The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) is an internationally respected research institute of the Max Planck Society (MPG) with currently two research departments, several research groups, and a graduate school. At the MPIWG, around 150 scholars from all over the world investigate the sciences past and present, working together on a collective, collaborative, and transdisciplinary basis. The MPIWG is renowned worldwide as a hub for reflection on the role of the sciences in politics and society. It is located in southwestern Berlin, close to the campus of the Free University Berlin and other research institutions.
Department II: Knowledge Systems and Collective Life, led by Dr. Etienne Benson, seeks to appoint a
Postdoctoral Scholar (m/f/d)
for three years, with employment contract (TVöD pay scales up to level E13)
starting on September 1, 2025
Researchers in Department II use historical and ethnographic methods to study the relationship between knowledge systems and forms of collective life in the past and present. We seek to foreground neglected histories, trace cross-cultural connections, engage with diverse publics, expand the boundaries of the political, challenge conventional definitions of science and technology, critically reflect on our own political and ethical commitments, and experiment with new methods and media.
This position is connected to the department’s ongoing research on the theme “From Trust in Science to Knowledge in Relation.” We are especially interested in proposals for research projects that offer historical perspective on contemporary relationships between science and politics in liberal democracies, including histories of academic freedom and political speech at universities and research institutions. The proposed research should situate current controversies within longer historical trajectories and in relation to broader political, social, and economic contexts, while also critically reflecting on the historical production and contestation of concepts such as academic freedom, liberal democracy, and the scientific community.
Further information about the department can be found here. The working language of the department is English. The workplace is Berlin, Germany.
Your responsibilities:
- Conduct research related to the theme “From Trust in Science to Knowledge in Relation” (please consult the description of the theme here)
- Publish the results of your research with internationally recognized journals and publishers
- Participate actively in the biweekly departmental colloquium and other departmental events
Your profile:
- PhD in the history of science, technology, and medicine or a neighboring field in the humanities and social sciences, including science and technology studies (STS), history, and anthropology (PhD must be in hand by the starting date of the contract)
- Research proposal related to the theme “From Trust in Science to Knowledge in Relation”
- Interest in developing cross-cultural, community-engaged, and critically reflective research methods as part of an interdisciplinary research group
What we offer:
- A three-year employment contract (TVöD pay scales up to level E13)
- Annual research and travel budget of €5000
- Access to the MPIWG library and other institute resources
- Access to the wide range of training courses offered by the MPG’s Planck Academy
- Flexible working hours; the opportunity to work partly from home (within Germany), as arranged with your superior; the opportunity to work part-time
- Annual year-end bonus; occupational pension (VBL); subsidy for public transportation within Berlin or Germany (“Jobticket”); paid leave on Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year’s Eve (December 31) in addition to regular annual leave (30 days)
- Weekly in-house yoga classes; regular information on occupational health management courses offered by our partner health insurance companies
- Close contact with all research and research-support units with the opportunity for direct, personal dialogue
- An international setting with staff and guests from more than forty countries
The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer that strives to foster an inclusive workplace. As an institute of the MPG, the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science supports a working community for all free from discrimination and harassment. We explicitly encourage applications from qualified individuals who belong to groups that are often underrepresented in the workplace due to age, disability, ethnicity, family status, gender, nationality, race, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or religion.
Please follow the links to find out more about the MPIWG’s policies on gender equality and hiring practices for people with disabilities, as well as Germany’s anti-discrimination laws as outlined in the General Equal Treatment Act.
Your application:
Please submit your application in English with complete documents, preferably without a photograph, through our application portal. Include cover letter, curriculum vitae (including a list of publications), a research proposal (1,000 words maximum including notes), writing sample of no more than 30 pages, and contact information for two scholars who could submit letters of recommendation if requested.
