At the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, scholars pursue research relating to basic issues and current developments in the areas of public international law, European Union law, and the constitutional and administrative law of individual states, together with numerous visiting scholars from all over the world. In its fields, our library is the largest in Europe and one of the most comprehensive in the world.
Currently we are seeking to recruit
Three Doctoral Candidates (x/f/m) with Professor Helmut Philipp Aust
in the subject area “public international law”.
Your profile
- University degree in law (with distinction)
- Deep knowledge of public international law
- Excellent knowledge of English (both spoken and written); knowledge of German is under certain conditions a requirement for enrolment as a doctoral candidate (see below). Knowledge of French will be considered as an asset.
- Excellent analytical and writing skills
- High motivation for academic work
We offer
- An attractive and international work environment with an unparalleled research infrastructure and a good working atmosphere
- A varied, responsible and team-orientated job
- A work space with extensive academic and administrative support
- Remuneration in accordance with the guidelines of the MPG funding agreements
- Access to our world leading library and a multitude of databases
- A workplace that is easy to reach by public transport and free employee parking spaces
- A job ticket for public transport
- Offers for work-life balance and four affiliated daycare centres
Job description
The research fellow will conduct legal research (contribution to common research projects and own publications), particularly in the field of public international law. Applicants are encouraged to apply with project ideas relating to the following three core research streams: (i) cooperation in antagonistic times, (ii) empirical foreign relations law and (iii) geographies of international law.
Candidates are expected to write a dissertation (doctoral thesis) in one of the aforementioned fields of research. Candidates must be able to fulfil the requirements for enrolment at the law school of Heidelberg or the law department of the Freie University (Berlin) and are themselves responsible for securing those. Teaching at the law faculty of the University of Heidelberg (mainly in German language) can possibly be arranged in consultation with the faculty.
Conditions
The positions are based on 3-year fixed-term contracts with the option for extension. The starting date of the position is expected to be in 2026, with details being negotiable.
Place of work is the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg and a regular physical presence in Heidelberg is required.
The salary and social benefits are provided according to the regulations of the Max Planck Society and the Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst (TVöD-Bund).
Application
The Max Planck Society has set itself the goal of employing more severely disabled people. Applications from severely disabled persons are expressly encouraged. The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are under-represented. Women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply.
Did we catch your interest? Please apply exclusively via our online application system with the usual documents (application/motivation letter of max. 2 pages, CV in tabular form containing a list of any publications you might have, certificates) by 15 June 2026. Inquiries may be directed to .
Max Planck Institute
for Comparative Public Law and International Law
Im Neuenheimer Feld 535
69120 Heidelberg