“Free science is as natural as free breathing.” Lise Meitner
The Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e. V.) is a world-leading, independent, non-profit research organization with the goal to promote cutting edge basic research. Over 26,000 employees across 85 Max Planck Institutes and research facilities conduct basic research in the life and natural sciences as well as the humanities, social sciences and law and have a strong interest in innovative and interdisciplinary research.
Lise Meitner Research Group Tenure-track positions at Max Planck Institutes
The Max Planck Society invites outstanding applicants to apply for tenure-track Lise Meitner Research Group Leader positions. The Lise Meitner Excellence Program has been established by the Max Planck Society with the express purpose of attracting and promoting exceptional women scientists who are at an early stage of their scientific careers and have a documented track record of independent and innovative research.
The successful candidates will be offered a Lise Meitner Research Group at a suitable Max Planck Institute for an initial period of six years plus one additional year for parental leave. The funding package includes a W2 tenure-track position (equivalent to Assistant/Associate Professor), resources for scientific staff and running costs as well as a start-up package. Upon successful tenure evaluation, latest five years after the start of the group, the W2 position and financial support for the research group will be continued. For particularly outstanding group leaders, however, this evaluation can also be carried out at any time beforehand.
The purpose of the Lise Meitner Excellence Program is to increase the number of excellent women scientists in the Max Planck Society. Therefore, the program primarily focuses on the recruitment of outstanding women scientists, though it is open to all applicants (for details, see Lise Meitner Excellence Program: FAQs ).
Your application should include:
- a cover letter,
- a CV,
- a list of publications,
- a one-page summary of scientific achievements (written for a non-specialist),
- a research statement of max. three or five* pages (written for a specialist),
- access to and/or copies* of your three most important publications,
combined in one PDF file.
You are also required to invite two reviewers to upload recommendation letters for you to the application portal.
Only necessary for applicants in the field of the Chemistry, Physics and Technology Section: Please provide a host letter from at least one Max Planck Institute in the relevant research areas*.
For more details about the program (*including further application instructions) and to submit your application online, please visit:
https://www.mpg.de/lise-meitner-excellence-program
The deadline for applications is April 15, 2026.
If you are invited to present at a Symposium the dates are as follows:
Biology and Medicine Section:
23. to 25. September 2026, Berlin
Human Sciences Section:
22./23. September 2026, Berlin
Chemistry, Physics and Technology Section:
17./18. September 2026, Garching
