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Your tasks

As head of the Centre of Expertise, you will research legal developments in West Asia and/or North Africa and/or in countries in South and/or Southeast Asia. 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, talks, 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 our globally renowned library in the acquisition of relevant literature. You will build partnerships with researchers in the countries and region you study.

You are expected to regularly publish your research in the leading journals of your field. You will also support German courts and civil authorities in the determination and application of foreign law by preparing 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 an outstanding legal education and have earned a doctoral degree with distinction. You are an expert on law of Arab and Islamic countries, and you have a strong academic interest in private international law and comparative law. Arabic should be a working language for you; proficiency in Persian is an asset. You are fluent in English and are willing to learn German.

Our offer

We offer you the opportunity to further your professional qualifications in a premier research setting. 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 by a good working atmosphere.

Have we attracted your interest?

The position will be offered for a period of six years and can be extended by a three-year period. Salary and benefits will conform to the German civil service pay scale (W2) in accord with the candidate’s qualifications.

Selection procedure

The position is awarded by means of a competitive procedure including the position to be advertised internationally, candidates screened and interviewed as well as letters of reference obtained.

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 30.06.2025. Your detailed application must be made through our online portal and should include the following materials:

  • Cover letter and resumé;
  • 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