At the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, we study how and why people develop differently over the course of their lives, and how physical, societal, and technological aspects of the environment shape this process. Working across disciplines such as psychology, neuroscience, computer science, economics, and sociology, we do research within a context that fosters academic freedom, curiosity, and collaborative work to generate insights that help shape living conditions for individuals and societies to thrive. We combine pioneering interdisciplinary research infrastructures with local and international collaboration to generate knowledge that strengthens individuals and society. Our vision is that of a healthy environment and an open society that allows individuals to realize their potential.

The to-be-established Center for Affective and Autonomic Neuroscience (CAAN) at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin invites applications for a

Postdoctoral Fellow (m/f/d)

(EG 13 TVöD; 39 hours/week)

to test the causes and consequences of large autonomic changes across adulthood using rich, previously collected longitudinal datasets, as well as helping to plan and analyze new datasets. The position is a four‑year fixed-term contract. The start date could be anytime from September 1, 2026, through the first half of 2027.

This is a role at the intersection of physiology, computational analysis, and aging neuroscience. Autonomic function shifts dramatically across the adult lifespan, yet these midlife changes are largely missing from current models of aging. High-frequency heart rate variability—a primary index of parasympathetic (vagal) activity—is roughly 80% lower at age 60 than at age 20, while resting sympathetic nerve activity approximately doubles over the same period (for more information, see Mather, 2024, "The emotion paradox in the aging body and brain"). The mechanisms driving these changes, and their downstream consequences for the brain and body, remain poorly understood.