The Department of Criminal Law at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law in Freiburg/Germany is inviting applications for its
Research Fellowship Program
Our offer
Our Institute offers unrivaled research conditions: access to an outstanding, specialized library (with approximately 500,000 volumes and 1100 print journals) as well as access to a comprehensive range of German and foreign case law and literature databases, excellent workplaces, and sound administrative and academic support. Collaboration with other researchers and international partners at the Institute is a key element of our work. There are also many opportunities for our guests and fellows to participate in workshops, attend seminars and conferences, and liaise with world-renowned experts at the Institute and as part of the Max Planck Law network.
Guests and fellows at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law in Freiburg are expected to develop their own research projects. They can use the excellent research infrastructure and the scientific support services of the Institute. They are given ample time to publish their own work and to advance their own academic careers.
The fellowships are awarded for a research stay at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law for a period of two to a maximum of four months. Scholarship holders are expected to participate in the scientific exchange of the respective department of the Institute. The fellowship amounts are EUR 1365 per month for doctoral candidates, EUR 2500 for postdocs, and up to EUR 3000 for professors and experienced researchers. In exceptional cases, a grant can also be awarded for expenses in connection with participation in an academic event or further research activities in Germany or other (European) countries.
About us
The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law is dedicated to fundamental research in the fields of criminal law, criminology, public security, and fundamental legal research. The Institute is part of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science — one of the most prestigious research organizations worldwide. The high level of its fundamental research is reflected not least by the 31 Nobel Prizes awarded to Max Planck scientists since the Society was founded in 1948.
The research conducted in our three departments (Criminal Law, Criminology, and Public Law) is comparative, international, and interdisciplinary. The scientists in the Department of Criminal Law conduct research in the field of transnational criminal law theory: They analyze the normative foundations and functions of criminal law in contemporary societies and focus on current challenges that arise in similar ways in different legal systems. The aim is to develop solutions in order to further advance criminal law rules and regulatory practices. With its world-renowned, specialized library, the Institute offers an ideal environment for theoretical, doctrinal, and empirical research. The Department of Criminal Law is headed by Prof. Dr. Tatjana Hörnle.
The Institute, with its approximately 150 employees, is located in Freiburg/Germany, a dynamic university city with a 900-year history. The city in the trinational border region (Germany, Switzerland, and France) impresses newcomers with its high quality of life and international flair.
Your profile
The Research Fellowship program is open to outstanding academics — PhD students, postdocs, senior researchers, and professors — from foreign research institutions and to PhD candidates from German research institutions (except MPI-CSL) for particularly innovative research projects that contribute significantly to scientific progress through new perspectives, investigations, or findings in the subject areas of Criminal Law. Applicants should have research interests in the areas of criminal law theory, philosophy of criminal law, or comparative criminal law.
Your application and further information
To apply, please submit your application with the following documents in PDF format:
- Curriculum vitae;
- List of academic publications;
- One to three scholarly publications in German or English;
- Description of the proposed research project (5–10 pages). Doctoral students are not necessarily expected to submit publications; however, they should submit a more detailed research proposal (approx. 10 pages);
- Diploma degree certificates;
- Doctoral degree certificate.
For fellowships beginning in 2026, the application deadline is 31 October 2025.
Please submit your application via our online application form: