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. Around 200 employees and guests from all over the world are currently working at the Institute.

The new Max Planck Research Group ASTRA (“Astral Sciences in Trans-Regional Asia”), led by Anuj Misra, seeks to appoint as soon as possible a part time

Research Communicator (m, f, d)
— (50%, TVöD E11, limited until March 31, 2029) —

The research group ASTRA (April 2024─March 2029) studies the transmission, translocation, and transcreation of astral knowledge across space and time in Asian discourses. The researchers in this group use sociohistorical, philological, and mathematical methods to study various aspects of the astral sciences across the cultural spheres of Asia and beyond. As a research communicator, your primary responsibility will be communicating the group’s research activities and results externally, in close association with the MPIWG’s central communication team. The working language of the group is English.

Your responsibilities:

• Conceptualizing and implementing outreach strategies for ASTRA
• Writing and editing content (for print, A/V, and digital media) to publicize ASTRA’s research among non-specialist audiences
• Monitoring, editing, and updating the digital content on ASTRA’s website (such as profiles, projects, and event pages) and social media
• Promoting and managing ASTRA’s public events (conferences, colloquia, seminars etc.)
• Integrating ASTRA’s public activities into the MPIWG’s outreach and communication strategy

Your profile:

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BSc) in any discipline of the humanities; preference given to the historical disciplines
• Experience in writing and editing content (for print, A/V, and digital media) for non-specialist audiences
• Experience in managing various formats of public communication (e.g., poster design, podcasting, social media, etc.)
• Proven skills and experience in project management
• IT skills in using Microsoft Office Suite applications; familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud and Content Management Systems (e.g., Drupal, WordPress, Nuxt.js, etc.) would be an advantage
• Native (or near-native) fluency in verbal and written English; a good knowledge of written German is desirable though not strictly necessary
• Experience of working in an international environment
• Excellent organizational, communicational, and interpersonal skills

What we offer:

• flexible working hours; the opportunity to work from home as arranged with your supervisor
• 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
• weekly in-house yoga classes; regular information on occupational health management courses offered by our partner health insurance companies
• access to the wide range of training courses offered by the MPG’s Planck Academy
• close contact with all research and research-support units and 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 or German with complete documents, preferably without a photograph, through our application portal. Include the following:

• a cover letter
• your curriculum vitae
• copies of your qualifications (in a single PDF file)
• two employment references (in a single PDF file); if not available, name and contact of two referees
• up to three samples of your professional outputs (e.g., print media, articles, A/V, or digital content) in a single PDF file—this may include copies of print media and texts as well as links to online content

Please note that we can only accept electronic applications submitted through the portal.

Applications must be received by August 9, 2024 (23:59 CEST). Job interviews will take place in late August.

Das Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte (MPIWG) ist ein international anerkanntes Forschungsinstitut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG) mit derzeit zwei wissenschaftlichen Abteilungen, mehreren Forschungsgruppen und einer Doktorand*innen-Schule. Ca. 150 Wissenschaftler*innen aus aller Welt erforschen hier die Geschichte und Gegenwart der Wissenschaften und arbeiten kollektiv, kollaborativ und transdisziplinär zusammen. Das Institut ist ein international anerkannter Reflexionsort für die Bedeutung der Wissenschaften in Politik und Gesellschaft und befindet sich im Berliner Südwesten in unmittelbarer Nähe des FU-Campus und weiterer Forschungseinrichtungen.

Zur Unterstützung unseres Verwaltungsteams suchen wir für das Sachgebiet Finanzen zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine/n

Werkstudent*in (m/w/d)

10-15 Stunden/Woche, befristet für 2 Jahre, EG 2 nach TVöD Bund 

Die Institutsverwaltung unterstützt die wissenschaftliche Arbeit am Institut grundlegend und mit einer starken Serviceorientierung. Als Werkstudent*in sind Sie Teil des Sachgebiets Finanzen mit aktuell drei Mitarbeitenden und einer Sachgebietsleitung.

Ihre Aufgaben umfassen:

•  Unterstützung des Teams des Sachgebiets Finanzen bei der Erfassung des Anlagevermögens für die Inventur, Erfassung von Standard-Geschäftsvorfällen im SAP, Archivierung von Unterlagen
• Bearbeitung von Eingangsrechnungen, insb.
  • Scannen der Eingangsrechnungen
  • Vorerfassen der Rechnungen in SAP
  • Rechnungsprüfung, insbesondere Prüfung der formalen, sachlichen und rechnerischen Richtigkeit
• Mitwirkung bei der Optimierung des Instituts-Reportings
• Unterstützung der Sachgebietsleitung und der Sachbearbeiter*innen bei administrativen Aufgaben

Sie sind Student*in im verwaltungs- oder wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Bereich und verfügen über:

• ein gutes kaufmännisches Verständnis und eine Affinität zu Zahlen
• Erfahrung im Umgang mit Systemen der Bürokommunikation, insb. WORD und Excel
• sehr gute Deutsch- und Englischkenntnisse (Kenntnisse in weiteren Sprachen sind von Vorteil)
• eine selbstständige, team- und serviceorientierte Arbeitsweise; sehr gute Kommunikationsfähigkeiten, Flexibilität und Belastbarkeit 
• Freude an einem internationalen Arbeitsumfeld im Bereich Wissenschaft und dem direkten Kontakt mit Menschen aus verschiedenen Kulturen

