Max Planck Schools - Fellows Open Call 2026 Max Planck Schools

MAX PLANCK SCHOOLS – FELLOWS OPEN CALL 2026

The Max Planck Schools invite outstanding scientists in the fields of Cognition and Photonics to apply for this year’s Fellows Open Call. We are seeking accomplished senior researchers who are passionate about mentoring and supervising exceptional international PhD candidates. Our Fellows build a unique network that connects leading researchers across institutions and disciplines.

As a Fellow of the Max Planck Schools, you have the opportunity to contribute to this joint graduate program of German universities¹ and research organizations². The Fellows play a central role in identifying and supporting exceptional PhD candidates, developing the scientific and educational profile of the individual School, and strengthening collaboration across institutions and disciplines.

As a Fellow, you benefit from:

• access to highly qualified PhD candidates selected through a competitive, multi-stage process;
• a national network of researchers extending beyond institutional and disciplinary boundaries;
• innovative approaches to doctoral training, including e-learning, digital laboratories and VR-based environments;
• professional support from the School’s coordination office in carrying out your responsibilities as a Fellow.

Fellows are appointed by the Presidents of the Max Planck Society and the German Rectors’ Conference for a term of four years. Reappointment is possible following a subsequent application.


To become a Fellow, candidates must:

• hold their main affiliation at a German university or research institution;
• have an internationally recognized scientific profile in a research field relevant to Cognition or Photonics;
• demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting and mentoring early-career researchers pursuing an international research career;
• be willing to contribute actively to an innovative, internationally oriented doctoral program ncluding teaching specialized courses, to create a vibrant scientific community spanning disciplinary and institutional boundaries.

The Max Planck Society and the German Rectors’ Conference are committed to increasing the participation of women in areas in which they are underrepresented and therefore particularly encourage women to apply.

We look forward to receiving your application by November 2, 2026, via our online portal.

Further information is available at maxplanckschools.org.

¹ Key partner universities are: Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, University of Göttingen, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU), Humboldt University of Berlin, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Heidelberg University and Leipzig University.
² Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Association and Leibniz Association.