology Section MPI for Molecular Physiology Human Sciences Section Where we are The Max Planck Society
The Max Planck Society is an independent non-profit scien- tific organisation which operates 86 Max Planck Institutes. SCHLESWIG- HOLSTEIN For more than 70 years, it has embodied knowledge-orient- Plön Rostock Greifswald ed basic research in the life sciences, the natural sciences, MECKLENBURG WESTERN POMERANIA and the human sciences – and served as a byword for Hamburg excellence: 18 Max Planck scientists have been honoured with the Nobel Prize to date. Bremen BRANDENBURG LOWER SAXONY Berlin Around 23,800 people altogether currently work and con- duct research in the Max Planck Society. Each Max Planck Hanover Potsdam Institute is headed by cutting-edge scientists. These top Magdeburg Münster scientists work under the best of conditions; they choose SAXONY-ANHALT NORTH RHINE WESTPHALIA their own topics and are given free rein in selecting their Dortmund Mülheim Halle staff. Where our current knowledge of the world ends, that Bochum Göttingen Leipzig Düsseldorf is where they search for answers – in fields that have yet SAXONY Cologne Jena Dresden to find a place in a university research setting, that require Bonn Marburg THURINGIA costly apparatus, large-scale equipment or specialist libra- Bad Münstereifel HESSE ries, or that call for extensive interdisciplinary cooperation.
RHINELAND Bad Nauheim PALATINATE Furthermore, the Max Planck Society cherishes a working Frankfurt Mainz environment that is marked by diversity, equal opportunities
SAARLAND Kaiserslautern and mutual respect. Erlangen Saarbrücken Heidelberg BAVARIA The Max Planck Society’s scientific workforce comprises Stuttgart more than 10,900 staff, including scientists, doctoral and Tübingen Garching postdoctoral students with funding contracts and scholarship BADEN- Munich WÜRTTEMBERG holders. To give young academics the help they need to get Martinsried Freiburg ahead is a key concern of the Max Planck Society. They are Seewiesen Constance incorporated into the Institutes’ research projects, which are driven forward in national and international cooperation with research facilities and universities. Besides being financed by the Max Planck Society, young scientists also receive third-party funding from sources like the German Research Foundation (DFG) and many others. SITES ABROAD MAX PLANCK SOCIETY USA LUXEMBOURG Administrative Headquarters Florida Luxembourg Hofgartenstraße 8, 80539 Munich, Germany E-mail: [email protected] ITA LY NETHERLANDS Florence Nijmegen You will find up-to-date information at any time under the Rome Career section on our website: www.mpg.de/en