The Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoctoral Programme 2027 offers researchers a four-year postdoc across Germany and Israel, with salaries reaching €72,800.84 per year at Max Planck and an untaxed fellowship of up to NIS 220,920 per year at Weizmann. The Max Planck Society (MPG) in Germany and the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) in Israel jointly run this international postdoctoral programme. Applications close on December 1, 2026, for positions starting between March and September 2027. This is not a postdoc where you apply first and choose a laboratory later. You need researchers at both MPG and WIS who can jointly host your project, support your application, and show why the research genuinely requires expertise or facilities from both institutions.
Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoc 2027: Quick Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Host Countries | Germany and Israel |
| Institutions | Max Planck Society and Weizmann Institute of Science |
| Program Name | Max Planck-Weizmann Joint Postdoctoral Program |
| Degree Level | Postdoctoral |
| Funding Status | MPG salary up to €72,800.84/year; WIS fellowship up to NIS 220,920/year; plus benefits and travel funding |
| Duration | 4 years, normally 2 years at MPG + 2 years at WIS |
| Deadline | December 1, 2026 |
| Eligible Nationalities | All nationalities |
| Expected Start | March to September 2027 |
| Application Method | Online application after securing MPG and WIS host researchers |
What Is the Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoctoral Programme?
The programme connects researchers with two major research systems rather than one laboratory or university.
You spend approximately half of the four-year appointment at a participating Max Planck Institute and the other half at the Weizmann Institute of Science. The programme generally expects periods of at least one year at each institution, although the committee can approve another arrangement when the research provides a strong scientific reason.
This structure gives the programme its real value. Your project should use complementary expertise, infrastructure, or research environments across Germany and Israel.
- Max Planck Society partners with Weizmann Institute of Science to run the joint programme.
- The programme provides a four-year postdoctoral appointment.
- Fellows divide their research time between MPG and WIS.
- Both host researchers support the candidate and collaborative research project.
Research Fields Available
The programme covers a broad research base across participating Max Planck institutes and WIS.
Relevant areas include:
- Life sciences
- Biological and medical sciences
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Computer science
- Earth science
- Natural sciences
- Social sciences
- Human sciences
Applicants can work with participating Max Planck institutes from the Biological and Medical Section, Chemistry, Physics and Technology Section, and Human Sciences Section.
Who Can Apply for the Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoc?
You can apply regardless of nationality if you can start the programme within four years of completing your PhD or MD, secure suitable researchers at MPG and WIS, and develop a genuinely collaborative project. The programme places no age restriction on applicants, but it applies specific rules to PhD timing and host relationships.
Key eligibility conditions include:
- You must begin the programme within four years of completing your PhD or MD. If you hold both degrees, the programme uses the earlier degree date.
- You must submit your PhD thesis before you start the programme.
- You cannot apply with your PhD advisor as the proposed programme host.
- Current WIS postdocs can apply, but they must begin the programme before the end of their first year at WIS.
- Applicants from any nationality can apply.
- The programme sets no age limit.
- You must work physically at MPG or WIS according to your approved research split.
If you also want to compare another Max Planck route, see Max Planck Postdoc Program 2026.
How to Apply for Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoc for international researchers
Step 1: Identify Two Compatible Hosts
Contact researchers at participating Max Planck institutes and at WIS.
Your goal is to find one researcher from each institution who can jointly support a coherent project.
Review the MPG list of institutions for Postdoctroal Positions Abroad
Step 2: Build the Collaborative Research Question
Define what each institution contributes.
The programme specifically asks you to explain the collaborative nature of your research, so your proposal needs more than two host names attached to one standard postdoc project.
Step 3: Agree on the Four-Year Split
Plan approximately two years at each institution and state where you will begin.
You can divide the periods differently, but the programme generally discourages stays shorter than one year unless your research justifies them.
Step 4: Prepare Your Documents
Complete your CV, two-page research statement, institutional split plan and host support documentation.
Arrange at least three referees early.
Step 5: Submit the Online Application
Complete the application through the WIS programme system before December 1, 2026.
After submission, the system sends you an email containing individual links for your referees.
Apply now for the Max Planck Weizmann Joint Postdoctoal Programme
Step 6: Send Each Referee Their Unique Link
Your referees use those links to submit recommendation letters directly through the system.
The programme bases its joint selection process on academic excellence, including your publications and recommendations.
Required Documents Checklist
Prepare the research concept and host arrangements before you focus on the application form.
You need:
- Detailed CV covering your academic background, research experience, publications, invited talks, awards and other relevant achievements.
- At least three recommendation letters, with one preferably from your PhD advisor.
- Support letter from your MPG and WIS hosts. The hosts can provide one joint letter.
