JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT- Project Assistant Professor, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) NAOJ invites applications for a project assistant professor position as follows:
1. Job Title: Project Assistant Professor (Employee on Annual Salary System), one position
2. Division and Location: JASMINE Project, Mitaka, Tokyo
3. Area of Expertise: Astronomy, and/or related fields
4. Job Description:
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) has the JASMINE Project aiming to develop aninfrared space astrometry mission, Small-JASMINE. The Small-JASMINE is planned to have the abilityto image the stellar kinematics in the central region of the Milky Way Galaxy at a distance of 8 kpc by theinfrared astrometric observations, enabling one to study the formations of its bulge, bar, disk and central blackhole and to identify the region of the birth and the trajectory of the solar system through the performance ofGalactic Center Archeology and Galactoseismology. Also, Small-JASMINE will carry out the exploration ofthe potentially habitable exoplanets by the time-domain astronomical observations. Now Small-JASMINE
was selected by ISAS/JAXA (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, a branch of JAXA: JapanAerospace Exploration Agency) as the unique candidate of the 3rd Medium-Class science satellite mission.
The target launch date is mid-2020s at this moment.
We invite applications for a project assistant professor position at the JASMINE project of NAOJ. A
successful candidate for this position is expected to lead the planning and investigations of science cases tobe provided by Small-JASMINE. In particular, the successful candidate is expected to probe the scientificobjectives such as Galactic Center Archeology and Galactoseismology to be performed by Small-JASMINEwhile carrying out the scientific research of the Galactic dynamical structures and their evolutions with thefull use of numerical simulations, based on astrometric information such as annual parallaxes and propermotions (and complementary data such as radial velocities, ages, and elemental composition). Also, thesuccessful candidate is expected to support the investigations of the method for the science validation tocertificate the quality of the JASMINE observing data to be provided in future, in terms of the availability tocarry out the target science cases. The responsibilities of this position require continuously demonstrating
leadership and outstanding performance in research activities, and also fostering collaborations among NAOJ
scientists and PhD students.
The successful candidate will assign 75% of his/her working time for the above duties. The remaining
25% shall be used for his/her own scientific research.
5. Terms of Appointment:
The successful candidate should be able to start as soon as reasonably possible after accepting the job offer.
The term is for five (5) years including the probation period of six (6) months. Annual performance review
will be conducted. If the successful candidate had been employed as an NINS employee after April 1, 2013,
the term may be set so that the total accumulated period of employment does not exceed ten (10) years.
6. Minimum Educational Requirement: Ph.D. or equivalent in astronomy or related fields
7. Required Application Materials: (*To be prepared in English. Any other language will not be accepted.)(1) A cover letter,(2) A curriculumvitae,(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(6) Your address (e-mail and phone) for prompt contact and the email address of your current supervisor orline manager.
(7) Two or more reference letters. Note that your current supervisor or line manager cannot serve as areference. Please ask your references to upload the letters directly to an NAOJ’s application system shownin 9 before the deadline. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the letters are submitted before theapplication deadline. (Reference letters should be written by faculty/staff with tenured positions, and no
more than one reference letter will be accepted from each country.)
8. Application Deadline: 2020-01-23, 17:00 (Japan Standard Time)
9. Submission:
Applicants are required to apply via the NAOJ’s application system on the web:https://jobregister.nao.ac.jp/
Please fill out the form on the web and upload the documents specified on the application form. If
it takes time to prepare the documents, applicants should be issued applicant ID and reference IDs
in advance. Reference letters should be uploaded by persons who have written the letter for you
directly, following the instruction shown on the application form. Reference IDs and passwords
are required to upload reference letters, so please inform references of the issued reference IDs andpasswords.
The application documents should be converted to PDF (max 50MB each, 100MB in total, at most
10 files).
For inquiries, please contact with a subject; “Question on Project Assistant Professor of JASMINE”
E-mail: naoteru.gouda_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @) Professor Gouda, Naoteru,Project manager of JASMINE Project, NAOJIf you have any question related to the application system or other items, please contact with asubject; “Question on Project Assistant Professor of JASMINE”
E-mail: JobRegister-contact-10_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @)10. Notes for application:• Candidates selected in the final short list may be interviewed by the selection committee either via
internet or face-to-face. The expense for the interview will not be covered by NAOJ.
• If the selection committee deems that there is no qualified candidate for this position, it is possible noone will be selected.
11. Remarks:•The NAOJ Advisory Committee for Research and Management will make the final decision for theappointment.
•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. For
details, see https://open-info.nao.ac.jp/danjokyodo/•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.