The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Göttingen is one of the world's leading research institutions in the field of solar physics and planetary research with around 300 employees. The interdisciplinary research focus is the investigation of the development, diversity and dynamics of planets, moons, small bodies, the sun and solar-like stars. The MPS develops and operates scientific instruments for current and future space missions (e.g. ESA, NASA), and carries out cosmochemical laboratory investigations of meteorites as well as numerical modeling on state-of-the-art supercomputers.

The Planetary Science Department at MPS invites applications for the position of a

Postdoctoral researcher (f/m/d) in Experimental Planetology

As part of the Experimental Planetology research group, and funded by the ERC Starting Grant “ELMO: Experimental Laboratory Magma Ocean”, the postdoc will investigate how volatile and moderately volatile chemical elements behave in magma ocean worlds—the earliest, molten stages of rocky planets— both in the Solar System and beyond. The two fundamental questions addressed by the ELMO project are: “What were the compositions of primordial atmospheres of terrestrial solar system planets when they had magma oceans?” “How are the atmospheres of hot exoplanets compositionally linked to interior magma oceans?” The final project design will be developed in collaboration with the postdoc and own project ideas, within the framework of the ERC, are explicitly encouraged.

Your Tasks

• Conducting cutting-edge research in experimental planetology
• Measuring vapor pressures of volatile & moderately volatile elements in magmatic systems
• Publication of results in peer-reviewed journals & presentation at international conferences

Your Qualification

• A PhD (or soon to be completed PhD) in experimental petrology, geo-/cosmochemistry, mineralogy, or related fields
• Experience in high-temperature/pressure experimental petrology and relevant data analysis
• Ability to work in a team
• Good command of spoken and written English

Our Offer

• Comprehensive onboarding, professional development and further training opportunities
• Diverse and varied tasks in an international work environment
• Renumeration according to TVöDBund, based on qualifications and experience, annual bonus and additional pension scheme (VBL)
• 30 days of vacation plus 4 additional days off
• Full-time and part-time employment; flexible working time and possibility of mobile work
• Collaboration with local bilingual Montessori child care center
• Good connection by public transport
• Corporate health management

Additional Information

• The position can be filled immediately, but a later starting date is possible
• The contract is for 4 years
• Remuneration is according to EG 13 TVöD-Bund
• The application deadline is June 14, 2026

We look forward to receiving your informative application documents (a cover letter, a CV, a list of publications, a two-page summary of scientific achievements and future research plans, and the names and contact information of two references). Please submit these as a single pdf via the digital application portal (https://www.mps.mpg.de/career/jobs). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Christian Renggli (renggli@mps.mpg.de).

The Max Planck Society endeavours to achieve gender equality and diversity. 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. The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.