- Funding confirmation from the host researchers, because the participating institute and PI share programme costs.
- Research statement of up to two pages explaining the project and its collaborative nature.
- Research statement formatting with 2 cm margins and 11-point font.
- Four-year institutional split statement explaining how you will divide your time between MPG and WIS.
- Clear identification of whether you will begin at MPG or WIS.
Your mobility plan should reflect scientific needs. Do not treat it as a travel schedule.
Careers Help Desk Strategic Counter-Angle: The Host Pair Is Part of Your Application
The portal is not the difficult part here. The difficult work happens before you submit anything.
Average applicants can make three mistakes.
First, they search for two prestigious names rather than two scientifically complementary hosts. That weakens the logic of the project. Your proposal should make it obvious why one part belongs at MPG and another part belongs at WIS.
Second, they describe the four-year split as administration. Treat it as research design instead. If a facility, technique, dataset or expertise at one institution logically feeds the next phase at the other institution, explain that sequence.
Third, they rely too heavily on publications. Publications matter because the programme explicitly uses them to assess academic excellence. But the application also demands host support, recommendations and a two-institution research plan. A strong publication record cannot repair a project that looks artificially divided between Germany and Israel.
The strongest framing answers one question clearly: Why does this research become better because MPG and WIS conduct it together?
If you prefer a programme built around broader independent research positioning, compare Santa Fe Institute Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
- Contacting MPG and WIS researchers too close to the deadline
- Designing a project that one host could complete alone
- Trying to collaborate with your PhD advisor as the programme host
- Exceeding the two-page research statement limit
- Ignoring the 2 cm margin and 11-point font requirements
- Providing a vague Germany-Israel time split without scientific justification
- Forgetting to secure obligatory host support
- Waiting too long to send referee links after submitting the application
- Assuming strong grades or publications can replace a credible joint research plan
Salary, Fellowship and Financial Benefits
The financial structure changes when you move between Germany and Israel.
During Your Time at Max Planck in Germany
MPG employs fellows according to German postdoctoral regulations and experience levels.
The programme lists these annual taxable salaries:
- TVöD Level 2: €67,311.33 per year
- TVöD Level 3: €72,800.84 per year
- In exceptional cases, Level 1: €62,489.15 per year
The German employment package also includes health insurance, nursing care insurance, pension insurance, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits.
During Your Time at Weizmann in Israel
WIS provides an untaxed postdoctoral fellowship rather than the German salary structure.
The programme lists:
- Level 2: NIS 212,088 per year
- Level 3: NIS 220,920 per year
WIS also provides full family health insurance, a nursing care subsidy, vacation days, relocation support and subsidized housing.
Travel and Relocation Support
Every fellow receives up to €3,000 per year for conferences, workshops and seminars.
The host institution can also cover relocation expenses up to twice during the programme, with at least 18 months between relocations:
- €1,500 per relocation for a single postdoc
- €3,000 per relocation for a postdoc relocating with a spouse or family
Spouses can also obtain work permission while accompanying postdocs in both Germany and Israel under the programme arrangements.
If you want to compare another international 2027 fellowship route, see Stanford Science Fellows 2027.
Ready to Apply for Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoc
The Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoctoral Programme 2027 suits researchers who want more than a conventional single-lab postdoc.
You need a strong research record. More importantly, you need a project that genuinely benefits from two research environments, two committed hosts and four years of structured collaboration between Germany and Israel.
Start with the host search, not the application portal. The deadline is December 1, 2026, and successful applicants from this cycle should start between March and September 2027.
Official Source: Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoctoral Programme 2027 Call for Applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international researchers apply for the Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoctoral Programme?
Yes. The programme accepts applicants of any nationality and specifically targets an international postdoctoral community.
Is there an age limit for the Max Planck-Weizmann postdoc?
No. The programme sets no age restriction, although applicants must meet the rules concerning the timing of their PhD or MD.
Can I spend all four years at Max Planck or Weizmann?
No. The programme requires fellows to divide their appointment between MPG and WIS, normally with two years at each institution.
Do I need Max Planck and Weizmann hosts before applying?
Yes. You need researchers from both institutions who can act as joint hosts and provide the required support documentation.
How much does the Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoc pay?
€67,311.33 to €72,800.84 per year represents the standard listed MPG Level 2 and Level 3 taxable salary range, while WIS provides annual untaxed fellowships of NIS 212,088 or NIS 220,920 at the corresponding levels.
When does the 2027 programme start?
March to September 2027 is the planned starting window for applicants applying by the December 1, 2026 deadline.
Stay Connected wth Careers Help Desk to discover the latest fully funded scholarships, fellowships, internships, research positions, and graduate programs available for international students.
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