Welcome to the MPSD
MPSD Roof Garden
MPSD Foyer
CFEL Research Building
CFEL Inside View
Office Area in the MPSD Institute Building
About this Page
This page provides essential information to support your onboarding at our Institute. The content is organized into three categories that mirror your journey to Hamburg, Germany. At the end of each section, you’ll find a checklist summarizing all the steps needed to ensure a smooth transition into your new role at our Institute.
Before your Arrival
If you plan to join us at MPSD in Hamburg, there are many things to know and handle in advance. Both the legal and practical aspects of relocating to Hamburg require careful planning. Please review the list below to learn more.
Depending on your country of origin, you may need a visa or work permit.
- This applies only to non-EU citizens.
- Average visa application processing time: 6 months.
- More information from Euraxess: Euraxess Visa Information
- For assistance, talk to your group assistant.
Once you decide to join us, the Personnel Department will contact you and send all relevant contract documents.
- Please return the Documents as early as possible so they can be processed in time.
- For any questions, contact the Personnel Department.
Finding suitable housing is an essential part of preparing for your stay in Hamburg.
- Start your housing search as early as possible.
- The Hamburg housing market has limited availability and high demand.
- You can get support from DESY Housing Services.
- You can choose to rent your own apartment, shared housing, or a single room.
- If you need additional help, please speak with your group assistant.
Germany is a social welfare state and has structurured health and social security programs:
- For employees the fees for healthcare, pension, care are all automatically dedacted from your salary and mandatory
- For stipent holders and guest different regulations apply please talk to HR about these.
When you start working in Germany, you must register with a health insurance provider. For more information, please see Euraxess.
This is one of the most important types of insurance. In Germany, you are legally responsible for any damage you cause. Personal liability insurance (in German: Haftpflichtversicherung) covers damage you or your family cause to others or their property. Landlords expect tenants to be properly insured. Personal liability insurance is not mandatory but is highly recommended.
If you are relocating with your family, both the Max Planck Institute Administration and the DESY International Office can help you find suitable services, including:
- Childcare for children under six
- Schools for children six and older
- After-school childcare
For more information, please see this Euraxess page.
✅ Checklist before your Arrival
- Ensure you have a valid visa and entry documents.
- Arrange appropriate health insurance.
- Secure an apartment for your arrival in Hamburg.
- Start looking into school or childcare options for your children.
Your First Days in Hamburg
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.
Your Arrival in Hamburg
When you arrive in Hamburg, you are required to register with the local residents’ registration office.
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.
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
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 point of contact when you join us in Hamburg is your department 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.
When planning your arrival, please schedule a meeting with our personnel team, they will:
- provide mandatory information.
- collect any additional signatures.
- help you understand our benefits.
The IT team will set up all necessary accounts before you arrive. Please let your department 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.
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 Institute 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
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.
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.
- 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.
During Your Stay
Now that you’ve settled in, you can find useful information about living in Hamburg—including its social and cultural life—on this page.
On our intranet, you’ll find information, guides, and how‑tos from many of our service departments, from HR to the Mechanical Workshops. You can only access it from within the MPSD Network or via VPN.
Your contract includes a certain number of paid vacation days. To request leave, submit it through our internal leave management system. A guide is available on our intranet. A guide for stipend holders is also included.
Before going on your first business trip please talk to your department assistant to make sure you adhere to the regulations for business trips.
MPSD subsidizes the use of public transportation for all employees that are employed according to the TVÖD (if you are unsure if this applies to you, ask the HR Team).
If you purchase the nationwide monthly pass (“Deutschlandticket”) through our system, your employer will contribute €23.28 toward the total price. To enroll, please contact HR.
The Deutschlandticket does not include long distance trains.
If you work at MPSD with a TVÖD contract, you will be automatically enrolled in the VBL additional pension. HR will ask which plan you would like to contribute to. Your monthly contribution is deducted directly from your pay, and the employer adds contributions as well. For more information, visit the VBL website or contact HR.
Both our PhD researchers and Postdocs are organized within the Max Planck Society. Each community elects a speaker at each institute. For more information, visit:
To foster a strong research community, we host regular scientific and social events. To stay up to date, please check the event calendar on our website. Early‑career researchers can also join regular workshops, seminars, and journal clubs, you can find them on the webpage of our IMPRS Research school.
Additionally you will receive our weekly newsletter every monday, informing you about upcoming events.
Other Useful Information
If you come from a non-EU country, you will also need to apply for a residence permit after arriving in Germany through the Hamburg Welcome Center when your initial work visum ends.
HR and the International Office will help your prepare the documents for this appointment.
Find events and activity guides on the Hamburg Tourism website. If you’d like to play sports, consider joining the DESY Company Sports association.