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The group “Emergent Dynamics in Living Systems” in the Department of “Living Matter Physics” (LMP) is looking for a

PhD Student (m/f/x)

- Emergent Dynamics in Living Systems -

The Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS) in Göttingen offers an international, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research environment. It is dedicated to a broad spectrum of theoretical and experimental fundamental research and employs a diverse group of researchers. It has approximately 300 employees in total.

The research group “Emergent Dynamics in Living Systems” in the LMP department investigates the collective dynamics of multicellular systems such as tissues, bacterial colonies, or tumors as biological manifestations of active matter to understand fundamental physical mechanisms using computer simulations and the methods of non-equilibrium statistical physics. 

The Research

The PhD student will work under the supervision of Dr. Philip Bittihn within the European Doctoral Network “A Coherent Analysis Framework for Emergence in Biological Systems” (CAFE-BIO) on the project “Proliferating active media”, which aims to investigate the interactions between different forms of mechanical cell activity – in this case growth/division and motility. For more information about the network and the project, please visit the central webpage (https://cafe-bio.org/).

Your Profile

For our research team, we are looking for excellent, dedicated, and self-motivated early-career researchers with strong communication skills.

Suitable candidates will have: 

• An excellent Master’s degree (or equivalent) in theoretical physics, applied mathematics, or related disciplines;
• A strong interest in non-equilibrium statistical physics, cross-scale physics of living systems, and numerical simulations;
• The ability and desire to work in an international team on interdisciplinary research topics;
• Good proficiency in English, as this is the working language of the department. Knowledge of German is an advantage but not required.
• Residence or primary activity (work or studies) in Germany of less than 12 months in the 3 years prior to recruitment (see CAFE-BIO Eligibility).

What We Offer

We offer excellent working conditions in a highly interdisciplinary and stimulating research environment. Salary and working hours are governed by the funding guidelines of the Max Planck Society and the terms of the European Doctoral Network CAFE-BIO. In addition, we offer opportunities for work-life balance and health promotion. The PhD position is limited to 3 years. The start date is September 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Max Planck Society is committed to achieving the highest level of excellence and diversity. We particularly encourage applications from women in areas where they are underrepresented, which includes theoretical physics. Furthermore, we are dedicated to creating a suitable working environment for everyone, including people with disabilities.

How to Apply

To apply, please follow the Link to the CAFE-BIO network website and use the central application procedure at the coordinating institution, the University of Edinburgh. The application deadline is April 1, 2026.

For questions about the application procedure, please contact:

Gradschool.Physics@ed.ac.uk

For questions about the project:

Dr. Philip Bittihn

philip.bittihn@ds.mpg.de

Max Planck Institute for

Dynamics and Self-Organization

Am Faßberg 17

37077 Göttingen

Germany