Academic positions in Cologne | SciFind

Academic positions in Cologne

2 open positions, aggregated daily from university career portals across Europe.

Germany is continental Europe's largest research system, with over 400 universities and major non-university research organisations including the Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Association and Leibniz Association. Most academic salaries follow the public-sector TV-L scale (E13 for PhD/postdoc, W2/W3 for professors). Positions are usually funded by the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), the BMBF, or institutional budgets.

•Salary scale: TV-L E13 (~€50,000–65,000 gross for postdocs)
•Working language: English common in STEM labs, German for admin
•EU Blue Card fast-tracks work permits for researchers
•DFG is the main competitive funding body

Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing

PhD

Fully funded PhD positions

The Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) in Germany is a joint venture of the University of Cologne Excellence Cluster on Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases (CECAD), the University Hospital and the Max Planck Institutes for Biology of Ageing and for Metabolism Research. We offer up to 12 fully funded PhD positions to highly motivated and talented researchers (m/f/d). The structured PhD training programme within a cutting-edge research environment will start on an individual basis between July 1 and October 1, 2027. We offer An outstanding international research…

🇩🇪 Köln

2w leftSource: Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing

Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research

Administrative / Other

Two Research Support Positions (m/f/d)

The Department of Comparative Development and Genetics at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIPZ) in Cologne is seeking to fill two Research Support Positions (m/f/d) to contribute to our daily laboratory work on mechanisms underlying plant development and diversity. The successful applicants will work in close collaboration with experienced research technicians and scientists at different levels and they will cultivate and characterize developmental traits in plant strains derived from mutagenesis and wild collections as well as transgenic plants. They will also be…

🇩🇪 Köln

4w leftSource: Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research

Frequently asked questions

What is the TV-L salary scale for academic positions in Germany?+

Most academic positions in Germany follow the TV-L (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder) salary scale. PhD students and postdocs are typically on E13, earning roughly €50,000–65,000 gross per year depending on experience level and state.

Do I need a Habilitation for a professorship in Germany?+

Traditionally yes, but Germany has been introducing tenure-track (Juniorprofessur) positions that serve as an alternative to the Habilitation. Many universities now offer W1 tenure-track positions leading to W2/W3 professorships without requiring a Habilitation.

Is English sufficient for academic work in Germany?+

In most STEM research groups, English is the everyday working language. However, teaching duties, administrative communication and some social science/humanities positions require German. Job postings typically specify the language requirement.