The Max Planck Great Apes PhD is a funded doctoral vacancy studying cultural grooming and social bonds. The position is with the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz, Germany. The official vacancy was posted on 29 September 2026 under Job Code 176.
The project offers 3.5 years of funding and is led by Dr Zoe Goldsborough. It combines questions about ape social behaviour with quantitative research. The planned start is 1 January 2027, with a latest start of 1 March 2027.
Max Planck Great Apes PhD Details
The doctoral project examines grooming handclasps and their relationship with social bonds in great apes. It sits within the Minerva Fast Track group for Culture and Social Behavior. Questions about social learning and communication form part of the research context.
The work can use existing videos and observations alongside fieldwork. Applicants are encouraged to think about research questions and methods that fit the project. The role requires engagement with behavioural data and quantitative analysis rather than a generic interest in wildlife alone.
Institution | Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior |
|---|---|
Location | Konstanz, Germany |
Project | Cultural grooming and social bonds in great apes |
Duration | 3.5 years |
Pay basis | TVöD E13 at 65%, as stated in the vacancy |
Deadline | 23 October 2026; time and timezone not specified |
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Max Planck Great Apes PhD Benefits
The vacancy offers a funded 3.5-year doctoral position with salary at TVöD E13, 65%. That percentage is the stated pay basis. It should not be replaced by an unsupported claim about a fixed monthly take-home salary.
The position includes mentorship, methodological development, conference opportunities and field training. The vacancy also describes the IMPRS-QBEE doctoral environment in connection with the University of Konstanz. These features support both the project and the researcher’s wider doctoral development.
Applicants comparing research training routes may consider the Volkswagen Agentic AI PhD. For other postgraduate funding, the DAAD Marine Biology Scholarship and the Faculty for the Future Fellowship have separate subject and applicant requirements.
Max Planck Great Apes PhD Eligibility
Candidates should hold a relevant master’s degree by the starting date. The vacancy names biology, ecology, psychology, evolutionary anthropology or a related field. Research interests should connect with animal behaviour, social learning or the project’s specific questions.
Experience with behavioural observations, video coding, statistics, social-network analysis or R is desirable. The listing also values enthusiasm and willingness to develop relevant skills. English is the working language, and German is not required.
Requirements and Documents
The research statement is limited to two pages. The vacancy asks for one page connecting your background to the project and one page outlining possible questions and methods, including the requested mock-figure interpretation. Follow those instructions rather than submitting an unrelated proposal.
Prepare a CV, one recommendation and the contact details for a second referee. Bachelor’s and master’s transcripts can initially be unofficial, with official documents needed before acceptance. Check the current application portal for the precise submission format.
How to Apply
Use the research statement to show how your preparation and proposed questions connect with the listed project. Confirm whether you can meet the January-to-March starting window. Review the full application and referee arrangements before submission.
Application Deadline
Applications close on 23 October 2026. The official vacancy does not state a cutoff time or timezone. Those details are therefore left unspecified in the structured deadline.
The planned start is 1 January 2027 and should be no later than 1 March 2027. Applicants whose master’s award is pending should make sure their qualification will be available by the agreed start. The application deadline and employment start are different dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a specific doctoral research vacancy, rather than an unrestricted institute scholarship. The project, pay basis and start window are part of its published conditions.
Applicants should use the official vacancy and linked portal for current instructions. The following answers address the main preparation requirements.
Is German required?
No. The vacancy states that English is the working language and German is not required.
What funding duration is offered?
The official vacancy offers 3.5 years of doctoral funding.
Can initial transcripts be unofficial?
Yes. The vacancy permits unofficial bachelor’s and master’s transcripts initially, but requires official documents before acceptance.
Conclusion
The Max Planck Great Apes PhD offers funded work on a defined question in social behaviour and culture. Its combination of behavioural data, quantitative methods and field training suits applicants with relevant academic preparation.
Prepare the project-specific statement, transcripts and references before 23 October. Confirm the master’s and start-date requirements, then apply through the official vacancy’s portal.
