The Max Planck Society is one of Europe's leading research organizations and conducts basic research in the natural sciences, life sciences, and humanities. The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena carries out fundamental research on how organisms communicate with each other via chemical signals. We analyze ecological interactions with molecular, chemical and neurobiological techniques. In the Institute, organic chemists, biochemists, ecologists, entomologists, behavioral scientists, insect geneticists and physiologists work in collaboration to unravel the complexity of chemical communication that occurs in nature.

Applications are invited for a

Master’s Thesis Opportunity in Chemical Ecology

We are offering a Master’s thesis project for motivated students interested in insect behavior, olfaction, and chemical ecology.

Project Overview

You will work with Drosophila suzukii and Drosophila melanogaster to study how flies respond to complex odor environments. Your work will include:

• Testing behavioral responses to odor combinations
• Comparing odor preferences across different experimental settings
• Performing odor collection and GC-MS analysis to investigate the temporal stability of odor blends

Project Details

This project offers a unique opportunity to:

• Gain hands-on experience with behavioral assays in Drosophila
• Learn chemical analysis techniques (GC-MS)
• Work at a leading research institute in chemical ecology
• Contribute to a project with applied relevance (e.g., pest management)
• Duration: 4–6 months
• Type: Independent Master’s thesis (This is an unpaid position and is intended as a Master’s thesis project within your academic program.)
• Location: Jena, Germany
• Start: Flexible between May- August 2026

This project is ideal for students who:

• Are looking for a Master’s thesis project
• Have an interest in neuroscience, behavior, ecology, or chemical biology

Have we sparked your interest? Please apply . We are looking forward to getting your complete application documents.

Application Deadline is May 20, 2026

The Max Planck Society is committed to gender equality and diversity and actively supports the reconciliation of work and family life. We want to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented. The Max Planck Society has also set itself the goal of employing more persons with severe disabilities. We therefore encourage them to apply. We also welcome applications from all backgrounds.

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