In a joint appointment procedure between the Leipzig University, Faculty of Life Sciences, and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, the professorship as mentioned above is to be filled at the earliest possible date.
The new professor will represent the field of biological anthropology, human osteology and human evolution in research and teaching, with a focus on the evolution of Miocene apes, the Pliocene-Pleistocene evolution of hominins, dental anthropology and/or the functional morphology of the postcranial skeleton. Applicants are expected to have an excellent track record in publishing research results in international journals and in acquiring third-party funding.
The professorship is a joint appointment by the Faculty of Life Sciences at Leipzig University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) based on the Aachen model (part-time leave model). The position will therefore be shared equally between the two institutions, with 0.5 FTE based at the Faculty of Life Sciences and 0.5 FTE as a part-time W2 research group leader based at the MPI-EVA. The professorship is intended to bridge the gap between basic research and teaching and to strengthen the links between palaeoanthropology and related disciplines, including primate evolution. The successful candidate will contribute to the Bachelor's and Master's programmes at the university, particularly within the framework of the newly established Master's programme in Evolutionary Anthropology.
The professorship offers substantial basic funding support for an independent research group. Workspaces are available at both Leipzig University and MPI-EVA. In addition, there is access to state-of-the-art high-throughput DNA sequencing technology and powerful computing resources at MPI-EVA.
Requirements
Applicants must have a university degree, preferably in a scientific field, a doctorate and a postdoctoral qualification (Habilitation) or equivalent scientific qualification, university teaching experience and proven pedagogical aptitude. In addition, high-level publication activity, successful acquisition of third-party funding, methodological expertise and experience in the fields of evolutionary biology and anthropology are expected. Areas of expertise may include geometric morphometric analysis of dental shape and analysis of bone structure in relation to the form-function relationship. Experience in vertebrate palaeontology and the management of field research projects that can serve to train students and doctoral candidates is highly desirable. A suitable fit in terms of content is also desirable. It is also desirable that the content of the research aligns with the research priorities of Leipzig University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
The rights and obligations of the position holder are governed by the Saxon Higher Education Act (SächsHSG) and the Higher Education Service Duties Ordinance (HSDAVO). Applicants must meet the appointment requirements in accordance with § 59 SächsHSG.
Leipzig University and the Max Planck Society are committed to increasing the proportion of women in science and teaching. Qualified female scientists are therefore expressly encouraged to apply. Severely disabled applicants will be given preferential consideration if equally qualified.
Please apply by 9th April 2026 exclusively via the Leipzig University’s recruitment portal.
The application documents will also be made available to representatives of the MPI as part of the joint appointment procedure. Representatives appointed by the MPI and the university will take part in the interviews. By submitting your application documents, you consent to the processing of the data contained therein for the purpose of the appointment procedure for the professorship advertised here. You may revoke your consent at any time. For further information, please refer to the data protection information for applicants on the appointment portal.
