JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT-Assistant Professor, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) NAOJ invites applications for an assistant professor position as follows:
1. Job Title: Assistant Professor, one position
2. Division and Location: Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, Mizusawa, Iwate(Scope of possible changes) Place designated by NINS / NAOJ
3. Area of Expertise: Radio astronomy based on VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry)
4. Job Description:
Mizusawa VLBI Observatory of The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) has beenplaying a key role in promoting radio astronomy using VLBI arrays such as VERA (VLBI Exploration ofRadio Astrometry), KaVA (KVN and VERA Array), EAVN (East Asian VLBI Network), and EHT(Event Horizon Telescope). During the current mid-term period between FY2022 and FY2027, Mizusawa
VLBI observatory promotes operations of EAVN and related VLBI facilities, and conducts cutting-edge
research using VLBI in collaboration with domestic and international astronomy community with a vision
to accelerate the global collaboration in VLBI. The science topics to be conducted include, but not limited
to, black holes and AGNs, early/late phases of stellar evolutions, the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy,
and instrumental developments to enhance the capabilities of the VLBI array, with possible extension
toward new fields so far unexplored with VLBI.
We invite applications for an assistant professor position who will contribute to stable science operation ofEAVN and its upgrades as well as cutting-edge research using VLBI facilities related to the Mizusawa
VLBI observatory. The successful candidate must have profound knowledge and experience in science
operation of radio observatory as well as observational research using radio interferometry. The job
description of the successful candidate is expected as follows, though details are subject to the candidate’s
experience and expertise:
1) EAVN operation and up-grade (approximately 50% FTE)
As a point of contact in Japan for the regular operation of EAVN, the successful candidate will contribute to thestable operation of EAVN by coordinating schedules and observing modes with international partners as well as
by providing appropriate user support as a member of User Support Team (UST), and so on. The candidate isalso expected to promote global VLBI by contributing the array upgrade and performance evaluation incollaborations with potential new stations and partner institutes.
2) Individual research based on VLBI observations (about 35% FTE)
The candidate will conduct cutting-edge research based on his/her own research interest by utilizing facilities
related to the observatory such as EAVN, VERA, JVN, EHT, and so on. The candidate is also encouraged topromote new research collaboration and/or technological development in collaboration with the user community.
3) Contribution to education and other committee works (approximately 15% FTE)
The candidate will contribute to the observatory and the entire NAOJ through committee works and public
outreach activities, and also contribute to graduate school education at SOKENDAI via lectures and supervising
graduate students.
(Scope of possible changes) Research and Teaching Activities designated by NINS / NAOJ

5. Terms of Appointment:
The candidate should be able to start as soon as reasonably possible after the job offer has been accepted. The
term of the contract will continue up to the end of the Japanese academic year, in which the faculty reaches
NAOJ's mandatory retirement age of 65. The hired candidate will undergo a six-month probationary period
upon commencement of employment.
A review for the continuation of employment as an assistant professor will occur during the fifth year. In
case that the review may result that the successful candidate couldn’t have fulfilled duties as an assistantprofessor enough, the successful candidate would be requested to transfer to another position within NAOJ.
6. Qualifications:(1) Minimum Educational Requirement: Ph.D. or equivalent; and(2) Other Requirement: To have achieved internationally recognized research or engineering results in thefield of expertise, and also have experience as a lead or key member of a large-scale astronomical project.
7. Required Application Materials: (*To be prepared in English. Any other languages will not be accepted.)(1) A cover letter(2) A curriculum vitae(3) Publications list (Separate refereed and non-refereed papers)(4) A summary of your past research activities, including international collaborations(5) Your commitment and plan to fulfill the duties (including your research plan as needed)(6) Your address (e-mail and phone) for prompt contact and the e-mail address of your current supervisor
or line manager, and(7) Three reference letters. All reference letters must be prepared by faculty/staff with tenured positions.
Reference letters from multiple countries are preferred. Please ask your references to upload their
letters directly using the URL indicated in 9. before the closing date for application. Applicants areresponsible for ensuring that the letters are submitted before the closing date for application.
8. Application Deadline: 2024-09-06, 12:00 (noon) (Japan Standard Time)
9. Submission:
Applicants are required to apply via the NAOJ Nextcloud on the web. Please access the application form at
the following URL:
https://forms.office.com/r/ag1gyw28mH
After you submit the initial form, you will receive an e-mail showing the URLs for (a) uploading yourapplication documents and (b) for your reference letters.
Once you get the URL(a) for your application documents, please upload the files corresponding to thedocuments (1) through (6) stated in 7. These files must be in PDF format (max 50MB each, 100MB in total,
at most 10 files).
Please ask your references to upload their letters via the URL(b) you receive for this purpose.

If you have any questions related to the job description, contact
E-mail: mareki.honma_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @),Prof. Mareki Honma
Point of Contact for Mizusawa VLBI Observatory, NAOJ
Subject of e-mail: “Question on JD of Assistant Professor of NAOJ Mizusawa VLBI Observatory”
If you have any questions related to the job application system or other items, contact,
E-mail : job04-assistantprof_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @),Subject of e-mail: “Question on Assistant Professor of NAOJ Mizusawa VLBI Observatory”
10.Labor Conditions:(1) Work Type and Work Hours:
The Discretionary Labor System for Professional Work shall be applied.
(Standard work hours: 38.75 hrs/week, from 8:30 to 17:15 with an hour intermission)(2) Holidays:
Saturdays and Sundays, National Holidays, New Year holidays (December 29th - January 3rd),
Annual paid leave (20 days: to be prorated for the first year), Refreshment leave (3 days),
Bereavement leave(3) Social Insurances:
MEXT Mutual Aid Association (health insurance), Employees' Pension Insurance, Employment Insurance,
Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance(4) Remuneration:
Salary: The amount of an annual salary shall be determined based on professional knowledge, skills,
required education, and job experiences as per the NINS regulations (NINS, or the National
Institutes of Natural Sciences, is an executive institute that manages NAOJ). The payment will be mademonthly in 12 equivalents.
Allowances: Dependent allowance, residential allowance, commutation allowance, and other allowances
will be paid to employees who meet the conditions outlined in the NINS regulations. An amount equivalent
to the year-end allowance and diligence allowance will be included in the annual salary.
Salary Increase: Once a year in accordance with the performance evaluation
Retirement Allowance: Provided(5) Travel and relocation:
Eligible employees will be provided with a relocation travel package to NAOJ, subject to thetravel regulations of NINS (details must be arranged with the administration office).
11. Remarks:•Candidates selected in the final shortlist may be interviewed by the selection committee either via theinternet or face-to-face. The expense for the interview will not be covered by NAOJ.
•This position is subject to the NINS Employee Regulations. The annual salary schedule indicated in Table (2)of the Research-Education Employee Base Annual Salary shall be applied to this position.

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Smoking is prohibited on the premises, excluding designated outdoor smoking areas.
Policy for Equal Employment Opportunity: Abiding by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act for Menand 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 toemploy women.
- If you have taken a leave(s) such as for maternity, child care, and/or family care, please indicate it in yourcurriculum vitae. We will take it into account when assessing your performance. For details, see•

https://www2.nao.ac.jp/~open-info/gender-equality/en/
Information submitted in your application documents will not be used for any purpose other than theselection process and for contacting you with necessary notices in connection with the selection. Once theselection process is complete, we will securely dispose of all application documents and personal
information, except for those submitted by the successful candidate.

12. Name of recruiterInter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS),
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)