Join Us
At any time, we welcome applications from creative researchers at all levels (Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis, PhD, PostDoc, team leader). Our aim is to understand learning and self-regulation (and their failure) in social and neural networks.
Specific open positions
Calls and PhD programs with topic-specific details and external deadlines.
No specific positions currently advertised
New calls will appear here. In the meantime, researchers and students whose interests align with our work are welcome to use the general application route below.
Programs with recurring deadlines
Structured routes into interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence, complex systems, and neuroscience.
Max Planck Artificial Intelligence Network (MP-AIX)
MP-AIX connects artificial intelligence and machine learning with scientific application areas across the Max Planck Society. Doctoral researchers work with two advisors at different institutes and spend time at both sites.
Integrated Master’s/ PhD Program in Matter to Life
We are looking for students who are genuinely interested in an interdisciplinary education, spanning topics in physics, chemistry, and biology.
Annual PhD positions: Experimental and Computational Neuroscience
Each year, the Göttingen Campus opens several PhD positions in experimental and computational neuroscience. Please consider applying before (about) 15 January each year.
Study and apply in Göttingen
Explore physics at university level or approach our group directly with your research interests.
Physics degree programs in Göttingen
The four-year Bachelor “Physik Interdisziplinär” combines a strong foundation in physics with flexible interdisciplinary pathways such as artificial intelligence, philosophy, or sustainability.
Discover Physik+The standard six-semester Bachelor of Science in Physics provides a broad foundation in experimental and theoretical physics.
Explore the Physics B.Sc.The research-oriented Master of Science in Physics offers advanced study and specialization across Göttingen’s broad physics research landscape.
Explore the Physics M.Sc.Information for all applicants (Bachelor/Master/PhD/PostDoc)
If our research topics resonate with your interest, please do not hesitate to send us your application.
Please send a single PDF including: letter of motivation, CV, transcript of records, and namess of referees to application.priesemannATds.mpg.de.
Your motivation letter (1–2 pages) should summarize your past research achievements, skills, and interests, and include a short outline (~½ page) of “your research interest” — the topic you would like to pursue in our group (this not necessary for Bachelor and Master theses, but welcome). If you provide this, I will have a careful look at your application. The short outline does not need to be a final research proposal; it serves as basis for us to see the potential fit, and to discuss with you potential research projects in an interview.
Please add a short statement to which degree you have been using “AI” to prepare your letter of motivation.
We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and genders to contact us.
Key points
- Target group: early-career postdocs
- Project: independent data-science project; collaboration with ≥1 CIDAS member required
- Funding: up to €85,000; possible extension by up to one year (see call)
- Apply: e-mail to cidas@uni-goettingen.de
Required documents
- Research idea (max. 5 pages) incl. work plan and budget
- CV
- Recommendation letter (mentor must not be former PhD supervisor; incl. infrastructure commitment)
We are seeking an enthusiastic and talented PhD candidate to join a collaborative project between CASUS–HZDR (Görlitz, Germany) and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (Göttingen, Germany), jointly supervised by Ricardo Martinez-Garcia and Viola Priesemann.
The project will investigate the resilience of water-limited ecosystems under global change scenarios. In particular, we aim to understand the relationships between spatial self-organization and ecosystem resilience, both in simulated and remote-sensing data, and using a combination of pattern-formation theory, functional network analysis, and Bayesian inference tools. The position is based primarily at CASUS (Görlitz), with regular research stays in Göttingen. The starting date is flexible, but should be as soon as possible.
More information and application link: hzdr.de/db/Cms?pOid=75779
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden–Rossendorf and the Max Planck Society are committed to increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities and therefore encourage applications from qualified candidates. They also seek to increase the representation of women in underrepresented research areas and explicitly encourage women to apply.
Research Focus
You will have the exciting opportunity to establish neural recordings in pairs of freely interacting human subjects, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge in this field. Our unique laboratory setting, featuring two synchronized OPM-MEG devices with high channel counts and a tailor-made magnetically shielded room with ultra-low residual magnetic fields, provides an ideal environment for innovative research.
This opportunity presents a collaboration with Prof. Michael Wibral, and with our Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1528 “Cognition of Interaction” where you will have the chance to explore novel dyadic games unfolding in continuous time with full mutual visibility and advance our understanding of the neural basis of human interaction.
Your Profile
We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher with a PhD in Physics, Engineering, Neuroscience or a related field, complemented by strong communication and programming skills and a passion for collaborative research in neuroscience.
Prior experience with EEG or MEG, particularly OPM-MEG, and a background in designing and organizing studies in neuroscience are desirable. Additionally, knowledge in optics, electronics, or mechanical design would be a plus.
We encourage interested applicants from all backgrounds and genders to contact us.
Link: mpg.de/25532084/postdoctoral-fellow-meg-and-cognition-of-interaction
To study the self-regulation of social networks and the spread of (mis)information, we curated a large social-media data set (Telegram), which allows novel insights into the spread of information and misinformation. Complementarily, we make use of the outbreak of COVID-19, which posed a major challenge to societies and individuals – but also provided research with an extremely rich behavioral and epidemiological data set to study collective human behavior. If you want to join our team as PostDoc, or independent Fellow to develop your own research profile in our group with your own students, let us know. We can offer a long research perspective (3+3 years), a vibrant team, and highly motivated students.
Across eleven projects, scientists in the second cohort of the RTG 2906 will investigate the neuropsychological, biological, and computational underpinnings of curiosity. The network comprises a highly interdisciplinary consortium of psychologists, biologists as well as systems and computational neuroscientists who will work together to answer three broad research questions: (A) When are we curious? (B) Why are we curious? and (C) How are we curious? Please note that we do not advertise all the positions simultaneously, so please consult the webpage below frequently.