Student Assistant / Graduate Assistant (m/f/d)

Young Researchers Berlin

Cultural Studies

Job Offer from August 25, 2026

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.

Lise Meitner Research Group “China in the Global System of Science” led by Dr. Anna Lisa Ahlers, seeks to appoint a Student Assistant / Graduate Assistant (m/f/d) for up to 12 hours per week , starting on November 1, 2026, until October 31, 2027 (with the possibility of extension)

The Lise Meitner Research Group “China in the Global System of Science” explores science and scholarship in contemporary Chinese society, the impact of the political regime on the country’s ambition to become a science superpower, as well as the features of international academic cooperation with China. The group welcomes researchers who combine methods from the social sciences, area studies, and other disciplines to analyze the global dynamics of structures of science and their local varieties in the contemporary world.

Your responsibilities

• research assistance
• supporting general administrative tasks
• supporting the organization of scientific events
• editorial work on scientific texts (mainly in English, German, and Chinese)
• developing graphic designs for the visualization of scientific results
• assistance in creating and managing the group’s institutional and additional websites
• helping to maintain databases and digital repositories

Your profile

• currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s program (in at least your third semester) or a Master’s program (first or second semester) at a university in Germany
• excellent language skills (in German, English, and Chinese)
• good IT skills (Microsoft Office, InDesign, Photoshop), productive and critical use of AI-based research tools, applied with academic rigor
• the ability to work both independently and in a team, good communication skills, a talent for organization
• an interest in research
• an interest in and enjoyment of work in an international research institution

We offer

• remuneration at the student employee rates of the MPG support for junior scientists and scholars: currently € 16.50 per hour for Bachelor’s students and € 17.17 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 and research interests, including encouragement of participation in the group’s publication activities
• 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, through our application portal. Include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, certificate of enrollment, and copies of qualifications (in a single PDF file).

Applications must be received by September 15, 2026 (23:59 CEST).

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

For any questions about the position or the application process, please contact Ms. Linh Bui Dao.

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Boltzmannstr. 22, 14195 Berlin