Career Development

It is very important to us to accompany and support our employees in the development of their individual careers in the best possible way. To this end, we regularly plan internal institute seminars which deal, for example, with topics such as scientific work, career planning or leadership skills. The Rosa-Laura and Hartmut Wekerle Foundation supports young scientists of the institute in their everyday life and research. Of course, we are happy to provide advice and support to our employees as needed and point out various funding opportunities, such as grants for open access publications, childcare, travel or conference expenses.

In addition, all employees have access to the Max Planck Society's (MPG) entire and extensive range of continuing education programs, which are bundled under the Planck Academy.

Furthermore, various networks, programs and initiatives provide employees with target-group-specific support at their individual career stages.

For Doctoral Students

• International Max Planck Research Schools: The graduate programs are an integral part of doctoral funding at the MPG. The schools associated with our institute can be found here.
• Otto Hahn Medal: The award serves as an incentive for pursuing a scientific career.
• PhDnet: The network represents the interests of doctoral students and serves as an important communication platform.

For Postdoctoral Researchers

• Max Planck Research Groups: The MPG enables excellent scientists to establish their own independent research group. With their own personnel and material resources, they can pursue and expand their own research topic over a period of five years and acquire leadership skills. A part of these groups is reserved for female scientists.
• MPG LeadNet: Interest group of postdocs and research group leaders
• Career Steps: Annual event to promote careers in academia & industry
• PostdocNet: Network that supports postdocs MPG-wide
• Munich Postdoc Network: Network of and for postdocs in Munich

For Female Scientists

The Max Planck Society supports young female scientists with various programs and initiatives so that they can successfully master the important next career steps.

• Lise-Meitner Excellence Program: Up to ten Lise-Meitner groups for exceptionally qualified female scientists are available each year.
• MinveraFemmeNet: Mentoring program to support the career planning of female MPG scientists through direct interactions between mentor and mentee.
• AcademiaNet: The MPG is a partner of AcademiaNet, a database with profiles of excellent female scientists.
• Sign up: This initiative is aimed specifically at female postdocs. In various modules, female postdocs train leadership skills to prepare them for leadership roles in science. Participating helps the scientists to strengthen their network and use it to orient themselves, get motivated and find support in their career development.
• Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation: Female doctoral students with children can apply for funding from the foundation. The stipend is intended to reduce the difficulty of managing simultaneously a household, childcare and a scientific career.
• In case of pregnancy and childbirth, female scientists have the possibility to extend their employment for 6 months.
• Self-commitment of the MPG: By means of fixed occupational quotas, the MPG aims to increase the proportion of women in management positions at three different pay levels. Occupational quotas indicate the ratio in which vacant positions are to be filled by women.
• Initiative "Chefsache": Through its membership in this initiative, the MPG is committed to achieve a balanced gender ratio in management positions. The initiative networks institutions in the area of equal opportunities, honors best practice examples and aims to bring about a change in thinking.