Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) | Small-Animal MRI and Cross‑Species Neuroimaging Full-time NEW

Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) | Small-Animal MRI and Cross-Species Neuroimaging

The Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (MPI-BI) is one of more than 80 independent research institutions within the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science. The Institute operates at two locations southwest of Munich: Seewiesen and Martinsried. Approximately 500 staff members from over 50 countries investigate the fundamentals of how organisms adapt to constantly changing environments and achieve complex goals, abilities we call “biological intelligence”.

Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in Small-Animal MRI and Cross-Species Neuroimaging

The Technical University of Munich, TUM University Hospital, and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence (MPI-BI) are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), biological/physiological sciences, and a strong interest in experimental work with small animals. The position is part of the interdisciplinary project WildBrain, which investigates how environmental transitions shape neural plasticity and behavioral individuality across mice and humans.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative team spanning TUM, MPI-BI (Martinsried/Seewiesen), the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Berlin), and Technische Universität Dresden, and will work closely with experts in neuroimaging, behavioral neuroscience, and cross-species data integration.

Your Responsibilities

You will be the lead scientist for small-animal MRI within the WildBrain project. Your key tasks include:

• Leading the acquisition, optimization, and analysis of high-field small-animal MRI data (structural MRI, diffusion imaging, spectroscopy) across experimental cohorts.
• Developing, maintaining, and harmonizing MRI acquisition protocols across species, ensuring comparability between rodent and human imaging pipelines.
• Contributing to cross-species methodological integration, linking rodent MRI, behavioral readouts, and cellular plasticity markers with human MRI data.
• Working closely with behavioral and neurobiology teams, particularly those conducting two-photon imaging, neurogenesis assays, and longitudinal tracking in semi-naturalistic and naturalistic mouse environments.
• Supporting the design and execution of animal experiments in confined, semi-naturalistic, and open-environment settings (Mouse City and Seewiesen).
• Co-supervising students and assisting in maintaining data quality, documentation, and reproducibility across sites.

Your Profile

We are looking for an excellent and collaborative scientist with:

• A PhD in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, physics, biology, or a related discipline.
• Strong practical experience in MRI, ideally including small-animal or high-field MRI.
• Familiarity with biological experimentation, neuroanatomy, or in vivo methods.
• Demonstrated interest in animal research, particularly rodent models (experience with mouse handling or physiology is an advantage).
• Experience with MRI data processing, image reconstruction, pipeline development, or quantitative MRI (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
• Strong motivation to work in an interdisciplinary, cross-species framework.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work within an international research team.

What We Offer

• An interesting, multifaceted and rewarding job in a scientific, modern and international environment
• Opportunities for regular professional exchange, individual training and further qualification
• Remuneration according to TVöD Bund, depending on qualifications, activities and experience
• Social benefits of the public service (company pension scheme (VBL), annual bonus, subsidized MVV job ticket, group accident insurance)
• Modern workplaces and active company health management with health and sports facilities
• Work-life balance (cooperation with a family service)
• A diverse working environment where equal opportunities and diversity are actively promoted

The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society wants to increase the proportion of women in areas in which they are underrepresented. Women are therefore expressly encouraged to apply. The Max Planck Society has set itself the goal of employing more disabled people, who are thus explicitly encouraged to apply.

Application

Please submit the following documents as a single PDF to Prof. Dr. Tobias Bonhoeffer by May 10th, 2026:

• Cover letter describing your research background and motivation
• Curriculum vitae including publication list
• Contact information for two referees
• Relevant certificates and transcripts

Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence Am Klopferspitz 18 | D-82152 Planegg, Martinsried

Eberhard-Gwinner-Strasse | 82319 Starnberg – Seewiesen