What makes us special

What makes us special

Three good reasons why you might find working at a Max Planck Institute interesting

Talent, creativity and passion - that's what the Max Planck Society relies on. It promotes all employees equally. Because research needs diversity. This is also formulated in the Code of Conduct, the core values of the Max Planck Society: "We treat each other with respect and do not tolerate any form of discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, disability, religion or belief, age, sexual orientation or identity. Thus, the Code of Conduct identifies the nine key areas that comprise the understanding of diversity. An open, international, diverse and inclusive working culture lays the foundation for the cutting-edge research conducted at the 84 Max Planck Institutes. [more]

Learning and teaching in an innovative environment

Around 24,000 members of staff conduct research and work at 40 locations in Germany, as well as in Rome, Florence, Nijmegen and Florida. Indeed, Max Planck Institutes are looked on as innovative and internationally active employers. We even have it in black and white: Natural science students in Germany placed the Max Planck Society in the top 2 of the list of the most attractive employers within the framework of the Universum Student Surveys. In the categories “Engineering” and “IT” the society also ranked among the first of the 100 best employers.

A scientific hotbed

The working environment at the Max Planck institutes is both open and stimulating – and international! Not surprisingly, the appeal of the Max Planck Society has achieved international fame. More than a third of around 13,000 scientists hold a foreign passport. They form a creative cosmos in which interdisciplinary and intercultural concepts and ideas of great minds come to bear. This, in turn, ensures the success of the excellent basic research for which our organisation is renowned.

We promote accomplished junior scientists, who complete formative years of their careers as student assistants, Ph.D. students, postdocs or research group heads at Max Planck institutes, and who benefit from the knowledge of their internationally networking scientific mentors. As alumni, they help boost our reputation around the world, just as the, to date, 31 Nobel Prize winners who lend the Max Planck Society prestige.

We are also committed to providing young people with a sound basis in various skilled trades. Around 600 young men and women kick-start their vocational career by doing an apprenticeship in the workshops or administrative offices of the Max Planck institutes.

Award-winning commitment

Facilitating the career ascent of female scientists has been a priority for us for over a decade now. The Max Planck Society boasts the highest number of women on a scientific staff in Germany – even in leading positions.

Our family-friendly staff policy carries a seal of quality. As the first German research organisation, our institutes were granted the logo of the non-profit organisation berufundfamilie (“work and family”) in 2006, after a comprehensive certification process.

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