Postdoc Opportunities

Take your next career step at the MPI-IE. Here is why.

Postdocs at the MPI-IE work in an inspiring research environment with world-class research groups coupled with  outstanding facilities and access to everything critical at this career stage.

Successfully obtained your Ph.D. and looking for the next scientific challenge? Then the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Germany (MPI-IE) is an excellent opportunity to foster your career. As a postdoc at the MPI-IE, you will conduct your research largely independently under the supervision of our Directors or Research Group Leaders. Our goal is to raise your scientific profile and your personal development through research projects, publications, and inspiring contact with the world’s leading biologists, either onsite or by attending international conferences in your discipline.

Working conditions for Postdocs

The generous funding of the MPG regarding research services, facilities and other resources and the determined way these funds are spent, have made the MPI-IE an exceptionally thrilling place to be. MPI-IE scientists make use of a lean administration provided by designated staff, fully funded and non-bureaucratic access to scientific services with state-of-the-art facilities, and a stimulating environment.

Welcome Service

No matter whether you will be staying for three months or three years, moving to Freiburg will bring about some important changes in your life. Some of you may have lived abroad before, while for others it will be an entirely new experience. To prepare you for things that may await you in Germany, and to make the transition as smooth as possible, we have compiled valuable information for you as to what needs to be done before and after your arrival. Our Welcome Service assists you in many respects to get you as fast as possbile to the bench and concentrate on your research.

Seminars and events

The quality of the MPI-IE seminars, talks and guest lectures are testimony to the institute’s international recognition and academic excellence. Several types of events are held regularly, most notably the Max Planck Seminar Series and our Tuesday Seminars. In addition, talks at other biomedical institutes in Freiburg further enhance academic life at the MPI-IE, creating a stimulating substrate for discussions and exchanging ideas.

Our Postdoc community also has the chance to invite renowned speakers to our high-profile seminar series: Max Planck Special Guest Lecture Series. This gives the excellent opportunity to meet the people behind exciting research publications in person. In these meeting our Postdocs can get opinions on their own research approachs from our guest, discuss data or get career advice as well as insight of the guest speaker’s own experience in getting to the group leader stage.

Postdoc Community

May we introduce you to MAX PRIME? This is our postdoctoral researcher community consisting of currently 65 Postdocs from 20 different countries. MAX PRIME is a very diverse community regarding scientific expertise and experience ranging from wrap-up postdocs who just obtained their Ph.D. to project leaders with many years of  postgraduate research experience.

Dedicated Postdoc representatives are elected among the postdocs at the institute and represent them in all matters concerning this target group. They administer the financial support provided by the Management Board of the Institute to foster activities for our fellow postdocs.

Max Prime is also connected to the Max Planck PostdocNet. This is a networking and lobbying organization for all Postdocs of the Max Planck Society who represent the needs and opinions of the collective postdoctoral researcher pool of the Max Planck Society.

Career development

The MPI-IE is committed to provide you with the best training and career development opportunities so that you can do great research at the MPI-IE and be prepared for your future career within or also beyond academia. By weekly internal and external seminars, you get the opportunity to present your research and listen to the progress reports and ideas of your colleagues. You will also benefit from the institute’s seminar programs and participating in various symposia and conferences held at the MPI-IE.

Your progress will be reviewed regulary with your group leader, to provide structure and focus for both your scientific and career development during your time at the institute. This helps you and your future career. We expect Postdocs to be pro-active and manage their own training by selecting activities from the broad portfolio of the MPI-IE, Planck Academy, the MPG Mentoring programs and the University of Freiburg that suit their stage, research area and career interests.

These offers include scientific skills training, programming and software training, writing research papers, fellowship and grant applications, peer review workshops, science communication and outreach. As an MPI-IE Postdoc you can make use of Planck Academy providing workshops, events and easy-access online seminars to get advise and support as you develop an independent research proposal and apply for independent positions. Regular careers talks, many of which are delivered by MPG alumni, covering scientific careers in academia and industry, as well as other career options such as science publishing, policy, communication and administration.

Some examples from the MPG training offers:

• Conference presentation
• Effective and dynamic presentations
• Getting published & mastering peer eeview
• Making a lasting impression in science through communication
• Scientific writing workshop
• The art of presentations
• Interview training
• How to start your own lab
• Strategic application for jobs uutside academia
• Strategic planning of research careers

Extensive family support system

A career in science requires full commitment as do children or relatives in need of long-term care. Only if both spheres, i.e. family life and career, can be reconciled, young parents or scientists with family responsibilities have the chance to remain in science and make progress. This is exactly where our interests lie. We want to smooth the path for outstandingly talented individuals with families. The Max Planck Society operates a family-conscious human resources policy. See here some of the benefits, you can enjoy when coming to Max Planck in Germany:

• on-site Kindergarten on a reduced fair
• Pregnancy Lab
• Parent-child room and nursing room
• legal benefits such as Child Allowance, Parental Allowance and an excellent healthcare system for you and your family
• dedicated MPG Childcare subsidy especially for Early Career scientist including Postdocs

Freiburg

With its unique mix of Baden coziness and cosmopolitan university city, the city of Freiburg offers a high quality of living. Freiburg’s citizens appreciate Germany’s southernmost city for its Mediterranean climate, its picturesque corners, its wide range of cultural activities, and its exceptional location between the Black Forest and the Upper Rhine in the border triangle between Germany, France, and Switzerland.

Freiburg has distinguished itself as dynamic research and business location. Innovative companies in the fields of medical technology, biotechnology, microsystems technology, solar and environmental technology, have settled in the vicinity of the numerous research institutes such as the MPI-IE and the university. As an administrative and governmental center, Freiburg offers additional attractive employment opportunities for accompanying family members. In terms of job gains, Freiburg has been at the top of the hit list of Baden-Württemberg's big cities for years. Excellent employment opportunities are also offered by the Upper Rhine region, including the neighboring countries of Alsace and Switzerland.