The Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.; MPG) is a world-leading, independent, non-profit research organization with the goal of promoting cutting-edge basic research. Over 26,000 employees across 84 Max Planck Institutes and research facilities conduct basic research in the life and natural sciences as well as the humanities, social sciences and law and have a strong interest in innovative and interdisciplinary research. There are several Max Planck Institutes with astronomy-related research, including the MPI for Astronomy (Heidelberg), Radio Astronomy (Bonn), Astrophysics (Garching), Extraterrestrial Physics (Garching), Gravitational Physics (Golm/Hanover), Nuclear Physics (Heidelberg), Physics (Garching), and Solar System (Göttingen). For further details on the institutes, see https://www.mpg.de/institutes.
To support emerging scholars early in their career path, the MPG invites all outstanding scientists with a doctorate working in any field of research pursued in the organization to apply for one of several positions as Max Planck Research Group Leader (https://www.mpg.de/career/max-planck-research-groups/applications).
Successful candidates will lead their own independent Max Planck Research Group at a participating Max Planck Institute of their own choice for a period of six years. An extension of up to three more years is possible and subject to a positive evaluation as well as the respective legal regulations. Application deadline October 13th 2025.
The funding package covers a W2 position (equivalent to an assistant or non-tenured associate professor level), resources for scientific staff and a generous budget for equipment and consumables. The total funding for a Max Planck Research Group is competitive with other top international career development programmes and amounts to up to 2.7 million euros for the initial six years.
Once accepted for the position as Max Planck Research Group Leader, successful candidates can participate at the MPG/TUM career programme and apply for a position as Tenure Track Assistant Professor at the Technische Universität München. Tenure track options may also be possible with other universities on an individual basis. Furthermore, the MPG also considers promoting outstanding Research Group Leaders when filling vacant director positions.
Application Instructions
The MPG is an equal opportunities employer striving for greater gender equality and diversity. Therefore, applicants from all genders are welcome. Furthermore, the MPG is committed to increasing the number of individuals with severe disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.
Your application should include the following documents:
- a cover letter;
- a CV;
- a list of publications in which the applicant should identify the three most important papers that they have written. If they are not the first author, they should quantitatively specify their contribution to the paper;
- a research summary limited to one page (11 point type, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 25mm margins on 4 sides) and written for a non-specialist, which explains the main goals of the research work and why the applicant’s preferred MPI and their proposed MPRG would be a good match;
- a research proposal of no more than three pages total (11 point type, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 25mm margins on 4 sides) including all references, figures, and tables, written for a specialist;
- links to or copies of the three most important papers;
- two letters of recommendation.
Link to Online Application https://mprg.cloud.opencampus.net
Inquiries: mprg(at)gv.mpg.de
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