Points of contact for employees
Works council
The works council takes care of the employees’ concerns and interests, requests changes in their favour and takes up their suggestions. It is its mission to promote and secure employment. In addition, it is also the responsibility of the works council to make sure that current norms, such as work and data privacy, are respected.
Conflict counselling
Conflict counselling provides an independent and impartial ear for conflicts and difficulties of all kinds. Sometimes it can already be a great help to have a space where people can explain their situation in a relaxed atmosphere. The conflict counselors can inform about relevant resources and, if necessary, refer the involved parties to other counseling institutions (internal or external). The overall objective is a positive conflict culture at the institute.
Karin Fröschl
Head of library / Publication support / Information transfer
The representative of the Institute’s scientific employees
The representative of the Institute’s scientific employees is elected for a period of three years by all scientists with a long-term contract. They participate in the section meetings of the Scientific Council in the field Chemistry, Physics and Technology.
The section discusses issues which are relevant for the member institutes and prepares Senate decisions, mainly on the appointment of new Scientific Members (Directors) and the foundation or closure of institutes or departments. For this purpose, the section sets up commissions in which one of the elected representatives participates. The scientific staff members have a voting right in the section meetings and the commissions.
Disabled employee representative
The disabled employee representative advocates the interests of severely disabled employees at the institute, offering counseling and support. At the same time, the disabled employee representative is also the contact person in question for the employer, the works council, the integration office, as well as other institutions in all matters that concern disabled employees.
Christiane Berse
Disabled employee representative
Psychological counselling (external)
Shadi Nouyan supports MPQ employees as external psychological counselor and coach in matters relating to work crisis management
Shadi Nouyan
Psychologische Beratung (extern)
Ombud person
The Ombud person fulfills the function of confidential go-to contact in questions relating to scientific misconduct, as well as supporting scientific members in cases of unjust conduct. She or he is elected from among the scientific staff.
Equal Opportunities Officer
The Institute's equal opportunities officers are contact persons for gender equality and gender sensitivity. They support, advise and represent all employees of the institute as well as the management in all gender equality-related issues. They are involved in HR, organisational and social measures that affect the equal treatment of women and men, the compatibility of work and family, and the protection against sexual harassment and mobbing in the workplace.
Charlotte Huber
PR and Communication
Lorena Ossio
Doctoral representatives
The doctoral representatives advocate the interests, requests and needs of the doctoral students. With the organisation of munches and other communal activities, they help PhD candidates extend their networks, and help newly arrived young researchers adjust.
Coordination colloquium
The monthly colloquium brings together all scientific members and guests at the institute. It offers room for exchange, inspiration and learning beyond the respective departments, but also serves as an orientation guide and helps with the development of scientific ideas.
Coordination of research groups
The Max Planck Research Groups are the core of our efforts to promote young scientists; they give exceptional researchers the opportunity to both create a professional profile for themselves and assume leadership responsibility.
The group leaders’ administrative office for foreign languages is happy to support the research groups in all issues regarding both the administration and organisation of the institute, as well as minor day-to-day problems.
Other responsibilities include the smooth organisation and accounting of cooperations, events or conferences, as well as the administrative supervision of the weekly institute colloquium.