Early autonomy and a budget of your own

Max Planck Research Groups offer early career researchers who hold a doctoral degree an excellent opportunity to qualify for a further career at a high level. Leaders of these groups are appointed by the President of the Max Planck Society and – similar to directors at Max Planck Institutes – enjoy an independent status within the Institute.

At the Max Planck Society, there are various ways to become the Leader of a Research Group - via centralized selection procedures as well as via decentralized ones at the MPIs. Group Leaders can draw on infrastructure and administration of a Max Planck Institute, but are also provided with own funds for personnel, equipment and running costs, which enable them to independently engage in their research project, thus laying the foundations for a successful career. 

The Max Planck Institutes make their own decisions on appointments to Research Group Leader positions:

The Max Planck Institutes call for applications for appointment to these positions – sometimes also internationally – using their own procedures and specify a research field. No uniform application deadlines apply to these positions. The personnel budget and financial resources vary depending upon the Max Planck Institute.

If you are interested in making an application, contact the Max Planck Institute of your choice. Candidates are appointed by the Managing Director after successful completion of the application procedure. They generally receive a fixed-term employment contract based on the Collective Wage Agreement for the Civil Service (TVöD).

The Central Research Group Programs:

For particularly outstanding female scientists there is the Lise Meitner Excellence Programme.These, as well as leadership positions for the Max Planck Research Groups are centrally advertised and financed; appointments to the groups are made in accordance with a competitive selection process. At the Max Planck Research Groups a fixed pool of positions is reserved for female scientists .