Early autonomy and a budget of your own

MPRGs are limited to five years; extension is only possible for groups that exhibit convincing research performance. Tenure is granted in exceptional cases only. The groups draw on infrastructure and administration of a MPI but are also provided considerable funds for personnel, equipment and running costs, negotiable funds that enable the group leaders to flexibly engage in their research project.

Fig.: Subsequent positions of Max Planck Research Group Leaders.

Copyright: Max Planck Society

As to steps in the career, more than two-thirds of all Max Planck Research Group Leaders (in the following referred to as MPRG-L) – both men and women – jumped to so-called W2 or W3 (for Germany) positions or similar posts at a university or research institution in Germany or abroad. Approximately one in six is eventually appointed Scientific Member and Director of the Max Planck Society, possibly after an intermediate position elsewhere.

Currently, there are about 120 active MPRGs.

Please note that there are two types of MPRGs, which differ in some respects:

1. “Institute-Specific Group” (“institutseigene Forschungsgruppe”), that is, groups in conjunction with the MPI. These are usually related to the institute’s activities in terms of research topics. Group leader positions are advertised by the MPI itself.
2. “Centrally Announced Group” (“themenoffene Forschungsgruppe”). Here, suggestions for individual research projects are submitted on occasion of the centrally announced, major advertisement campaign where the Max Planck Society – based in the Headquarters in Munich - searches for group leaders. Young scientists may apply to a MPI of their choice - provided that all MPIs participate. These adverts are usually published once a year (in autumn) on the career portal of the Max Planck Society website, in the job ad columns in specialized internationally renowned journals and in online job markets.