Wir bieten:

•  flexible Arbeitszeiten, Möglichkeit zum Homeoffice nach Absprache mit den Vorgesetzten,
• Jahressonderzahlung, Betriebliche Altersvorsorge (VBL), Zuschuss zum Jobticket für den öffentlichen Nahverkehr in Berlin bzw. zum Deutschland-Ticket Job, Freistellung mit Gehalt an Heiligabend (24.12.) und Silvester (31.12.) zusätzlich zum regulären Jahresurlaub,
• wöchentliche Yoga-Kurse am Institut, regelmäßige Informationen über Kurse der kooperierenden Krankenkassen im Rahmen des Betrieblichen Gesundheitsmanagements,
• Zugang zum umfangreichen Fortbildungsangebot der Planck-Academy der MPG,
• engen Kontakt zu allen wissenschaftlichen und wissenschaftsunterstützenden Einheiten, mit der Möglichkeit zu einem direkten, persönlichen Austausch,
• einen internationalen Kontext mit Mitarbeitenden und Gästen aus über 40 Nationen.

Ihre Bewerbung:

Bitte bewerben Sie sich mit Ihren vollständigen und aussagekräftigen Unterlagen, vorzugsweise ohne Foto, (inkl. Anschreiben, Lebenslauf und soweit vorhanden Abschluss- und Arbeitszeugnissen (Zeugnisse bitte jeweils zusammengefasst in einem PDF-Dokument)) über unser Bewerbungsportal.

Wir akzeptieren Bewerbungen, bis wir eine geeignete Person gefunden haben. Bitte beachten Sie, dass nur elektronische Bewerbungen über das Portal akzeptiert werden.

Die Max-Planck-Gesellschaft fördert Chancengleichheit und eine inklusive Arbeitskultur. Als Institut der MPG setzen wir uns für eine diskriminierungs- und belästigungsfreie Arbeitsgemeinschaft für alle ein. Wir fordern ausdrücklich qualifizierte Personen zur Bewerbung auf, die Gruppen angehören, die aufgrund von Alter, Behinderung, ethnischer Zugehörigkeit, Familienstand, Geschlecht, Nationalität, sexueller Orientierung, sozioökonomischem Hintergrund oder Religion am Arbeitsplatz häufig unterrepräsentiert sind.

Für mehr Informationen über das Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte und seine Maßnahmen zur Gleichstellung der Geschlechter und zur Einstellung von Menschen mit Schwerbehinderung, sowie über die deutsche Antidiskriminierungspolitik (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz) besuchen Sie bitte die entsprechenden Seiten.

The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) is an internationally respected research institute of the Max Planck Society (MPG) with three research departments, several research groups, and a graduate school. At the MPIWG, around three hundred scholars from all over the world investigate the sciences past and present, working together on a collective, collaborative, and trans-disciplinary 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 Freie Universität Berlin and other research institutions.

Department “Artifacts, Action, Knowledge” led by Dagmar Schäfer, seeks to appoint 

Two Postdoctoral Scholars

– for three years, with employment contract, TVöD-Bund pay scales (E13) –
Earliest Start Date: October 1, 2024

Department “Artifacts, Action, Knowledge” studies the history of knowledge and action considering the changing role of artifacts: texts, objects, and spaces. Our research collectively examines the processes and structures by which people grappled with the materiality of existence. Through the analysis of everyday actions, we interrogate the boundaries and intersections between the inner workings of objects and all domains of life. Together these approaches allow us to pursue inquiries into historical epistemologies of action. For more detailed information, please visit the department website.

Your responsibilities:

• Support collaborative research initiatives within the department.
• Conduct an independent research project as part of the "Metals and Minerals: Life from Soil" working group, concentrating on South Asia, Africa, Middle East, or East Asia preceding 1700.
• Contribute to the working group research program in one of two ways, contingent upon experience: through the organization of annual lecture series and events between 2025–2027 or support the organization of a summer school and interdisciplinary training in cooperation with key collaborators
• Engage actively in the research pursuits of the Institute, participate in departmental activities, and deliver presentations on your own research findings.

Your profile:

• Hold a Ph.D. degree at the commencement of employment.
• Demonstrate proficiency in a language relevant to the candidate's period of interest, with English being the primary working language of the Institute.

What we offer:

• Flexible working hours; the opportunity to work from home 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
• Weekly in-house yoga classes; regular information on occupational health management courses offered by our partner health insurance companies
• Access to the wide range of training courses offered by the MPG’s Planck Academy
• 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 with complete documents, preferably without a photograph, through our application portal:

To apply, please submit the following documents: 

1. cover letter;
2. curriculum vitae; including publication list;
3. research prospectus in which you outline your planned contribution to the theme and questions of the working group (maximum 1,000 words);
4. one published piece of research;
5. names and contact details of at least two referees. 

Please note that only complete electronic submissions uploaded to this link will be accepted. Applications sent via email will not be accepted. Applications may be submitted in English.

Applications must be received by July 15, 2024 (23:45 CET).

Applications will be reviewed by late July 2024 and short-listed candidates will be interviewed by mid August 2024. Only successful candidates will be notified.