Institute Structure
As of March 2026
Max Planck Institute for Human Development
Managing Director: Ulman Lindenberger (07/2025–06/2027)
Managing Director’s Office: Astrid Wolff
Managing Director’s Office: Astrid Wolff
Research Centers
Adaptive Rationality (ARC)
Director: Ralph Hertwig
Office: Maren Kutscha, Katja Münz, Petra Siemers-Hering
Office: Maren Kutscha, Katja Münz, Petra Siemers-Hering
Environmental Neuroscience (CEN)
Director: Simone Kühn
Office: Susanne Kassung, Daniela Petrosino
Office: Susanne Kassung, Daniela Petrosino
Humans and Machines (CHM)
Director: Iyad Rahwan
Office: Kerstin Köppel, Joanna Olejnik
Office: Kerstin Köppel, Joanna Olejnik
Lifespan Psychology (LIP)
Director: Ulman Lindenberger
Office: Helena Maravilla, Sandra Schmidt
Office: Helena Maravilla, Sandra Schmidt
Research Groups
Office: Heidi Nassimi
Max Planck Research Group Biosocial | Biology, Social Disparities, and Development
Head: Laurel Raffington
Max Planck Research Group MR Physics
Head: Benedikt Poser
Emmy Noether Group RAVEN | Real-world Applications of Variability in Episodic memory and Neurodevelopment
Head: Chi (Zoe) Ngo
Minerva Fast Track Research Group
Head: Johanna von Seggern-Lukate
Max Planck Partner Group Risk Literacy and Communication (RiCoM)
Head: Kavitha Ranganathan
Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research (UCL Centre)
Heads: Raymond J. Dolan, Ulman Lindenberger
Structured Graduate Education
International Max Planck Research School on Learning, Institutions, and Future Evolution (LIFE)
Formerly International Max Planck Research School on the Life Course (LIFE)
Max Planck Dahlem Campus of Cognition (MPDCC)
High-end laboratory infrastructure for behavioral and cognitive neuroscience research,
collaboration hub
Service Units
Administration, Central IT (CIT),
Communications & Design (ComDes),
Facility & Technical Operations (FTO),
Research Data & Information (RDI),
Research Management & Planning (RMP),
Scientific Technology & Computing (STC),