German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research (DPZ), Göttingen

The German Primate Center (DPZ) - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen conducts basic research in primate biology, molecular biomedicine and neuroscience. It maintains four field stations and is a competence and reference center for research on and with primates. The DPZ is one of the 96 research and infrastructure facilities of the Leibniz Association.

How does the brain evaluate social information? The Social Neurobiology Lab investigates the neural mechanisms underlying social interactions, with a focus on how distinct brain regions assign value to facial expressions and social cues. We are looking for a curious, self-motivated

PhD student

to join this research at one of Europe’s leading primate neuroscience institutions. The start date is 1^st of May 2026; a later starting date is possible.

This is a 65% position (payment E13 TV-L) for 2 years, with funding in place and a clear path to a 2-year extension, for a total PhD duration of 4 years. We are committed to supporting the extension and will discuss this openly during the interview process.

We’re looking for someone who is genuinely excited about social behavior and the brain, and who brings a combination of scientific curiosity and methodological rigor. You should have, or be close to completing, an MSc in neuroscience, biology, psychology, cognitive science, or a closely related field.

Strong candidates will have some of the following:

• A background in experimental neuroscience, animal behavior, or cognitive psychology
• Experience with data analysis, programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB, R), and statistical methods
• Familiarity with neurophysiology, particularly electrophysiological recording (coursework counts)
• Comfort working in an empirical, hands-on research environment

You don’t need to tick every box. If the research excites you and you have a solid foundation in at least one of these areas, we encourage you to apply. The working language of the lab is English.

Beyond the project itself, you will benefit from:

• A location at the German Primate Center, surrounded by world-leading neuroscience institutions including the European Neuroscience Institute and the Max Planck Institutes
• Access to state-of-the-art neurophysiology infrastructure and primate research expertise
• Membership in an international, collaborative research environment with strong mentorship
• Göttingen’s dense neuroscience community, with regular seminars, workshops, and cross-institutional exchange
• A city that is genuinely affordable, internationally minded, and a pleasant place to live

We welcome diversity and therefore welcome applications from qualified people, regardless of their ethnic, cultural and social background, gender, religion, ideology, disability, age or sexual identity. Registered disabled applicants with equal aptitude and qualifications will be given preferential consideration. We kindly ask you to indicate a disability in your application.

Employment at the DPZ is based on the civil service rules and regulations. The salary scale is in accordance with TV-L, with VBL pension scheme.

We encourage you to reach out informally before submitting a formal application. Send a brief email to Raymundo Báez-Mendoza at rbaezmendoza(at)dpz.eu; a short note about your background and interest in the project is enough to start a conversation.

For a formal application, please submit the following as a single PDF to bewerbung(at)dpz.eu using the subject line "Social neurobiology PhD student”:

• A motivation letter explaining your interest in the project and relevant experience
• Your CV
• Contact details for two referees

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We will give preference to applications received by 30 March 2026, but will continue reviewing until the position is filled.

For more information about the DPZ, please visit http://www.dpz.eu or call 0551 / 3851-105.