Clinician Scientist Program. - New Application Period will start on September 1st to December 1st 2025

An initiative of the Max Planck School of Cognition

The Max Planck School of Cognition invites applications from top candidates with a background in Clinical Medicine that are interested in pursuing an academic career in fields such as Psychiatry and Neurology to join the newly established Clinician Scientist Program (CSP).

The Clinician Scientist Program offers candidates the opportunity for cutting-edge research training in the area of cognitive neuroscience while pursuing their clinical residency training at university clinics.
Candidates will aim for a doctoral title according to the respective faculty, which could be an M.D., Ph.D. or, for candidates who already have a Dr. med. title, an additional Ph.D. or Dr. rer. nat. title.

The CSP is comprised of one orientation year followed by three years of doctoral research. In the first year, successful candidates will attend online courses and do clinical work/laboratory rotations with associated fellows of the School of Cognition. From the second to the fourth year, candidates will do their research work and can take one year to focus on their residency training. Flexibility in arranging the residency training time will be granted.

The CSP will initiate on 1st of September, every year.

Selected candidates will receive a competitive monthly income. For more details, see the MPSCog Handbook Orientation Year.

Entry requirements:
• Successfully completed medical studies ('Staatsexamen', M.D., or equivalent)
• CV and motivation letter (please refer to 3 potential supervisors from the School’s faculty in letter)
• At minimum two references (includig applicant name in header via direct email to us by referees)
• Interest in pursuing of clinical work while at the Clinician Scientist Program
• English and German language skills at B2 level and willingness to prepare for language examination 'C1 Medizin' at the end of the program

The next application cycle starts on September 1st until December 1st 2025 via our application portal for intake fall 2026.