The Max Planck Academy

The Max Planck Academy

A Curiosity-Driven Education Initiative from the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience

Educating the next generation of scientists is our contribution to provide the foundation for our children to live in a world worth living, and ensure a bright outlook into the future for the next generations.

MPFI has recently launched the Max Planck Academy, our ‘one-stop-shop’ for all levels of education: for the high school and undergraduate students, for post-baccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral scientists, as well as for young and established research group leaders. The Max Planck Academy provides opportunities for inspiring professional training led by world-class scientists using our unique research and technologies to create an immersive learning experience.

Igniting the spark of curiosity and nurturing the ‘sense of wonder’ of the young and creative mind enables the brightest and most inspired young scientists to develop their full potential with an early head start. Allowing them to follow their own ideas at a moment in their career where they are still free from the pressure of competition and the need to demonstrate success, is the key to educate a new generation of scientists with the transformative potential our world needs to overcome the challenges ahead of us.

Starting already at the high-school level to engage the students in fundamental research, the unique model of the Max Planck Academy has the potential to revolutionize the standards of science education in the United States. Our system of individual training opportunities targeted at the needs of each student creates a supportive and nurturing incubator for excellence in curiosity-driven research. This approach is unique and only possible in the Max Planck environment, but it needs your additional support to ‘grow’ and ‘cultivate’ the next generation of STEM scientists.

Building on the success of A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School on the FAU Boca campus, FAU High School – Jupiter Campus, in Partnership with Max Planck Academy has the potential to become the premier model for high school STEM education, not just in Palm Beach County but throughout the nation. Through its partnership with the Max Planck Academy, FAU High School will be able to offer unparalleled educational and scientific enrichments to its most promising students, giving them the opportunity to benefit from the unique Max Planck model of scientific training as well as the institute’s world-class technology and facilities.

The Max Planck Academy’s program, available to FAU High School students, will be organized and implemented by Max Planck’s scientific and professional staff in partnership with FAU at the Jupiter Life Science Campus. It will provide unmatched scientific enrichment opportunities to FAU High School students. The required scholar curriculum will be modeled on the highly successful experience at A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School and implemented and managed by the high school leadership.

Learn more and apply here

The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) offers undergraduate students the opportunity to gain intensive lab research experience learning from some of the world’s best neuroscientists in a state-of-the-art research facility. Learn more…

The Postbaccalaureate Program at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) provides recent college graduates who are planning to apply to graduate school an opportunity to spend one or two years performing full-time research at MPFI. Postbacs work under the mentorship of some of the world’s leading scientists, in an environment that exclusively focuses on basic neuroscience research. MPFI consists of eight research groups in a state-of-the-art research facility located in Jupiter, FL on the same campus as Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Scripps Research. Learn more…

Ph.D. candidates training at MPFI receive a world-class education and research opportunities and are mentored by researchers and faculty at the forefront of neuroscience research. MPFI shares a campus with Florida Atlantic University and Scripps Florida, enriching the collaborative scientific environment that is an integral element of elite Ph.D. training. The growing bioscience community surrounding MPFI in South Florida provides Ph.D. candidates with unique opportunities for industry collaboration and exposure such as participation in neuroscience symposia and scientific journal clubs and distinguished visiting faculty from prestigious research institutes from around the world. Learn more…

Our researchers are fascinated with the art of discovery, fostering a culture and philosophy that encourages and empowers curiosity and creativity and are committed to providing world-class training to tomorrow’s scientific leaders. MPFI’s Postdoctoral Office, in partnership with MPFI’s Postdoctoral Association, offers postdoc researchers professional development opportunities, journal clubs, seminar series, social events, and mentoring opportunities. MPFI research groups have over 70 ongoing scientific collaborations worldwide, state-of-the-art facilities and technologies and a world-renowned faculty. Learn more…