Postdoc / Research Scientist (m/f/d) | Kinship Inequalities Research Group Full-time NEW

Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Scientist

The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) is recruiting one highly qualified postdoctoral researcher to join the Kinship Inequalities Research Group. The position is based in Rostock, Germany, and is offered on a full-time basis for three years. This group, led by Diego Alburez-Gutierrez, brings together experts from Demography, Sociology, Anthropology, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, and Biology to advance the subfield of kinship demography and address pressing scientific and societal questions.

The successful candidate must hold a PhD (or expect to complete it before the start date). In this recruitment round, we are particularly interested in candidates who study kin availability and kin loss from a demographic perspective, especially in the context of crisis. That said, we welcome strong applicants who bring any of the following:

• Expertise in one or more of these areas: kin loss or bereavement; family composition and demographic change; generational overlap and resource exchange; measuring and modelling kinship.
• An interest in studying kinship dynamics in the context of crisis, such as armed conflict, natural disasters, epidemics, and climate change.
• An interest in developing social theory, in particular related to kinship demography or family bereavement.

We are committed to transparent and reproducible research. We welcome applicants who have embraced open science practices in their work and/or are enthusiastic about developing open science practices.

Applications must be submitted via this online form, including the documents listed below:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of interest (Max 1 page)
• Research Statement (Max 2 pages)
• Names and contact information for 2 academic referees. Referees will be contacted only for shortlisted candidates.
• Two writing samples (published or unpublished)

In order to receive full consideration, applications must be submitted by Tuesday, November 17, 2026 (23:59 CET). Interviews will be held between November 23 and December 4, 2026. The starting date is flexible, but no later than June 2027. The successful applicant will be offered a 3-year contract with remuneration commensurate with experience (starting from approx. 67,560 EUR gross per year for researchers who have just completed their PhD, up to approx. 77,700 EUR gross per year for more senior scientists), based on the salary structure of the German public sector (Öffentlicher Dienst, TVöD Bund). The successful candidate is expected to work on-site at the MPIDR in Rostock.

For inquiries, please contact Diego Alburez-Gutierrez.

Working at the MPIDR

The MPIDR is an equal opportunities employer. Our work atmosphere includes respectful treatment of each other, with gender, nationality, religion, disability, age, cultural origin, and sexual orientation or gender identity playing no role. We aim to have an institutional culture that enables everyone to develop their individual skills and competencies.

We value diversity and are keen to employ individuals from minorities and under-represented groups, including individuals with disabilities. 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.

The Max Planck Society and the MPIDR offer a broad range of measures to support the reconciliation of work and family. The Society has been awarded the certificate “Work and Family” which is granted to institutions committed to establishing a family-friendly corporate culture by binding target agreements. The MPIDR collaborates with a network of local day-care centers that provides childcare places for the children of Institute staff.