PhD position in field-based human and/or ape locomotor biomechanics Full-time NEW

PhD Position In Field-Based Human And/Or Ape Locomotor Biomechanics

The Department of Human Origins at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (Leipzig, Germany) is currently seeking qualified applicants (m/f/d) for a PhD position in field-based human and/or ape locomotor biomechanics.

The PhD student will work within a new Minerva Fast Track Research Group led by Dr. Charlotte King focused on human and ape locomotor biomechanics and ecomorphology. We are offering a PhD position to investigate the locomotor biomechanics of great apes, including humans, through experimental approaches. This project provides the opportunity to contribute to our understanding of human origins by examining the functional morphology of living apes as models to reconstruct locomotor evolution in our extinct hominin relatives. The research will integrate field-based data collection with computational and quantitative analyses. We seek a candidate with a strong interest in human origins and competency in computational approaches to data processing and analysis. Candidates with prior fieldwork experience with primates or other mammals will be prioritized. Essential criteria include:

• A completed Master`s degree (including M.Sc. thesis) in biological anthropology, zoology, biomechanics, ecology and evolution, biology, ethology, or a related topic.
• Excellent academic performance and strong motivation to pursue a PhD
• Fluent in written and spoken English (which is the working-language of the Institute)
• Willingness, and ideally previous experience, to conduct fieldwork-based research
• Willingness to collaborate effectively and have strong teamwork skills

Desired skills:

• Experience with machine learning applications
• Experience with biomechanical recording equipment (e.g., 3D motion capture, force)
• Interest in primate functional morphology and behaviour
• Experience with field-based research on primate or other mammals

Highly integrative projects that require a willingness to embrace multiple disciplines and close collaborations with other researchers with different backgrounds. State-of-the-art equipment. An excellent research environment. A structured training program. German language courses are offered (German language skills are not required). Successful candidates will obtain a 3-year Ph.D. position corresponding to TVöD Bund (Collective Wage Agreement for the Public Service): The doctoral funding contracts combine research in scientific freedom with social security. They allow doctoral researchers to devote themselves independently to their scientific work without any constraints. The agreed working time currently amounts to 39 hours per week. Consumables and equipment required for the project will be covered by the department. Selected Ph.D. students would ideally start at the beginning of September 2026 (and a Master's degree must be completed by this date). The candidates will be enrolled within the International Max Planck Research School “The Leipzig School of Human Origins” (IMPRS-LSHO).

Interested applicants should apply only via our online recruiting system. For questions (no applications), please write to Dr. Charlotte King, Minerva Group Leader, Dept. of Human Origins at origins_office@…. Applications should include:

• Cover letter (max. 2 pages), outlining your previous research experience, your specific area(s) of research interest, and a brief overview of potential research directions or questions that interest you within the scope of the project.
• Curriculum vitae with the names and contact information of at least two referees.
• Scientific certificates (B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees)

All electronic applications should be submitted by April 30th, 2026. The Max Planck Society and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology are committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and gender equality. We actively support the compatibility of work and family and have set ourselves the goal of employing more severely disabled people and groups that are underrepresented in science, especially in the given field of activity. Therefore, we explicitly encourage them to apply and welcome applications from all backgrounds.