The Department for Quantum Field Theory, led by Prof. Dr. Johannes Henn at the Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP) in Garching, conducts fundamental research in particle physics and cosmology, drawing on close collaboration between physicists, cosmologists, and mathematicians.
The department coordinates two major international research initiatives. UNIVERSE+ is a project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under a Synergy Grant — among the most competitive and prestigious funding awards in European research — and brings together principal investigators in Munich, Princeton, Amsterdam, and Leipzig. The Max Planck–IAS–NTU Center for Particle Physics, Cosmology, and Geometry links the MPP in Munich with the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton and the National Taiwan University (NTU) in Taipei. Both initiatives connect researchers across the globe through workshops, conferences, research visits, and joint projects.
Are you curious about how international research projects and scientific events are actually run?
We are looking for a Student Assistant (f/m/d) to support our scientific coordinator, Dr. Diana López Falcón, in the day-to-day coordination, communication, and organization of these initiatives. You will gain first-hand experience managing large international research collaborations and play an active role in organizing scientific events, including the Amplitudes 2027 conference. This is the largest annual conference in the field and brings together approximately 250 researchers from around the world. Students who need to complete a mandatory internship in areas related to this work are also welcome to apply.
The role spans two areas:
Coordination & events
- Help organize scientific workshops, seminars, and the visitor program, and support the planning and on-site management of the Amplitudes 2027 conference (registration, conference website, speaker coordination, materials, and logistics).
- Help prepare meeting materials, presentations, and reporting input for the Synergy Grant and the Center.
- Assist with general administration tasks, record keeping, and project documentation.
Communication & outreach
- Support internal and external communication with partner institutions and collaborators.
- Maintain and update the project and Center websites.
- Help create newsletters, announcements, and outreach material, and contribute to the dissemination of project activities and events.
Your profile
- Enrolled as a student at a university in the Munich area (e.g. LMU or TUM); students from all disciplines are welcome to apply.
- Reliable, well-organized, and able to handle several tasks independently, with an interest in research coordination, science communication, or event organization.
- Excellent command of written and spoken English (about C1 level) as this is the working language; German is helpful but not required.
Any of the following is a plus:
- Experience working with a content management system (e.g. WordPress or TYPO3)
- Previous experience in project support, administration, communications, or events.
What we offer
- First-hand experience working alongside the scientific coordinator of major international research projects, with insight into how an ERC Synergy Grant and a research center are run day to day, in a dynamic and collaborative research group with regular contact to our international partners.
- A visible role in organizing a high-profile international conference (Amplitudes 2027)
- Flexible working hours compatible with your studies (e.g., 10–20 hours per week).
The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with a disability in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.
Application process
Review of applications will start on July, 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Dr. Diana López-Falcón (Email: diana.lopez-falcon@mpp.mpg.de).
To apply, please submit your application via https://apply.mpp.mpg.de/QFT-Assistant including the following documents: a motivation letter, CV and graduation certificates (studies/high school).
Max Planck Institute for Physics
(Werner Heisenberg Institute)
Personnel Department
Boltzmannstraße 8
85748 Garching
Germany
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https://www.mpp.mpg.de/en/studying-and-working/jobs/data-protection-statement-for-job-applications