Student jobs in Germany

The Department of Criminology at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law in Freiburg im Breisgau seeks a PhD candidate (f/m/div) for the short‑term project “Mindsets and Crime: From Theory to Intervention”. The position is temporary, full‑time (39 h/week), effective 1 Feb 2026, deadline 31 Dec 2025.

Short‑Term Mindsets Theory (STMT) proposes that short‑term mindsets—how much an individual prioritises immediate versus long‑term outcomes—link cognitive, situational, and contextual predictors of crime. The PhD student will design and conduct experimental, longitudinal, or EMA studies to uncover the causes, consequences, and malleability of STM, and to evaluate brief interventions that shift short‑term orientation.

• Completed (or close to completing) a master’s or equivalent in psychology (social, developmental), pedagogy, (empirical) criminology, behavioural economics, sociology, or a similar discipline.
• Background in statistics.
• Experience with experimental research.
• Strong interest in crime research and novel research methods.
• Highly collaborative attitude; values teamwork.
• Excellent written and spoken English; German is an asset but not required.
• Excellent social and communication skills.

Ideal candidates are committed to open science and transparent research practices.

• Design and conduct innovative empirical studies on short‑term mindsets and crime.
• Collect and analyse data using experimental designs, longitudinal methods, or ecological momentary assessment.
• Develop own research ideas within the STMT framework, e.g., situational triggers, decision‑making processes, behavioral proxies, or intervention studies.
• Collaborate with international researchers across criminology, psychology, sociology, mathematics, and computer science.
• Write and present scientific manuscripts, conference papers, and workshop sessions.

• Fully funded 4‑year PhD position with no teaching duties.
• Salary based on German Civil Service pay category 13 (≈ 65 % of reference salary), including all mandatory social insurance contributions.
• Access to world‑class laboratory facilities, specialist libraries, databases, and administrative support.
• Flexible work options and generous personal & professional development opportunities (including free in‑house German language courses).
• Day‑care spots at a nearby childcare facility.

• Motivation letter (max. one page, Times New Roman 10‑pt) detailing how your interests align with the project goals and selection criteria.
• Reference: name and email address of at least one scholar who has agreed to provide a reference.
• Curriculum vitae, including a publication list.
• Writing sample (e.g., Master's thesis, seminar paper, journal article).
• Study certificates and transcripts.

Submit applications via the online portal. The deadline is 31 December 2025. Candidates will be informed in the week of 12 January 2026; online interviews are planned for February 2026.

The Max Planck Society is an equal‑opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from under‑represented backgrounds in science and research, regarding gender, disability, nationality, age, professional and cultural background, family situation, and sexual orientation.