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Careers at MPI

Naming conventions for scientific positions at the MPI-IS:

MPI-IS title US university approximation Corporate research lab approximation Informal – how to think about it
Post doctoral researcher Post doctoral researcher Post doctoral researcher You have a PhD but are not ready to take a faculty position
Research scientist Assistant professor Member of research staff I,
Member of technical staff I,
Researcher 		You could get a good entry-level faculty position
Senior research scientist Assistant professor after 3 year review or untenured associate professor Member of research staff II, Member of technical staff II, Senior researcher You are on the trajectory for tenure in a good faculty position
Principal research scientist
(requires external review) 		Associate professor Principal scientist, Principal researcher, or Area manager You could go get a tenured job at a good university
Max Planck Independent Group Leader
(requires external review) 		Associate professor Principal scientist or Area manager You could go get a tenured job at a good university
Director Full professor Director An academic with a significant and sustained record of accomplishment
"Group Leader" is a designation describing someone who is raising funding, supervising students and generally leading a research group.
"Tenure" is a separate process and depends on many factors. In general at the level of Senior Scientist or above, the tenure process is similar to the process for professors in any top university.