The position is limited to 3 years and is starting no later than February 1, 2027.
The position is part of the Max Planck Artificial Intelligence Network.

• Fine-tuning of large language models on rewards derived from social interactions or collective outcomes
• Evolutionary adaptations of AI agents in social simulations
• Behavioral experiments with human-AI hybrid groups
• Advancing the theoretical understanding of human-AI co-evolution

Your work will extend the portfolio of our research, including:

• Cooperating with machines
• Machine Culture
• Ongoing work on social reinforcement learning and evolutionary optimization of social strategies

Our aim is to advance the scientific knowledge of human-AI systems by understanding how they influence humanity today, predicting human-AI co-evolution and informing the policies that shape the future of AI‑infused societies.

• Applicants must hold, or expect to hold by the starting date, a PhD in a computational science field (e.g., Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related).
• Proven publication records in at least one of the areas above.
• Solid theoretical knowledge in cognitive science, machine learning, and social science.
• Strong technical skills in applying Artificial Intelligence, especially Agentic Architectures and Reinforcement Learning.
• Experience with the deep learning ecosystem and high-performance computing infrastructures.
• Experience designing and conducting experiments with human participants is a strong plus.
• Experience in web development and deployment is another strong plus.

• Dedicated access to the computational infrastructure of the MPCDF (B200, H200, A100).
• Access to open-weight models (with internal API endpoints), frontier commercial models, and other AI-based tools for research and development.
• Collaboration opportunities with interdisciplinary researchers (e.g., Behavioral Science, Psychology, Economics, Legal Studies).
• Resources and budget to conduct large-scale simulations or behavioral experiments.
• Engineering support by research engineers (Web experiments/​ML/​computational infrastructure) and research assistants.
• Opportunity to work at a world-class institution for behavioral and cognitive science with a cross-sectional focus on Artificial Intelligence.
• Opportunities to communicate your research to diverse audiences through high-profile publications, scientific outreach, public exhibitions, etc.
• A collaborative research environment enabling highly ambitious projects.
• Dedicated financial support to bring your own research ideas to life.

Our offer

This three-year postdoctoral position is available from October 1st, 2026, with the latest possible starting date being February 1st, 2027. The Max Planck Institute for Human Development offers an excellent working environment with flexible working hours and the option of mobile work (up to 40%, depending on work processes). We actively support families and children through kindergarten partnerships with dedicated places, as well as parent-child rooms at the institute. Our employees benefit from extensive support services, including an International Office to assist with relocation, a representative for disabled employees, an equal opportunities officer, and mental health support. In addition, we provide various offers related to health in the workplace, such as a fitness room, massage services, and yoga.

You can find out more about our commitment to diversity and the accommodations available to meet your individual needs by visiting our website: www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/diversity