The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science offers an inspiring and challenging research environment to scholars in the history of science and related disciplines who have completed their doctorate and wish to remain active in scholarship for the time being or for the long term. Postdoctoral stays at the MPIWG are time limited and are intended to enhance the Postdoctoral Scholar’s qualifications and research profile. During their employment, Postdoctoral Scholars work on their own independent projects within the framework of the research being pursued at the department or research group that hosts them. They can benefit from the full spectrum of lectures, seminars, and workshops on offer at the Institute and from the chance to initiate and organize scholarly events themselves. In addition, all postdocs receive extensive support for research visits to archives and libraries and to participate in conferences and specialist forums outside the Institute. Employment at the MPIWG does not involve any teaching duties, but Postdoctoral Scholars are encouraged to take on teaching assignments outside the Institute.

In order to start work as a Postdoctoral Scholar, you must already have defended your PhD dissertation, though the actual certificate can be submitted later. In other words, you do not need to have achieved postdoctoral status at the time when you apply. However, if you have not, please demonstrate that your doctoral studies are nearing completion by including in your application a letter from your university or—preferably—your principal advisor. Please also mention the situation in your covering letter.

A contract as a Postdoctoral Scholar is usually limited to a period of two or three years, with the possibility of an extension. Postdoctoral Scholars with an employment contract are paid according to the German collective salary agreement for the public sector, federal level (TVöD-Bund), grade 13, at level 3 or higher. This is an employment relationship, subject to social insurance contributions; Postdoctoral Scholars on an employment contract have the same rights and duties as employees in the public sector.

The Max Planck Society’s PostdocNet is a cross-institute network that aims to improve working conditions, scientific or scholarly development, and career opportunities for postdoctoral researchers.

One of the core tasks of the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science is to foster the new generation of scholars in the history of science and related disciplines and help them to enhance their qualifications. During their doctoral studies, Predoctoral Scholars are closely integrated into the Institute’s research environment and benefit from a wide range of qualifying and promotion opportunities. They collaborate in the research projects of the three departments, belong to one of the independent research groups, or join the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) hosted by the MPIWG, “Knowledge and Its Resources: Historical Reciprocities.” Their PhD projects make an important contribution to the research profile of the many domains covered by the Institute.

Max Planck institutes are purely research institutions, and as such they cannot award doctorates. Doctoral candidates working at the MPIWG are usually registered as PhD students at a university in Germany or abroad. The PhD regulations of the faculty or department of that university apply; details of the regulations are supplied by the universities.

The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science advertises positions for doctoral students on the Careers website. The successful applicants, appointed as Predoctoral Fellows, become active members of one of our departments or independent research groups, or join the IMPRS “Knowledge and Its Resources: Historical Reciprocities.” Doctoral positions at the departments and research groups are created at irregular intervals depending on changing research needs. The IMPRS and its partner universities will advertise doctoral positions annually until January 2024; after that, no further IMPRS positions will be available for the time being.

Predoctoral Scholars with a contract are employed on the basis of a doctoral funding contract (Fördervertrag), which combines the security of an employment contract with the freedom to pursue academic work. These are positions subject to social insurance contributions, and entail the same rights and duties as those of employees in the public sector. The doctoral funding contracts usually run for three years, with the possibility of an extension of up to one year (longer in exceptional cases).

Remuneration is based on the German collective salary agreement for the public sector, federal level (TVöD-Bund) at 65 percent of salary grade 13, level 1 or level 2, at full working hours (39 hours per week). The monthly salary is intended to cover all the costs of living in Berlin. The amount can be calculated using the TVöD-Bund salary calculator at https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/tvoed/bund/, which is regularly updated.

A doctoral funding contract enables doctoral students to devote themselves completely to work on their PhD project. In addition, they receive extensive financial support for research visits to archives and libraries and to participate in conferences and workshops outside the Institute.

In order to sign a doctoral funding contract with the Institute, you must have successfully applied for an advertised position.

Support for research and writing comes mainly from regular one-to-one meetings with the doctoral candidate’s PhD advisor at the Institute. In most cases, that will be the director of the department or the leader of the research group; for Predoctoral Scholars based in the IMPRS, it will be a member of the school’s Principal Teaching Faculty.

As well as these provisions, doctoral students can attend Max Planck Society training courses and the various MPIWG training formats.

All Predoctoral Scholars at the MPIWG are cordially invited to attend the regular activities arranged by the Institute’s predoctoral community and the IMPRS.

Contact person for all doctoral students is the Academic Coordinator, Sophie Schwarzmaier.

The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science offers students enrolled on a Bachelor’s or Master’s program at a university in Berlin or Brandenburg the opportunity to acquire their first experience of working in academic and academic-related work environments. According to the Max Planck Society’s regulations for fostering the next generation of researchers, students should support research that matches their own area of study, and their university studies should remain the main focus of their activity.

We place great value on giving students an insight into as many domains of research and scholarship as possible and involving them in the Institute’s work in line with their own personal and academic interests. Students have access to our academic events and to training opportunities.

To ensure that their university studies remain the student’s main activity, there is a limit on the number of working hours, up to 19 hours per week (the exact number of hours is named in the advertisement). If a student assistant or graduate assistant at the MPIWG carries out paid work at another institution in parallel, the two positions combined must not exceed 19 hours per week.

Remuneration, based on the rates set down in the Max Planck Society’s support for junior scholars and scientists, is as follows:

• for student assistants (without a first formal professionally qualifying university degree): €12.33 per hour,
• for graduate assistants (with a first formal professionally qualifying university degree): €14.33 per hour.

Information regarding health insurance during your stay at the MPIWG can be found here.

Student assistant or graduate assistant positions are advertised publicly on our website and through various online media outlets. Please submit your application in German or English through our online application portal. The job advertisement will include the portal link and information regarding the requirements and documentation.