“Insight must precede application.” – Max Planck
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 26,700 employees across 85 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.
To support emerging scholars early in their career, the MPG invites all outstanding scientists with a doctorate and groundbreaking research to apply for one of several positions as
Max Planck Research Group Leader
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. During this time, they will conduct an innovative, original and ambitious frontier research programme, and pursue external funding opportunities, with a strong emphasis on securing competitive grants such as the ERC Starting Grant. An extension of up to three more years is possible. 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 2.9 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.
As an open and diverse organization, the MPG is characterized by a high proportion of international scientists, its decentralized structures and the subject-specific needs of its three scientific sections. Valuing and promoting all MPG employees regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, social background, and the need to balance work and family life, is an overarching organizational development goal of all personnel development and career measures at the MPG. Applications from people with severe disabilities are strongly encouraged.
Your application should include:
- a cover letter,
- a full CV,
- a list of publications,
- a research summary (about your main goals of research and choice of MPI),
- a research proposal,
- links to or copies of the three most important papers,
- two letters of recommendation.
To submit your application and for more details, including further application instructions, please visit:
The deadline for applications is October 14, 2026.
For more information about the Max Planck Society and its Institutes, please see https://www.mpg.de/en/.
