Your First Days in Hamburg

Welcome Aboard!

When you arrive at MPSD, we want to make your onboarding as comfortable as possible. This page provides the information you’ll need during your first days after arrival.

Welcome to Hamburg

Registration with the Local Residents’ Office

When you arrive in Hamburg, you are required to register with the local residents’ registration office

Banking and Salary

A bank account is essential for day-to-day life, including receiving your salary and paying your rent.

Choose a suitable bank account as soon as possible. You need a account that supports SEPA and has an IBAN.
To open a bank account, you typically need:
- Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung)
- Passport or ID
- Proof of enrollment (if you are a student)
- Proof of income (pay stub or employment contract)
For further information and options, please speak with your group assistant.

Public Holidays and Sundays

When planning your arrival, please note that in Germany most shops, public authorities, and our institutes are closed on public holidays and sundays. You can find the public holidays in Hamburg here: https://publicholidays.de/hamburg/

Public Transportation

Hamburg has an extensive public transportation network. Visit the local transport authority (HVV) to plan your trips. You can reach our institute via:

Luruper Chaussee (DESY), MetroBus lines 2, 3, X3
Am Hünengrab (DESY), MetroBus line 1

General Practitioner

In the German healthcare system, you will need a general practitioner (“Hausarzt”) for medical care and sick notes. Please speak with your group assistant to find an English-speaking general practitioner.

Arrival at the Institute

Your First Contact

Your first point of contact when you join us in Hamburg is your group assistant. Please inform them of your expected arrival date as early as possible.

They will guide you through all necessary processes.
They will help you connect with the colleagues who will support you.

HR Registration and Contact

When planning your arrival, please schedule a meeting with our HR team.

They will provide mandatory information.
They will collect any additional signatures.
They will help you understand our benefits.

IT Setup and Registration

The IT team will set up all necessary accounts before you arrive. Please let your group assistant know in advance if you have any special equipment needs. They will arrange for:

Your workstation IT equipment
An introduction to our various IT accounts
If needed: information on the Institute’s computing and simulation resources

Orientation on the Bahrenfeld Campus

For orientation on the science campus, you can use the offical map of the campus bahrenfeld. Some key Buildings and points of interest are:

Main Entrance (Adress: Notkestraße 85)
Side Entrance (Adress: Luruper Chaussee 149)
CFEL (Building 99)
MPSD Extension Building (Building 900)
Scientific facility Petra III (Buildings 47 and 48)
DESY International Office (Building 06)
Labcuise Restaurant in MPSD Building 900
DESY Canteen in Building 9

Introduction to Your Workplace

When you join the Institute in Hamburg, you will work either in the CFEL Building (Bldg. 99) or the Extension Building (Bldg. 900). Both are state-of-the-art, combined lab-and-office buildings located on the Bahrenfeld science campus.

Safety Training

Before you can start working, you will need to complete several safety trainings—some immediately, others later. Please talk to your group assistant about the required trainings. These may include:

Lab-specific safety training (laser, magnets, electrical)
Gas safety training
General workplace safety training
Fire prevention training

After completing the mandatory general building safety training, you will receive your electronic key.

First Week Checklist

Register with the local residents’ registration office.
Make an appointment with the Hamburg Welcome Center.
Set up a meeting with your group assistant.
Set up meetings with HR and IT.
Receive your workstation and IT equipment.
Learn which safety training sessions are mandatory.