Careers
Research careers at MPI-SWS
The institute offers opportunities for research careers at all levels.
- Doctoral students are supervised by MPI faculty and receive full financial aid.
- Post-doctoral researchers are typically appointed for a period of 2 years, with the possibility of an extension.
- Faculty members each supervise independent research groups
- Tenure-track positions are comparable to Assistant Professorships in the US system. The initial appointment is for five years and can be extended by one year. Subsequent tenure is granted to faculty who have made outstanding contributions and achieved international scholarly distinction.
- Tenured faculty positions are comparable to Associate Professors in the US system. Tenured faculty may be subsequently appointed to the rank of Director at the institute.
- Director positions are comparable to Chaired Professor positions in the US system.
- Visiting researchers. The institute offers both short- and long-term appointments for qualified scholars who wish to spend time at the institute.
MPI faculty may offer courses and supervise students at the University of Kaiserslautern or Saarland University.
Current Career Opportunities
Tenure-track openings
Applications are invited for tenure-track and tenured faculty positions in all areas related to the design, analysis and engineering of software systems, including programming languages, formal methods, security, distributed, networked and embedded systems, databases and information systems, and human-computer interaction. A doctoral degree in computer science or related areas and an outstanding research record are required. Successful candidates are expected to build a team and pursue a highly visible research agenda, both independently and in collaboration with other groups. Senior candidates must have demonstrated leadership abilities and recognized international stature.
MPI-SWS, founded in 2005, is part of a network of eighty Max Planck Institutes, Germany's premier basic research facilities. MPIs have an established record of world-class, foundational research in the fields of medicine, biology, chemistry, physics, technology and humanities. Since 1948, MPI researchers have won 17 Nobel prizes. MPI-SWS aspires to meet the highest standards of excellence and international recognition with its research in software systems.
To this end, the institute offers a unique environment that combines the best aspects of a university department and a research laboratory:
a) Faculty receive generous base funding to build and lead a team of graduate students and post-docs. They have full academic freedom and publish their research results freely.
b) Faculty have the opportunity to supervise doctoral theses, teach graduate and undergraduate courses, and have the flexibility to incorporate teaching into their research agenda.
c) Faculty are provided with outstanding technical and administrative support facilities as well as internationally competitive compensation packages.
Funds have been committed to grow the institute to a strength of 17 tenured and tenure-track faculty, and about 100 doctoral and post-doctoral positions. Additional growth through outside funding is expected. We maintain an open, international and diverse work environment and seek applications from outstanding researchers regardless of national origin or citizenship. The working language is English; knowledge of the German language is not required for a successful career at the institute.
The institute is located in Kaiserslautern and Saarbruecken, in the tri-border area of Germany, France and Luxembourg. The area offers a high standard of living, beautiful surroundings and easy access to major metropolitan areas in the center of Europe, as well as a stimulating, competitive and collaborative work environment. In immediate proximity are the MPI for Informatics, Saarland University, the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, the German Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), and the Fraunhofer Institutes for Experimental Software Engineering and for Industrial Mathematics.
Qualified candidates should apply online at the secure application form. The review of applications will begin on January 4, 2010, and applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications by that date; however, applications will continue to be accepted through January 31, 2010.
The institute is committed to increasing the representation of minorities, women and individuals with physical disabilities in Computer Science. We particularly encourage such individuals to apply.
Career opportunities:
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