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Your tasks

As head of the Centre of Expertise, you will research legal developments in selected African jurisdictions. You will work from a comparative perspective and formulate legal approaches meeting the needs of tomorrow. You will be responsible for initiating and organizing conferences, cooperative projects, and exchange programs for early career researchers. Your country-specific expertise will be brought to bear in the Institute's comparative projects. You will also support the library in the acquisition of relevant literature and will supervise researchers coming from individual African countries. You will maintain a familiarity with country-specific journals and regularly publish on current developments in the African countries on which you focus. You will also support German courts in the determination and application of foreign law through the preparation of expert opinions. You will be given the opportunity to carry out independent research in the fields addressed by the Centre of Expertise and will be supported on your career path.

Your profile

You have completed an outstanding legal education and earned a doctoral degree with distinction. Now you would like to work as a postdoc at an international research institute in order to further your qualifications or to author a post-doctoral dissertation or Habilitation thesis.

You have a strong academic interest in respect of private international law, foreign legal systems, and comparative inquiry. Based on your professional career or your background, you have special legal and language skills in relation to certain African countries. You are fluent in English and ideally also have knowledge in French and/or German or are willing to acquire basic knowledge in German within your position, with the Institute’s support.

Our offer

We offer you the opportunity to further your professional qualifications at our renowned research institute. Daily work at the Institute is characterized by internationality and academic curiosity. The Institute is defined by an exceptional academic  and organizational infrastructure as well as a good working atmosphere.

Have we roused your interest?

Applications may be submitted for full- or part-time employment. The position is for a fixed length of time. Salary and benefits will conform to the German civil service pay scale (TVöD Bund) in accord with the candidate’s qualifications.

The Max Planck Society strives to ensure a workplace that embraces gender equality and diversity. It has set the goal of employing more disabled individuals and encourages applications from such persons. Additionally, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. 

If you are interested, please submit your application by 30 November 2024. Your detailed application must be made through our online portal and should include the following materials:

  • Cover letter and resume;
  • A description of your research interests, including, as appropriate, a planned research project (max. 2 pages);
  • A list of your publications and a list of all previous teaching activities and lectures;
  • Your university (degree) credentials and, as appropriate, employment testimonials;
  • A selected publication of approximately 20 pages (article or book chapter).

We look forward to meeting you.                                                   

Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches
und internationales Privatrecht
Mittelweg 187
20148 Hamburg

www.mpipriv.de