JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT- Project Research Staff on Annual Salary System (Exoplanets, Prof. Ikoma group)(Division ofScience) –1. Job Title: Project Research Staff (Postdoctoral Fellow), one position
2. Division and Location: Division of Science, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan(NAOJ), Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
3. Area of Expertise: astronomy, planetary science, and/or related fields
4. Job Description:
The Division of Science aims to strategically develop new fields of growth in natural science forfurther advancement of astronomy. The Division has a strong planetary science group thatconducts research in exoplanets, planet formation, and protoplanetary disk, including theory,modeling, and numerical simulations. The group members are also involved in some large
observation projects regarding exoplanets and protoplanetary disks.
We invite applications for a project research staff (postdoc) to conduct research in exoplanetaryscience or related topics, mainly with Prof. Masahiro Ikoma at the Division of Science. A successful
candidate is expected to develop atmospheric and formation models of exoplanets to understandthe diversity and origins of planets and planetary systems, applying machine learning-based
retrieval techniques to spectroscopic data. We are seeking candidates with expertise in any of thefollowing topics: exoplanets, planet formation, and planetary atmospheres. Candidates are notnecessarily required to have professional knowledge of machine learning at the start ofemployment.
5. Term of Appointment:(1) The successful candidate is expected to start the job as early as possible after the job offer
has been accepted. The start date is negotiable. Please contact us about the start date if you have
any inquiries.
(2) The term of employment will be three years after the appointment starts, including theprobation period of six months. Annual performance review will be conducted. If the successful
candidate had been employed as a National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) employee after
April 1, 2013, the term will be set so that the total accumulated period of employment does notexceed ten years. Any researcher who has been employed as a NAOJ Project Research Fellow fora total of five or more years is not eligible to apply for this position.
6. Minimum Educational Requirement:
The applicant must have a PhD degree or is expected to have it by the start date.

7. Closing Date for Application: November 1 (Monday), 2021 12:00 (noon) (Japan StandardTime)
8. Required Application Materials: (*To be prepared in English)(1) Curriculum vitae,(2) List of publications (Separate refereed and non-refereed papers and provide individual
citation counts from ADS),(3) Summary of past research activities,(4) Outline of research plans,(5) Anticipated start date of the job appointment,(6) Two reference letters.
Please ask your references to upload their letters directly using the URL indicated in 10. before
the application deadline. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the letters are submitted
before the application deadline.
9. Selection Process: Qualified candidates who will proceed into the final selection may beinterviewed by the selection committee either via the internet or in person. The expense for theinterview will not be covered by NAOJ.
10. How to Submit an Application:
Applicants are required to apply via the NAOJ Nextcloud on the web.
(1) Please access the following URL for registration:
https://forms.office.com/r/0p3M5c82Rc(2) After you submit registration form, you will receive an email showing the URLs for (a)uploading your application documents, and (b) for your reference letters.
(3) Please ask your references to upload their letters via the URL (2)(b).
(4) Please upload the application documents (from 8. (1) through 8. (5) above) via the URL (2)(a).
These files must be in PDF format (max 50MB each, 100MB in total, at most 10 files).
11. Contacts: If you have any question related to the job description, contact;
Prof. Masahiro Ikoma, Division of Science, NAOJ
E-mail: masahiro.ikoma_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @)If you have any question related to the other items, contact;
E-mail address: apply-sci-prs20211101_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @)Subject of e-mail: “Question on Project Research Staff of Division of Science, NAOJ”
12. Remarks
・The project research staff will be employed under an annual salary system, and will receive asalary proportionate to the pay grades of a national university assistant professor or NAOJ

Project Research Fellow(paid monthly in 12 equal payments). Commuting expenses (up to55,000 JPY per month) will be provided. Bonus and retirement allowances are not provided.
・Eligible for enrollment in social insurance.
・Travel and relocation costs to NAOJ will be covered, subject to the travel regulations of NINS
(details must be arranged with the administration office).
・Project research staffs are eligible to apply for the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research(KAKENHI).
・Policy for Equal Employment Opportunity: Abiding by the Equal Employment Opportunity
Act for Men and Women, NAOJ is committed to the realization of a society with gender equality.
If two candidates are deemed equal in their performance evaluation, NAOJ will take positive
action to employ women. If you have taken a leave(s) such as for maternity, childcare, and/or
family care, please indicate it in your curriculum vitae. We will consider it when assessing yourperformance. For details, see
https://www2.nao.ac.jp/~open-info/danjokyodo/index.html
・Smoking is prohibited on the premises excluding designated outdoor smoking areas.
・Information submitted in your application documents will not be used for any purpose otherthan the selection process and for contacting you with necessary notices in connection with theselection. Once the selection process is complete, we will securely dispose of all application
documents and personal information, except for those submitted by the successful candidate.
13. Name of recruiterInter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS),
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)