Guest Residencies for Journalists (m/f/d) | Focus on the History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science (2026)

The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) is an internationally renowned research institute of the Max Planck Society (MPG) with currently two research departments, several research groups, and a graduate school. At the MPIWG, more than 150 scholars from all over the world investigate the sciences past and present, working together on a collective, collaborative, and transdisciplinary basis. The MPIWG is located in southwestern Berlin, close to the campus of the Free University Berlin and other research institutions.

The Institute offers guest journalist residencies of up to two months each. This exciting fellowship presents the opportunity for journalists in all forms of media around the world to gain insight into the work of an international research institute. During their fellowship, Journalists in Residence carry out a journalistic research project on a relevant topic of their choice; explore current research in the history of science and related disciplines; and network and engage with academic researchers.

Program aims and structure

The aims of the MPIWG’s Journalist-in-Residence program are to:

• Support high-quality journalism in the history of science and related disciplines (e.g., philosophy, sociology of science).
• Strengthen dialogue with and enhance the role of the history of science and related disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM, and to the public.
• Promote the public dissemination of topics and perspectives from these disciplines, drawing attention to their value for the wider public and for discourse around contemporary social issues.
• Build long-term relationships and collaborations between journalists and researchers.
• Empower our researchers in developing media skills and in enhancing communication of their research to wider audiences.

Journalists in Residence are hosted by the Institute’s Department or Research Group that best fits their research proposal, and engage with the Communications Team throughout their residency. They are supported in their work through access to the Institute’s extensive library and research resources, engagement with researchers, opportunities to attend colloquia and workshops across all research units, and their own desk space.

During their fellowship Journalists in Residence are also expected to deliver a workshop for the Institute’s researchers on a topic in journalism/communication, and to provide a brief summary report of their experience at the end of their residency.

Further details about the fellowship and our Journalist-in-Residence

Hosting departments / Research groups

The following Departments and Research Groups are available to host in 2026:

• Department “Knowledge Systems and Collective Life”
• Department “Artifacts, Action, Knowledge”
• Max Planck Research Group “Astral Sciences in Trans-Regional Asia (ASTRA)”
• Lise Meitner Research Group “China in the Global System of Science”

If your research proposal fits more than one Department or Research Group please list all those applicable; the host would then be decided at the offer stage. For applicants exploring connections between research and digital humanities or library science, the option to be hosted by one of the above Departments/Research Groups with affiliation to our Digital Humanities Team or Library can also be offered—please state in your application if you wish to be considered for this.

Funding

Journalists in residence receive an honorarium of €3,000 per month.

Dates and length of stay

Two consecutive months in 2026, dates of stay to be agreed upon offer.

Applying to the fellowship

We invite applications from journalists seeking to utilize the history of science in their work, and with a particular interest in exploring the value of these disciplines for public discourse around contemporary social issues. We welcome applications from all formats of journalism (print, audio, video, radio, online, multimedia, etc.). Journalists of all career levels are invited to apply; we aim to offer one fellowship to an experienced journalist and one to a journalist at an earlier stage of their career.

Submissions should include

• A cover letter outlining your interest in the program, why you consider yourself a good fit for the Institute and its research, and details of your preferred fellowship dates in 2026.
• A curriculum vitae showing evidence of relevant experience in journalism.
• Three samples of your journalistic output with relevance to the program (as PDFs/links).
• A short outline (max. half a page) of your proposed journalistic research project during your stay, specifying either the Department/Research Group that your project would be connected to and hosted by; OR an overarching theme that would connect to more than one Department/Research Group.
• A short pitch for a workshop format (ca. 3 hours; pitch max. half a page), e.g., engaging with the media as a researcher, pitching an article, scripting a podcast.
• A short outline of your intended journalistic output(s), e.g., long-form article, documentary, online exhibition, podcast episode (max. half a page).

These documents must be submitted as single PDF files by June 2, 2025 (23:59 CEST), via the following online portal.

Please note that we can only accept applications submitted electronically through the application portal.

The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer that strives to foster an inclusive workplace. As an institute of the MPG, the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science supports a working community for all free from discrimination and harassment. We explicitly encourage applications from qualified individuals who belong to groups that are often underrepresented in the workplace due to age, disability, ethnicity, family status, gender, nationality, race, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or religion.

Please follow the links to find out more about the MPIWG’s policies on gender equality and hiring practices for people with disabilities, as well as Germany’s anti-discrimination laws as outlined in the General Equal Treatment Act.

Inquiries

If you have any questions about the position specified, please contact Stephanie Hood, Deputy Head of Communications.