PhD Studentship in Oceanic Collective Intelligence, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

About the Position

This project studies how oceanic predators produce and use social information while foraging. The doctoral researcher will work with quantitative data on blue or sperm whales, combining biological questions with computational analysis and opportunities for ecological fieldwork.

Research Areas

• Animal behaviour
• Marine ecology
• Quantitative biology

Funding and Duration

Component	Details
Award or position	PhD scholarship / studentship
Stipend / salary	65% of TVöD E13 salary; cash amount not stated
Duration	Four years

Eligibility and Requirements

Criterion	Requirement
Applicant eligibility	Programme and project criteria apply; see official eligibility guidance
Academic preparation	Completed MSc in natural sciences, mathematics or a related field; quantitative research preparation.
Language	English is the working language; German is not required
Further conditions	Four-year Konstanz project; expected summer/autumn 2027 start.

Application dates

Component	Details
Recruitment status	Open
Deadline / consideration round	15 November 2026
Location	Germany

About Max Planck Society

The Max Planck Society operates research institutes and International Max Planck Research Schools in Germany. Doctoral candidates work within a selected institute or partner university, with funding and supervision arranged through the programme or project.

Official details: Read the programme or project information

Application route: Follow the official application instructions

2026 TV-L E13 scale (verified): €4,759.37–€6,764.69 gross per month full-time, effective 1 April 2026; part-time positions are pro-rated.

Contact

Questions about this position, eligibility or the application process should be raised through the contact channel given on the official announcement page (see the Official Link section above). Always quote the position reference in your message so the admissions or HR team can route your enquiry quickly.

Official Link

Full announcement and application portal: https://imprs-qbee.mpg.de/131527/oceanic-collective-intelligence

Source: imprs-qbee.mpg.de - the details in this listing were recorded from this official page.

Important Notes

• Application deadline: 15 November 2026 - late or incomplete applications are normally not considered.
• Listing details were recorded from the official source at the time of publication; always confirm the latest requirements on the official page before applying.
• Prepare the documents listed in the eligibility and application sections before starting the online form - transcripts, CV and references take the longest to collect.

How to Apply

Submit your application through the official portal before the deadline: 15 November 2026. Read the eligibility requirements carefully and prepare all requested documents — early applications are strongly recommended for competitive awards.

Open the official application page ↗

Application guides

• How to Read a PhD Job Advert: Funding, Eligibility and Application Steps
• Academic CV for PhD Applications: Structure and an Example
• Studying in Germany: Tuition Fees, Living Costs and Funding

English language requirements

German doctoral employment generally has no fixed IELTS or TOEFL threshold; your English is judged from the written application and the interview, and prior English-medium study is widely accepted as evidence.