Annual meeting between PhDnet, PostdocNet and General Works Council representatives

The General Works Council of the Max Planck Society met with representatives of the PhDnet and PostdocNet Steering Groups on July 25^th, 2025 at the Berlin Office of the MPG. Louison Nicolas-Asselineau (PhDnet), Uma-Lakshmi Dakshinamoorthy, Alvin Yang (PostdocNet), Gloria von Eilpe, Dirk Wiedermann, Jutta Turner and Lambert Rasche (General Works Council) were present.

The meeting aimed to raise concerns and issues of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers within the Max Planck Society, and to review how the General Works Council could help tackle them.

Regarding topics specific to doctoral researchers, the salary disparities across institutes and the need to adopt the 3+1 contract model as a standard were discussed. The General Works Council supported the PhDnet in advocating for those two points. More generally, career development, power abuse, mental health and communication channels within the Max Planck Society were also addressed, among other topics.

The exchange was very productive and encouraging. It greatly contributed to strengthening the collaboration between early-career researcher networks and works councils of the Max Planck Society, laying the groundwork for concrete actions that would improve young researchers’ working conditions.