The CaCTüS Internship program aims to boost the careers of talented students who experience significant difficulties in their pursuit of higher education and scientific development. Interns will have the chance to come to Tübingen or Stuttgart for a paid, three-month internship. The programme provides access to first-class scientific institutions, hands-on research experience, and a scientific network in one of Germany’s leading locations for biological and artificial intelligence research.

During the internship, students will work on research projects under the supervision of experienced scientists. In addition to gaining work experience, interns will have the chance to connect with other researchers on campus.

ELIGIBILITY:

The Cactüs Internship specifically addresses motivated students who are constrained by personal, financial, regional, or societal issues that negatively affect their future education.

Internships are open for students who:

Have not started their PhD degree by the time of the internship

Students that have not yet finished their Bachelor’s degree must have completed at least 4 semesters (i.e., 2 years) of their studies before the internship starts.

Applicants for Projects 1–4 and 15 must be enrolled in an academic institution during the entire period from January to September 2027 in order to participate in the program. For the other projects they have to be enrolled or have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree and can provide proof of their qualification by March 2027.

Have a strong academic record

Have a background in a field relevant to the projects proposed (e.g. Computer science, mathematics, physics, engineering, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience or any other related field)

Have a good command of the English language

Can express their motivation

Have strong reasons why their access to first-class higher education is constrained

Are available for the entire duration of 90 days between 1st July and 30th September 2027 (note: due to visa regulations you cannot extend your stay in the country beyond 90 days). There is no flexibility regarding the duration and start of the internship.

Are undertaking a voluntary internship (note: we cannot host interns that require course credits as part of their course requirement)?

For more information, please read our FAQ page.

The Max Planck Society recognizes the positive value of diversity, promotes equality, and challenges discrimination. They welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic, or social origin, color, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. They explicitly encourage women to apply. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if their suitability, qualifications, and professional performance are otherwise essentially equal. Furthermore, with this program they also explicitly encourage applications from students living in low- and middle-income countries, which are currently underrepresented in science.

Applications must be submitted directly through our application portal; we do not accept submissions via third-party providers.

Please provide the following personal information:

Motivational statement

General motivation to pursue a career in science and to participate in this internship

Description of previous project

Motivation for up to two specific projects sorted by preference (see available projects further below)

Statement on factors that may constrain the applicant’s access to higher education in an internationally renowned institution, e.g. Financial, regional, or personal circumstances

Additionally, you will need to submit the following documents:

CV (max. 2 pages)

Optional: one reference letter

Transcripts from all your university studies (if no official English translation is available from your university, please provide one yourself in the first instance), and degree certificates (if available)

Please check out our application guide before you apply:

Application guide

Example CV

You find our list with projects you can apply to here:

Available projects NEW – Project 15 (page 5)

Once your application is complete, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from the application portal. If you have not received such an email, your application is incomplete and needs to be fully submitted before the deadline to be considered during selection.

They recommend that you also read our FAQ page.

Only complete applications submitted via our online application portal will be considered. Applications submitted via e-mail will not be assessed.

All applications must be submitted through the official cactüs application portal. Please do not contact supervisors or mentors (labs) to promote your application or send applications by email. Once you have completed your application through the portal, rest assured that it will be reviewed by the relevant project teams. If you have questions about the program or the application process, reach out to the cactüs Coordination Office.

Use of AI in Applications: AI tools can be used to improve the clarity, grammar, style, and overall quality of written language. However, they must not be used to generate ideas, develop concepts, or produce original intellectual content. All ideas, analyses, and substantive contributions must originate from the applicant.

BENEFIT:

The program books and pays for inbound and outbound flights. However, costs incurred before the internship begins, such as visa-related expenses (travel to and from the embassy, visa fees, and travel health insurance), are not covered.

Interns receive a monthly salary that is more than enough to cover living expenses, housing, and health insurance. Since finding a suitable place to live can be difficult, the Internship Coordination Office will arrange accommodation for you.

Visa: Please be aware that the process of obtaining a visa can vary substantially in time and that it is outside our control. They will support accepted students who require a visa in the process as best as they can. However, they cannot guarantee that visas will be granted in time for the internship. In cases of delays in the visa application process, they will try to seek solutions on an individual case basis (such as deferral of the internship position by a year).