Onboarding Day for the new business trainees at the Heidelberg Max Planck Institutes

October 01, 2025

On the initiative of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), an Onboarding Day for the business trainees of the Heidelberg Max Planck Institutes was held for the first time on 4 September 2025.

Aerial view of the campus of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) on the Königstuhl hill in Heidelberg. In the foreground at the lower right stands the Haus der Astronomie, a modern white building in a spiral shape with a green roof. To its left are several additional institute buildings with flat roofs, some fitted with solar panels, and a new construction site with a crane and yellow scaffolding. In the lower left, two white domes of small observatories are visible. Parking areas with cars are located in front of the buildings. The entire campus is surrounded by dense green forest. In the background stretches the Neckar valley with the city of Heidelberg, the river with bridges, and the wide Upper Rhine Plain extending to the horizon. — Aerial view of the MPIA Campus.

© D. Elsässer

Aerial view of the MPIA Campus.

© D. Elsässer

The training usually lasts three years but can be shortened under certain conditions. It focuses on the key areas of purchasing and materials management, financial accounting, human resources management, assistance and secretarial work, and not least public relations.

Group photo with 14 people smiling, arranged in two rows. They are standing on a surface of grey paving stones. In the background, about five metres away, the white façade of the Haus der Astronomie is visible. — Participants of the Onboarding Day for the trainees. From left to right: Simone Rosteck (MPIA), Anna Michalczyk-Schneider (MPIL), Kristine Pöhner (MPIK), Leonie Barth (trainee MPIL), Katrin Hohmeyer (MPIK), Lilli Schmitt (trainee MPIK), Lara Dinkic (trainee MPIMR), Jakob Schatz (trainee MPIA), Annika Kluth (trainee MPIA), Lisa Mirus (MPIA), Larissa Nachmann (trainee MPIMR), Jörg Graf (MPIMR), Julia Gauglitz (MPIMR), Emma Sofie Krojanski (voluntary social year, MPIA).

© Klaus Jäger

Participants of the Onboarding Day for the trainees. From left to right: Simone Rosteck (MPIA), Anna Michalczyk-Schneider (MPIL), Kristine Pöhner (MPIK), Leonie Barth (trainee MPIL), Katrin Hohmeyer (MPIK), Lilli Schmitt (trainee MPIK), Lara Dinkic (trainee MPIMR), Jakob Schatz (trainee MPIA), Annika Kluth (trainee MPIA), Lisa Mirus (MPIA), Larissa Nachmann (trainee MPIMR), Jörg Graf (MPIMR), Julia Gauglitz (MPIMR), Emma Sofie Krojanski (voluntary social year, MPIA).

© Klaus Jäger

The Onboarding Day at MPIA gave the six newcomers their first insight into the Max Planck Society and served as an introduction to help them find their way around. Programme highlights included a virtual journey through the universe in the planetarium of the Haus der Astronomie, as well as an exciting tour of workshops, laboratories and, last but not least, a telescope on campus.

“At the Onboarding Day I found it particularly interesting to learn more about the other institutes in Heidelberg and to experience the networking within the Max Planck Society,” says Lilli Schmitt of the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK).

In addition to its thematic focus, the day also offered opportunities to meet and connect with colleagues from various fields. Further similar events are planned for the future, the next one shortly before Christmas at the MPIK.

Alongside MPIA as host, the participating institutes were the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research (MPIMR), the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK), and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (MPIL).