MDC Global Fellowships – Postdoktorand*innenforschung (m/w/d) · in Berlin

Join to apply for the MDC Global Fellowships – Postdoktorand*innenforschung (m/w/d) in Berlin role at Max Delbrück Center. The MDC Global Fellowships program is a strategic initiative to recruit outstanding international scientists—both emerging and established—who are passionate about interdisciplinary research and will contribute diverse expertise to address major biomedical challenges. Fellows propose their own interdisciplinary research vision projects, which must be jointly supervised by at least two MDC research groups, fostering collaboration across disciplines and promoting novel scientific synergies.

Team

Science Talent Management

Appointment and benefits

The fellowship provides a 3-year appointment with a competitive salary, research funding, dedicated resources for scientific meetings, team science and stakeholder engagement activities, as well as a comprehensive portfolio of training and career development opportunities. Each fellow will be embedded in a co-supervision framework designed to support high-quality mentorship, promote mutual accountability, and encourage the development of interdisciplinary research trajectories.

Expectations

Fellows are expected to contribute to MDC’s collaborative research environment and generate high-impact outputs through joint publications and new interdisciplinary bridges and synergies.

Job Description

Key responsibilities include:

• Planning, organizing, and executing research activities in alignment with the proposed project objectives.
• Establishing and maintaining effective scientific collaboration with the co-hosting research groups, contributing to a cross-disciplinary team environment.
• Preparing, documenting, and managing research data in accordance with institutional policies and scientific standards.
• Contributing to the preparation of high-quality scientific outputs, including peer-reviewed publications, grant applications, and conference presentations.
• Participating actively in research group meetings, seminars, and interdisciplinary events at the MDC.
• Presenting research findings to both internal and external audiences.
• Supporting knowledge exchange across disciplines and, where appropriate, contributing to mentoring activities within the hosting labs.
• Participating in stakeholder engagement training and activities.

Requirements

We are seeking outstanding international postdoctoral researchers who are motivated to pursue independent, interdisciplinary research within MDC’s collaborative environment. Applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

• A completed doctoral degree in the life sciences, biomedical sciences, computational biology, engineering, or a related discipline by the start date of the fellowship
• Scientific excellence, demonstrated through a strong publication record, impactful research contributions, and a clear ability to generate innovative ideas
• A strong track record in interdisciplinary research or a compelling vision for how their expertise can bridge scientific domains to address complex biomedical challenges
• Motivation to engage with MDC’s team science ecosystem and to pursue co-supervised projects involving at least two MDC research groups
• Initiative in identifying and contacting MDC research groups to jointly develop the proposed project
• Mobility: The program is open exclusively to external candidates (prior association including guest contracts of a candidate fellow with the MDC or other German research organization is compatible with application to the program but cannot exceed 12 months within the last 3 years prior to the submission deadline)
• Excellent communication skills in English

We offer

• international working environment with communication in English and German
• interesting career opportunities and a range of opportunities for further qualification and training
• Compatibility of family and career certified by the workandfamily audit
• Support for New Berliners through the MDC Welcome & Family Office

You also benefit from:

• a remuneration in accordance with the collective agreement for the federal public service TVöD Bund, including additional company pension schemes
• flexible working hours and childcare support
• the possibility of mobile working
• an idyllic green campus, which is easily accessible by bicycle, public transport or car
• free use of Nextbike from the Buch S-Bahn station to the campus
• Subsidy for the job ticket as well as discounts in the campus canteen
• On-campus health and fitness center
• additional health benefits such as flu vaccination, eye test, ergonomics advice at the workplace

Remuneration will be according to the TVöD Bund pay category E13, depending on qualification.

Full time, 39 h/week

Desired starting date

January 01, 2026

Limitation

Fixed Term

September 17, 2025

Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

MDC values diversity and is committed to fostering an inclusive, fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equitable consideration for employment based on their experience and qualifications, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or other personal characteristics. We recognize that creating diverse teams that represent a broad range of experiences, perspectives and backgrounds strengthen our work and research. We welcome applications from open-minded people who embrace working together in a diverse environment. Applications from severely disabled people will be given particular consideration.

Contact

Science Talent Management

Please use our online portal and submit your application including a cover letter, CV (without photo, age and information about your family status) and other relevant attachments.

If you have a foreign degree, please submit proof of the recognition of your master's degree in Germany with your application. The proof can be determined via the anabin database and can be submitted as a PDF attachment to the application.

For information on fair mobility, click here: https://www.fair-labour-mobility.eu/.