They will boost the Labs and Administration

Our institute welcomes our new apprentices

Six apprentices have started at the Max Planck Institute: four chemical lab technicians, one physics lab technician, and one office management assistant. They bring curiosity and enthusiasm to both labs and administration. Applications for 2027 are open.

They’re curious about the natural sciences, are not afraid of technology, and are eager to work at an internationally renowned research institute: Six young people have now begun their apprenticeships at the MPI für Kohlenforschung. Four are training to be chemical laboratory technicians, one is a physics laboratory technician, and one is training to be an office management assistant.

Sahra Demir is starting her apprenticeship as a chemistry lab technician. “I’ve always known that I wanted to work in a lab,” says the 18-year-old from Duisburg. She already had a very good impression of the institute during her job interview. “I also found the atmosphere there very welcoming on a personal level and was thrilled to be accepted,” she says.

This year, one young man is starting his apprenticeship as a physics lab technician at the institute: Bjarne Deter is 26 and comes from Kassel. “I had started studying physics during the pandemic, and at some point realized that it wasn’t the right fit for me,” he says. He learned about the institute through a job posting on the Employment Agency’s job board. “No theoretical degree—and yet still working in the lab and close to research—that sounded great!” He, too, is looking forward to his time at the MPI.

Even a research institute like ours needs an efficient administrative team to handle everything behind the scenes. And that team needs reinforcements from time to time. Jaqueline Otto is 20 years old and comes from Mülheim. She is now beginning her apprenticeship as an office management assistant. “I had started a degree program, but quickly realized that I’d rather do an apprenticeship,” she says. And as a Mülheim native, she was of course familiar with the institute—and applied right away when the job posting caught her eye.

“The institute is currently looking for trainees for the 2027 training year,” explains Laila Sahraoui, training coordinator at the MPI. Anyone interested in applying can find more information on our website.