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LIFE AT CISPA

CISPA is shaped by the people who bring it to life. Here, you’ll get to know our team, our shared values, and the spirit that defines our community. Discover the people behind CISPA and what drives us every day.

MEET THE WORLD AT CISPA

At CISPA, diversity is more than a value. Diversity is a driving force behind everything we do. With over 655 colleagues from 55 nations, we know that a multiplicity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives makes us stronger — in research, operations, and beyond. By embracing diversity in all areas, we foster fresh ideas, inclusive solutions, and a vibrant workplace where everyone can thrive. Creating an environment where every voice is valued isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s essential for excellence.

Currently, people from 55 countries are part of CISPA: Albania Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Cameroon Canada China Colombia Denmark Egypt Finland France Gambia Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Israel Italy Jordan Lithuania Luxemburg Malaysia Netherlands Nepal New Zealand Nigeria Pakistan Poland Romania Russia Serbia Singapore Slovenia South Korea Spain Sudan Switzerland Syria Thailand Tunisia Turkey UK Ukraine USA Vietnam

EMPLOYEE VOICES

Working at CISPA was an incredibly exciting opportunity for me that I couldn’t pass up. I am proud to be part of this renowned institution – and by extension also of the Helmholtz Association, one of the largest scientific organizations in the world.

Dr. Theo Jäger
Head of Scince Support

Working at CISPA is extremely exciting and varied, especially because we deal with cybersecurity research. It is particularly challenging, but also fascinating, when questions arise for which there are no clear legal guidelines or court decisions.

Jan Brinkmann
Data Protection Officer / Head of Corporate Data Protection & Information Security

The fact that CISPA is still growing and its development phase has not yet been completed is particularly rewarding. We have the opportunity to shape many things together for the first time and initiate positive change.

Christian Dristram
Chief of Staff

THE CISPA SPIRIT

CISPA is a great place to be for all our researchers and staff. At our research center, everybody is on first-name terms and (almost) everybody likes to play table soccer after work. And, needless to say, we all enjoy a little chitchat in the hallway.

And because nothing connects people like food and fun, we often come together for a lunch break, an after-work drink, and leisure activities.

Mingling with colleagues at one of our internal events
CISPA @ NeurIPS 2024 in Vancouver
CISPA's occasional pop-up canteen
CISPA's occasional pop-up canteen
We love to play foosball
Faculty Ben Stock @ CCS 2023 in Copenhagen
Alexander Dax @ USENIX 2023 in Anaheim
CISPA Summer Party featuring a traditional Saarland barbecue
Faculty Aurore Fass and Faculty Wouter Lueks @ CCS 2023 in Copenhagen
Sahar Abdelnabi @ CCS 2023 in Copenhagen
Taking the alpacas for a walk
Paper cakes are a must at CISPA
Sometimes your office might look like this
Faculty Katharina Krombholz and Lea Gröber
CISPA Faculty Trading Cards for exclusive hiring events

OUR VALUES

This Code of Conduct serves as a framework for all the internal guidelines and the conduct of all the employees and supervisors of CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security (CISPA). This means that the Code of Conduct is an overarching set of rules which is part of the compliance management system. Our actions are based on respect, fairness, esteem, loyalty, security and frankness. CISPA's Code of Conduct set out below makes these principles clear.

At CISPA there's currently one common works council for all locations. It represents the interests of the employees and is elected for four years. 

The Ombuds Office is a confidential and independent resource for all CISPA members. We want to deal constructively with concerns and conflicts related to your experience and work at the CISPA.

The Anti-Discrimination Agency has been set up to protect against discrimination in accordance with the General Act on Equal Treatment (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz – AGG).

CISPA strives to be an inclusive, fair and supportive workplace for all its employees. This is one of the reasons why our center has signed the Diversity Charta/Charta der Vielfalt. The first port of call for any questions concerning gender equality and equal opportunities at CISPA is our Equal Opportunities Office. It is also responsible for the implementation of CISPA’s Equality Plan.

WHAT WE OFFER

 

Meaningful Work &
Purpose


Whether in science, technology, or administration – your work contributes to groundbreaking research and real-world impact.

 

Attractive Salary &
Security


Benefit from public sector pay (TVöD-Bund), a secure work environment, pension schemes, and additional benefits.

 

Professional
Development


We support your growth. Take advantage of tailored training opportunities, language courses, and access to national and international networks.

 

International &
Inclusive Culture


Work in an open, diverse environment where English as the working language and which offers support for relocation and integration.


Flexibility &
Work-Life Balance


Enjoy flexible hours, mobile working, and generous vacation days – including time off on Christmas and New Year.

 

Family-Friendly
Environment


We promote a family-friendly corporate culture and help you balancing career and private life if you go on parental leave, re-enter the labor market or take care of relatives.


Appreciation &
Culture


We value respectful collaboration, open communication, and a strong sense of community. Your work matters – and grows in an environment shaped by trust and appreciation.


Health &
Wellbeing


Your health matters to us. We offer a range of programs to support physical and mental wellbeing – from ergonomic workspaces and health checks to workshops on health-related topics.


Modern Workspaces &
High-Quality Equipment


From ergonomic furniture to state-of-the-art technology, we create an inspiring environment where productivity and creativity thrive.