Doctoral Candidate (m/f/d)

At the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, scholars conduct research on fundamental issues and current developments in public international law, European Union law, and the constitutional and administrative law of individual states, alongside numerous visiting scholars from around 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 a doctoral candidate (d/f/m) with Professor Helmut Philipp Aust to work in the DFG-funded Research Project “RE_INFORM: Informalized International Law and Foreign Relations Law: Doctrine, Empirics, Reform”.

Your profile

• University degree in law, political science or related disciplines (with distinction)
• Deep knowledge of public international law
• Excellent knowledge of German and English (both spoken and written); 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-oriented job
• A workspace 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 has 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 work in the context of the DFG-funded Research Project “RE_INFORM: Informalized International Law and Foreign Relations Law” which is undertaken at MPIL in co-operation with the Goethe University Frankfurt (Prof. Dr. Thomas Kleinlein). The project involves a combination of doctrinal and empirical approaches. Experience with or a readiness to embrace socio-legal methods of research (in particular with respect to the conduct of interviews and the subsequent transcription, coding and analysis of the material) is required for the position. Further information on the project can be found on the dedicated project website: Informalized International Law and Foreign Relations Law: Doctrine, Empirics, Reform.

Candidates are expected to write a dissertation (doctoral thesis) on a topic related to the research project. 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 the German language) can possibly be arranged in consultation with the faculty.

Conditions

The position is based on 3-year fixed-term contracts. The starting date of the position is 1 October 2026. 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. As the project involves the conduct of interviews with government officials and other practitioners, a willingness to travel to Berlin from time to time is expected.

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 e