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Student Assistant - Garching (unsolicited application)

City:Garching bei München
Department:Science & Research
Career Level:Student job
Contract type:limited
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The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) is a globally renowned center for fusion research. With approximately 1,100 dedicated staff members in Garching near Munich and Greifswald, we are committed to exploring the fundamentals of fusion power plants. These power plants produce energy without climate-damaging emissions, are safe, sustainable, and nearly inexhaustible—much like the sun. Fusion power plants hold the potential to play a significant role in the energy supply for future generations.

At our Garching location, we operate the globally recognized and established large-scale experiment ASDEX Upgrade, a tokamak fusion facility. In Greifswald, we conduct research on the large-scale experiment Wendelstein 7-X, the world's largest and most powerful stellarator-type fusion facility.

Are you passionate about clean energy?
We welcome unsolicited applications from qualified students for student assistant positions in plasma physics. You will work on real-world challenges in a dynamic research environment and have the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking clean energy research within one of Germany's largest scientific and technical projects.

Your responsibilities

  • The IPP offers motivated students to support our fusion research as a student assistant in various fields, such as theoretical and experimental plasma physics, computer science, and materials technology.
  • Assist in the analysis of experimental data from fusion plasma devices (e.g., tokamaks or stellarators).
  • Support the development and implementation of theoretical models or numerical simulations of plasma behavior.
  • Contribute to data processing, visualization, and interpretation using scientific programming tools.
  • Participate in team meetings, technical discussions, and scientific reporting.
  • Explore fundamental plasma phenomena relevant to magnetic confinement fusion.
  • Collaborate with researchers and engineers within an international team

Your qualifications

  • Currently enrolled as a student in Physics, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Informatics, Computer Science, Material Science or a related field.
  • Enrollment at a university or university of applied sciences is required.
  • Basic proficiency in programming (e.g., Python, C++, Delphi or similar) is a plus.
  • Solid foundation in physics, mathematics, engineering, materials technology or programming is a plus.
  • Interest in plasma physics and fusion energy.
  • Good communication skills and a proactive mindset.
  • Curiosity, independence, and a collaborative mindset.
  • Openness to learning in a research environment.

The reasons to start with us

  • Exciting tasks in an international, interdisciplinary scientific environment.
  • Hands-on experience in cutting-edge fusion research.
  • Dedicated mentorship from experienced scientists and researchers.
  • Compensation is based on the current hourly rate for student assistants.
  • Flexible scheduling to balance your studies and work.
  • Great institute benefits, including free parking, a canteen with a varied range of meals, and various sports activities, groups, and courses.
Please apply with your CV, a short letter of motivation, and your current academic transcript. On the IPP-Website you can find information about our scientific divisions, research topics and projects. In your cover letter, kindly indicate which topics resonates with you and how you would like to contribute.

We value a fair, diverse and inclusive work environment. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or their social, ethnical or religious background. We aim to increase the representation of women in areas where they are underrepresented and encourage them to apply. We also support the hiring of people with disabilities and invite them to apply.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Please submit your application exclusively via our online portal to ensure direct contact with the relevant decision-makers. Email applications cannot be considered for data protection reasons.

Required: resume; optional: cover letter, school, college, training, and/or work certificates, continuing education certificates, list of publications, etc.

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