Selected Services @ GV

Planck Academy

It´s all about you.
For MPG it is essential to promote the enthusiasm and motivation of its employees and a good working atmosphere – right from the start. This applies to both the scientific and the non-scientific staff. After all, excellence in science is only possible with a high level of commitment from everyone.

Personal and career development along the talent life cycle:
Under the roof of the Planck Academy, MPG offers its scientific members and staff opportunities for further education and personal career development. It focuses on topics that strengthen affiliation with the MPG, convey its values, and enable closer networking among each other. ​​

More Info: MAX

Max Planck Networks – Support

Scientific curiosity and the goal of gaining new insights are core motivational factors for scientists when selecting and practicing a given profession. In addition to research activities, science careers are also strongly influenced by interactions with colleagues, typically within professional societies, research alliances, and subject-specific conferences. The Max Planck Society supports the formation of cross-sectional networks during all scientific career stages. These MPG-wide networks promote the exchange of information at the professional level as well as the joint representation of special interests and personal networking at the interdisciplinary level. They make it possible to bring together common concerns and discuss them in regular meetings between the elected network representatives and the MPG management.

In line with the respective goals and activities, the Department of Human Resources Development & Opportunities provides support for the MPG-wide networks as required and supplements the coordination of interest groups where necessary.

More Info: MAX

IMPRS

Structured doctorates in a research network
The International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) have formed an essential component of our support for doctoral students at Max Planck Institutes since 2000. Talented young scientists can use these graduate programmes to take their doctorates in excellent conditions, especially when their projects require special facilities. The hallmarks of the programmes are curricula which include research seminars and soft skill workshops, as well as close collaboration with universities and other research institutions at home and abroad. There are currently 65 IMPRS enjoying participation from almost all 86 Max Planck Institutes in the MPG. Each Research School is set up by one or more MPIs.

Innovative training programs
There are usually equal numbers of junior scientists from Germany and abroad studying at the Research Schools. Supervisors and/or members of so-called Thesis Committees attend to and support the PhDs in their projects. The working language is English. The three-year period of doctoral study focuses on independent research activity on usually interdisciplinary topics with the aim of writing their dissertation. Regular exchanges in workshops, summer schools or participation in conferences help students to appreciate different viewpoints of their own research topic. While the actual right to confer doctorates rests with the universities, IMPRS students benefit from joint supervision and research at the university and MPI.

More Info: MAX

Family Office

Everything under one hat: children and career, family and researcher
The MPG Family Office and its offerings
First-class basic research requires excellent talent. In order to recruit and retain highly qualified staff, the area of “childcare and measures for reconciling career and family life” is also becoming increasingly the focus of scientific organizations. A career path in science is feasible only if it is appropriately designed for families.

The Max Planck Society therefore attaches great importance to family friendliness and offers extensive measures to facilitate the balancing act between career and family life. Do you need help with family-related questions? In this case, please first of all contact your Institute administration. They will help you with concrete information and on-site measures.
With regard to fundamental questions or in difficult individual cases, the Institute administration may consult the central Family Office at Administrative Headquarters. The Family Office deals with all legal, strategic and conceptual issues relating to the reconciliation of family and career affecting the entire MPG.

More Info: MAX

Healthy and Active in the MPG

What is Occupational Health Management (BGM) exactly?
The aim of Occupational Health Management is to preserve and strengthen the physical and psychological health of employees. BGM means the conscious management and integration of operational processes with the aim of preserving and promoting the health and well-being of employees in their working environment. Healthy employees in a healthy company!
We want to reach all areas, career stages, and managerial levels with the occupational health management system and involve all scientists, scientific support staff, junior scientists, and trainees in equal measure.

“Health is a state of perfect physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of illness and infirmity.” (World Health Organisation, WHO)

More Info: MAX

Max Planck Industry Track

Networking talents and industry partners at Max Planck
A continuously expanding network of HR representatives of Max Planck industry partners and a talent force at PhD, Postdoc and Research Group Leader level interested to transfer from science to industry builds the fundament of the Industry Track, a project of the Planck Academy funded by the Stifterverband.
Together we develop tools and realize events that help to manage this transfer successfully. Thus far, the Industry Track has initiated a workshop with industry partners to better understand their needs. Also, we have joined forces with PhDnet and PostdocNet to realize the virtual Career Evolution Web Series, a weekly talk with Max Planck alumni, Planck Academy trainer, and industry partners about challenges and opportunities from science2industry. End of May, the first Career Evolution Games Week takes place, an intense training offer for those talents committed to continuing their careers in non-academia. The industry track also participates in the Career Steps for Postdocs, the next one taking place in collaboration with Goethe University Frankfurt. Last but not least, we offer advice for any talent interested to learn more on how to transform a scientific career into an industry one.

More Info: MAX