open PhD and Postdoc positions at MPIA
Dear 4MOST colleagues,
apologies if you receive this email multiple times.
We are offering up to 10 Postdoc and multiple PhD positions at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany.
The department’s research covers a wide range of topics related to galaxy evolution from the stars in the Milky Way to the highest redshift quasars.
The institute leads or is involved in many large science collaborations and surveys, including SDSS-V, Euclid, 4MOST, WEAVE, Rubin Observatory/LSST, JWST. MPIA also plays a leading role in the data analysis for Gaia and instrumentation for the ELT.
More information can be found below and on these websites:
Postdoc https://aas.org/jobregister/ad/e763f0f5 (deadline November 15, 2025) https://www2.mpia-hd.mpg.de/~gc_jobad/gc_25-403.html
PhD https://www.imprs-hd.mpg.de/3192/Application (deadline November 1, 2025)
We would appreciate of you could forward this announcement to potentially interested PhD and Postdoc candidates.
Best regards, Dr. Maria Bergemann
Postdoctoral Prize Fellowship and Postdoctoral Positions in the Galaxies and Cosmology Department at MPIA
The Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg plans to offer up to 10 postdoctoral positions for pursuing innovative theoretical or observational research within the Galaxies and Cosmology department. The department’s research covers a wide range of topics related to galaxy evolution from the stars in the Milky Way to the highest redshift quasars: stellar spectroscopy as a diagnostic for stellar physics and Galactic archeology; star formation and the interstellar medium in galaxies near and far; galactic nuclei, black holes, and AGN; the redshift evolution and physical properties of the galaxy population and of the circumgalactic, intracluster and intergalactic medium, as well as studies of the most distant galaxies, quasars and galaxy clusters.
Our research approaches encompass multi-wavelength observations, large surveys and large observing programs, e.g., Gaia, JWST, Euclid, Rubin Observatory/LSST, SDSS-V and 4MOST. We also pursue large simulation projects (e.g., IllustrisTNG, TNG-Cluster), as well as innovative instrumentation development (e.g., MICADO for the ELT). Finally, the department hosts several independent research groups supported by the Max Planck Society and the ERC.
We invite applications for our independent 4-year prize fellowship and for a number of topic or project-related positions detailed here: www2.mpia-hd.mpg.de/~gc_jobad/gc_25-403.html.
Applications for the latter positions can also be considered for the fellowship.
Applicants should have a Ph.D. in astronomy, astrophysics, or a closely related field. The starting dates are expected to be no later than fall 2026; earlier dates may be possible for certain positions.
The International Max Planck Research School for Astronomy & Cosmic Physics at the University of Heidelberg (IMPRS-HD)
We welcome applications of students from all countries. Successful candidates will be selected based on their excellence as proven by their university record, their research experience and their letters of recommendation.
A selection committee composed of members from all participating astronomy institutes and the university Department of Physics and Astronomy will review the applications and will advice potential supervisors about the qualification of the candidates. The final decision to offer a thesis project to an applicant is made by the supervisor of that project and will be communicated to the applicant by IMPRS-HD.
Students are admitted to the IMPRS-HD once per year. The school program starts September each year. However, an earlier start of the actual PhD research work is possible, depending on the funding for the project. We call for applications each summer for the academic program starting the year after.
Application deadline for the academinc year starting fall 2026 is November 1, 2025, at 23:59 CET.
===================================== Dr. Maria Bergemann Lise Meitner Group Leader Galaxies & Cosmology Department Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy
phone: +49(0)6221-528401 e-mail: bergemann@mpia.de web: www.mpia-hd.mpg.de/~bergemann =====================================
