Max Planck Postdoc Program 2026: Postdoctoral Positions at Max Planck Institutes
Job Description
The Max Planck Society is recruiting postdoctoral researchers through the Max Planck Postdoc Program. The current call runs from 1 September to 13 October 2026 (12 pm CEST), with positions offered by principal investigators at Max Planck Institutes.
The programme suits postdoctoral researchers looking for a multi-year position with structured mentoring and career support. Because each position is offered by an individual principal investigator, check the requirements listed with each position in the portal.
At a glance
- Programme: Max Planck Postdoc Program
- Where: Max Planck Institutes in Germany
- Contract: at least three years
- Application: one online application that can be duplicated across positions
- Apply by: 13 October 2026, 12 pm CEST
What the Max Planck Postdoc Program offers
- A guaranteed contract of at least three years
- A targeted mentoring programme, including mentors from other research institutes or from industry
- A career workshop within your first two years
- Access to Planck Academy career development services
- Supervision guidelines designed to ensure high standards
How the application works
Applications are made through the Max Planck Postdoc Program portal. You create an account, list your referees, complete the application form and upload your documents. To apply for more than one position, you can duplicate a submitted application from your dashboard (reference letters are not copied). Principal investigators review the applications, and applicants who advance are notified through the system.
What to prepare
- A cover letter
- A CV with your publication list
- A summary of your previous research experience
- A statement of interest in the position
- Email addresses of two or three referees for recommendation letters, where required
The programme pages do not state eligibility limits or salary levels for this call, so check each position’s details in the portal before you apply. See the official programme page for more, and browse our other research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: Max Planck Society
Official advertisement: www.mpg.de
How to stand out in the Max Planck Postdoc Program
- Tailor every application: the duplicate feature saves time, but rewrite your cover letter and statement of interest for each principal investigator and position.
- Show fit: read the group's recent papers and explain concretely what you would add.
- Write the research summary for a broad audience: the problem, your contribution and why it mattered, readable by a scientist outside your subfield.
- Line up referees early: tell them about the 13 October deadline and the positions you are applying for.
- Think three years ahead: contracts run for at least three years, so outline what you want to achieve in that time.
About the Max Planck Society
The Max Planck Society is Germany's leading organisation for basic research. Founded in 1948 as the successor to the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, it runs more than 80 institutes across the natural sciences, life sciences and humanities.
