Change of Managing Director at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology

July 01, 2024

Professor Arne Traulsen takes over as Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology for the next three years from 1 July 2024. He succeeds Professor Paul B. Rainey as part of the rotation principle that applies at the Institute. The Institute will continue to be managed by the joint Board of Directors, which currently consists of Arne Traulsen and Paul Rainey. Each Director is a Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society and heads one of the Institute's departments. The Directors alternate in the office of Managing Director for three years.

Professor Dr Arne Traulsen (left) takes over as Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön for the next three years. Together with him as the Kollegium are Administrative Director Isabel Palmtag and Professor Dr Paul B. Rainey, who is handing over the office to Traulsen.

© MPI EvolBio

Professor Dr Arne Traulsen (left) takes over as Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön for the next three years. Together with him as the Kollegium are Administrative Director Isabel Palmtag and Professor Dr Paul B. Rainey, who is handing over the office to Traulsen.

© MPI EvolBio

"It is an exciting task to be able to drive forward developments at the Institute together with a great team as Managing Director," says Arne Traulsen. One of his tasks will be to organise the expansion of the institute from the current two departments to four. In recent years, everything necessary for this has been organised. The recruitment of two new directors for the institute is intended to drive the institute's development forward. In addition, two further research groups will be established at the institute this year.

Arne Traulsen has been Director of the Department of Theoretical Biology, which investigates the dynamics of evolution using mathematical models and computer simulations, since 2014. Traulsen studied geophysics and physics in Kiel, Leipzig and Gothenburg and graduated in 2002 with a degree in theoretical physics. In 2005, he completed his doctorate in theoretical physics at the University of Kiel. After his doctorate, Traulsen worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University from 2005 to 2007. He then headed the independent Emmy Noether Junior Research Group for Evolutionary Dynamics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology from 2007 and the Evolutionary Theory Research Group at the same institute from 2010 to 2014.

With the appointment of Professor Traulsen, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology is focusing on continuity and at the same time on innovation and growth. The Institute is looking forward to the coming period under his leadership and the associated new impetus for research and development.