Connectionists: Funded Ph.D. Positions at the International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems

[Georg Martius]

*Funded Ph.D. Positions* at the International Max Planck Research School
for Intelligent Systems, in Tübingen and Stuttgart, Germany

*Website: http://imprs.is.mpg.de*
*Deadline: November 16, 2025*

The Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the Universities of 
Stuttgart and Tübingen collaborate to offer an interdisciplinary 
doctoral program, the International Max Planck Research School for 
Intelligent Systems (IMPRS-IS). This doctoral program will accept its 
10th generation of doctoral researchers in 2026.

This school is a key element of Baden-Württemberg’s Cyber Valley 
initiative to accelerate basic research and commercial development in 
*artificial intelligence and robotics*. We seek students who want to 
earn a doctorate while contributing to world-leading research in areas 
such as:

•  Artificial Intelligence
•  Biomedical Technology
•  Computational Cognitive Science
•  Computer Vision and Graphics
•  Control Systems and Optimization
•  Data Science & Visualization
•  Haptics and Human-Computer Interaction
•  Machine Learning
•  Micro- and Nano-Robotics
•  Natural Language Processing
•  Neuroscience
•  Perceptual Inference
•  Robotics and Human-Robot Interaction
•  Soft Robotics and Materials

Our renowned faculty include Rediet Abebe, Amirreza Aghakhani, Aamir 
Ahmad, Buse Aktaş Frank Allgöwer, Kai Arras, Robert Bamler, Philipp 
Berens, Matthias Bethge, Michael J. Black, Wieland Brendel, Andrés 
Bruhn, Andreas Bulling, Martin Butz, Manfred Claassen, Katharina 
Eggensperger, Benedikt Ehinger, Carsten Eickhoff, Andreas Geiger, Jonas 
Geiping, Martin A. Giese, Moritz Hardt, Florian Hartmann, Daniel Häufle, 
Matthias Hein, Philipp Hennig, Christian Holm, Andrea Iannelli, 
Christoph Keplinger, Katherine J. Kuchenbecker, Hilde Kuehne, Hendrik 
Lensch, Anna Levina, Shiwei Liu, Nicole Ludwig, Sabine Ludwigs, Jakob 
Macke, Georg Martius, Kristof Meding, Celestine Mendler-Dünner, Michael 
Mühlebach, Sven Nahnsen, Mathias Niepert, Seong Joon Oh, Antonio 
Orvieto,  Aniket Pal, Nico Pfeifer, Gerard Pons-Moll, Michael Pradel, C. 
David Remy, Kerstin Ritter, Alina Roitberg, Philipp Rothemund, 
Konstantin Rusch, Samira Samadi, Harry Scells, Dieter Schmalstieg, Syn 
Schmitt, Bernhard Schölkopf, Sabine Schulte im Walde, Janneke Schwaner, 
Michael Sedlmair, Thomas Speck, Steffen Staab, Ingo Steinwart, 
Alexander Verl, Claire Vernade, Ulrike von Luxburg, Daniel Weiskopf, 
Felix Wichmann, Bob Williamson, Andreas Wortmann, Thomas Wortmann, and 
Charley Wu.

Associated faculty include R. Harald Baayen, Franz Baumdicker, Peter 
Dayan, Jonathan Fiene, Volker Franz, Ksenia Keplinger, Miriam Klopotek, 
Kay Nieselt, Peter Pott, Gunther Richter, Cornelia Sindermann, Maria 
Wirzberger, Isabell Wochner, and Thomas Wolfers.


*Intelligent systems* that can successfully perceive, act, and learn in 
complex environments hold great potential for aiding society. We seek 
doctoral students who are curious, creative, and passionate about 
research to join our school and help advance human knowledge about 
intelligent systems.

• Admitted students can join our program starting in spring of 2026.
• You will be mentored by our internationally renowned faculty.
• You will register as a university doctoral student and conduct research.
• IMPRS-IS offers a wide variety of scientific seminars, workshops, and 
social activities.
• All aspects of our program are in English.
• Your doctoral degree will be conferred when you successfully complete 
your doctoral project.
• Our dedicated staff members will assist you throughout your time as a 
doctoral student.

IMPRS-IS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to excellence 
through diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, 
sex, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital 
status, gender identity, or any other non-job-related criteria. We 
believe in the importance of a multicultural community of students, 
faculty, and staff who seek to advance our commitment to diversity and 
inclusion. IMPRS-IS strives to create and maintain working and learning 
environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

Admission will be competitive. If selected, you will receive funding via 
an employment contract, subject to the rules of the Max Planck Society 
and the two participating universities.

You can apply at https://imprs.is.mpg.de/application. The deadline to 
apply is November 16, 2025 (End of Day, AoE). Finalists will be invited 
to selection interviews that will take place from February 5 to February 
13, 2026.

For further information, please visit https://imprs.is.mpg.de