Paid Max Planck AI Research Internship

The Max Planck Institutes for Biological Cybernetics and Intelligent Systems and the Tübingen AI Center run CaCTüS, a paid three month research internship in Tübingen or Stuttgart, Germany, for Bachelor and Master students whose access to top research is held back by personal, financial, regional or societal constraints. Up to 12 interns a year work on real projects in machine learning, neuroscience and cognitive science under experienced scientists, and students from low and middle income countries are especially encouraged.

What you get:

• A monthly salary the programme says is more than enough to cover living expenses, housing and health insurance
• Inbound and outbound flights booked and paid by the programme
• Accommodation arranged by the Internship Coordination Office
• Soft skill courses, career counselling, trips to other research institutes and social events
• Personal and administrative support before and during the internship, including help with the visa process

What you'll do:

• Work full time for 90 days, 1 July to 30 September 2027, on a research project under an experienced scientist
• Choose up to two projects from the published 2027 project list
• Present your work to the scientific community on campus at the end of the internship

Key dates:

• Application portal opened 21 October 2026
• Applications close 16 November 2026
• Interviews in January 2027
• Acceptance notifications in February 2027
• Internship runs 1 July to 30 September 2027

More information:

• Apply only through the CaCTüS application portal; email applications are not assessed
• Applications need a motivational statement, a CV of up to 2 pages, transcripts and an optional reference letter
• Selection is a pre-screen, a virtual interview with personal and technical questions, then an offer letter
• Visa fees, embassy travel and travel health insurance before the internship are not covered

• Must not have started a PhD by the time of the internship
• Bachelor students must have completed at least 4 semesters (2 years) before the internship starts
• For Projects 1 to 4 and 15, you must be enrolled at an academic institution from January to September 2027; for other projects, enrolled or holding at least a Bachelor's degree with proof by March 2027
• Strong academic record and a background relevant to the projects
• Good command of English (no certificate required)
• Strong reasons why your access to first class higher education is constrained
• Available for the full 90 days between 1 July and 30 September 2027, with no flexibility on dates
• Must be a voluntary internship; interns who need course credit cannot be hosted
• Past CaCTüS interns cannot apply again