Anna Parlak

I am a Research Group Leader (W2) at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences in Leipzig, Germany.

I study three-dimensional manifolds using combinatorial methods.

You can get in contact with me at email

From January till May 2026 I will be a Research Member at the Topological and Geometric Structures in Low Dimensions program organized by the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute in Berkeley, California.

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Before coming to MPI MiS, I was a Krener Assistant Professor at the University of California, Davis (2022 - 2025), Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Oxford (2021 - 2022), a PhD student at the University of Warwick (2017 - 2021), and a MSc (2015 - 2017) and BSc (2012 - 2015) student at the University of Gdańsk.

Besides mathematics, I also have a BSc in biotechnology.

You can download my academic CV here: Parlak/CV

Open positions at MPI MiS

If you are interested in working with me, consider applying for a PhD student or a postdoctoral position at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences. You have the option to name me as your preferred mentor in the application.

PhD Call 2026 (deadline: November 1st, 2025)

Postdoc Call 2026 (deadline: December 1st, 2025)

This is an institute-wide call for a postdoctoral researcher.

Low-Dimensional Topology Call (deadline: December 1st, 2025)

This is a dedicated call for a postdoctoral researcher to join my research group, Low-dimensional topology.

If you apply for the LDT postdoc, your application will also be considered for the institute’s general postdoc call. Therefore you’re welcome to list other potential mentors in your application besides me (up to 3 in total).