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.

The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG)
Department III, "Artifacts, Action, Knowledge," led by Prof. Dr. Dagmar Schäfer seeks to appoint a

Student Assistant (Communications)

for 19 hours a week

Earliest Start date is August 1, 2024, for 12 months (with the possibility of extension).

This exciting new role offers an introduction to public communication and editing, as well as to the work of the MPIWG as the world's largest research institute for the history of science. The position is based in Department III in close collaboration with the MPIWG’s public communications team. Tasks will be divided between providing support for communications and editing in Department III (managed by the departmental publications office), and in supporting multimedia communications projects (managed by the MPIWG’s communications team).

Responsibilities:

• Communications and editing support in Department III
  • Assistance with general administrative tasks such as filing, email correspondence
  • Creating and editing MPIWG website elements such as event pages (using Drupal 8 content management system)
  • Supporting graphic design (e.g., graphs, maps, illustrations)
  • Assisting with print media production (e.g., event posters and flyers) using Adobe InDesign
• Support for special communications projects, such as the Knownable Project
  • Assistance with general administrative tasks such as maintaining email correspondence with collaborators, managing contact databases, liaising with external design agencies
  • Adding and editing content on  external and internal websites (using Drupal and Nuxt.js content management systems)
  • Support with print and audiovisual media production and editing (using Adobe Creative Suite)
  • Assistance with public communications-related workshops and events, such as Berlin Science Week
  • Support in other areas of public communications such as contacting journalists and drafting posts for social media

Profile:

Required:

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s program (in at least your second semester) or a Master’s program (first or second semester) at a university in Berlin or Brandenburg—ideally in a historical or cultural studies discipline (e.g. history of science, culture, art or music, cultural and media studies) or communication studies
• Native English speaker; very good knowledge of German (C1+)
• Experience in writing and editing texts in English
• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud (for example, print and graphic design or audiovisual media post-production)
• An open and confident communicator who enjoys engaging with colleagues and with external contacts such as journalists
• Good organizational skills, with the ability to work both independently and in a team
• An interest in working in research communication

Experience is advantageous, but not required, in:

• Research administration and support
• Working with website content management systems (e.g., Drupal, WordPress, Nuxt.js)
• Audiovisual media production
• Providing assistance with events
• Social media
• Media relations

We offer:

• Remuneration at the student employee rates of the MPG support for junior scientists and scholars: currently €12.41 per hour for Bachelor’s students and €14.33 for Master’s students who can demonstrate completion of their Bachelor’s degree
• Working hours to align with your studies
• Work in an international setting with staff and guests from more than forty countries
• Close contact with all research and research-support units and the opportunity for direct, personal dialogue
• Promotion of your professional interests and research interests
• Use of the on-site reference library
• Access to the wide range of training courses offered by the MPG’s Planck Academy
• Occupational health management: weekly in-house yoga classes; regular information on courses offered by our partner health insurance companies
• A student representative for equal opportunities

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, by 05.05.2024 (23:59 CET) (incl. cover letter, CV, current certificate of study and, if available, degree and work references) through our application portal:

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