Doctoral Fellowship Announcements (Berlin)

Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung

DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS (BERLIN)

The International Max Planck Research School on Learning, Institutions and Future Evolution (LIFE) seeks applicants for

up to 3 three-year Doctoral Fellowships.

The International Max Planck Research School on Learning, Institutions, and Future Evolution is a joint international PhD Program of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, the University of Michigan, the University of Virginia, and the University of Zurich. The goal of the Research School, a new iteration of the IMPRS on the Life Course, is the study of the development of human behavior from infancy to old age in the context of the physical, social and cultural dimensions of the environment. LIFE takes an integrative and interdisciplinary approach to identifying and understanding the mechanisms, institutions, and conditions that shape the human life course.

The target groups of the Research School are international post-master's graduate students who intend to pursue a doctorate in one of the relevant disciplines (psychology, cognitive and behavioral developmental neuroscience, computational social science, sociology, computer science, economics, educational science, and applied mathematics). As a collaborative Research School, LIFE offers unique training in the dynamics of human behavior on different time scales and includes opportunities for research abroad at one of the cooperating institutions. The training program involves seminars, a series of academies, and collaborative supervision of research training. Detailed information, including the roster of faculty at the various institutions, can be found at www.imprs-life.mpg.de.

The advertised fellowships will all be located at the four collaborating institutions in Berlin, Germany. Depending on applicants’ schedules, the Research School will commence in April or October 2026. Working language is English. For the Berlin participants, the doctoral degree will be granted by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, or Freie Universität Berlin. Positions will be contract or stipend based depending on the funding institution.

Requirements: Applicants should hold, or anticipate receiving very soon as shown in supporting documents, a master's degree or equivalent in one of the relevant fields.

The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity, because diversity, equality, and inclusion enrich our community and promote scientific excellence. We have therefore set ourselves the goal of increasing the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented and employing more people with severe disabilities. With this in mind, we expressly welcome applications from people who are often underrepresented in the workplace due to characteristics such as gender identity, disability, religion, ethnicity, and age.