JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT-Associate Professor, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) has a position open for Associate Professor
who plays a leading role in the development of the Japan’s workshare for the Infrared Imaging
Spectrograph (IRIS), one of the first light science instruments of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).
1. Job Title: Associate Professor, one position
2. Division and Location: Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project, NAOJ, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan(Affiliation will be transferred to the Advanced Technology Center (ATC). The work location would
be either of TMT construction site (e.g., Hilo, Hawaii) or Pasadena, California, in the United States ofAmerica in the future.)
3. Area of Expertise: Astronomy and astrophysics or related fields of engineering
4. Job Description:
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) has been playing a key role in the forefrontof astronomical research worldwide, as demonstrated in the construction and operation of large-scaleastronomical facilities such as Subaru Telescope, ALMA, and Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) in theeffort to promote cutting-edge astronomy utilizing these advanced telescopes. Having successful
experience in the Subaru Telescope, NAOJ plays a vital role in executing the TMT Project to build theextremely large optical and infrared telescope with a 30-meter primary mirror on Maunakea, Hawaii,
through an international partnership. TMT is expected to provide astronomers in the world
observational opportunities with greater telescope capabilities in 2030s and beyond, leveraged by theSubaru Telescope which offers a set of unique capabilities, including the ability to conduct wide-fieldsurveys. The TMT Project is steadily working toward the construction and operation, bringing thepartners’ expertise and experiences to address challenges and impacts on timetables. NAOJ TMT
Project is responsible for many essential components of the telescope, one of which is the fabricationof the imager part of the Infrared Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), a first-light science instrument, whichis expected to yield initial scientific results right after the completion of construction of TMT.
We invite applications for an associate professor position to lead the NAOJ TMT IRIS team which
consists of a number of researchers and engineers. A successful candidate of this position is expected
to design and fabricate the optical and mechanical components, determine the science requirements toconduct high precision astrometry observations, and prepare the performance verification plans. The
successful candidate is also required to coordinate with the international IRIS team and communicate
with researchers both within Japan and overseas. The responsibilities of the leader include continued
demonstration of leadership and outstanding performance in research activities, besides promoting
collaborations among NAOJ scientists and engineers to stimulate the productivity of science anddevelopment by making the best use of NAOJ's strengths. Fostering early-career scientists, engineers
and technicians including PhD’s students is also required as part of the responsibility.
After successful experiences in the IRIS project management, the successful candidate is also
expected to play an active role in the development of second generation instruments for TMT throughthe international collaborations.
5. Term of Appointment:
The selected 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 thefaculty reaches NAOJ's mandatory retirement age of 65.
Probation period: 6 months
6. Qualifications:(1) Minimum Educational Requirements: Ph.D. or equivalent;(2) Other Requirements: To have experiences in development of observational instruments orexperimental equipment, deep knowledge of optical and mechanical engineering, and records ofpublications of its technical achievements in international journals and conferences such as SPIE;
and(3) To have a capability as a leader of the instrument development group, leverage in negotiations withrelevant parties (both domestic and international) to formulate well-balanced partnership, excellent
communication skills, and a good command of English.
7. Required Application Materials: (All materials should be prepared in English. Any other language will
not be accepted.)
1) A cover letter;
2) A curriculum vitae;
3) Publications list (separate refereed and non-refereed papers) and a list of patents (if any). Note thatfor publications as co-authors and joint patents, the roles of the applicant should be clearly
described;
4) A summary of your past research activities (including achievements in instrument or equipment
development and experiences in 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 an email address of your current supervisor
or line manager; and
7) Three or more reference letters. Note that your current supervisor or line manager cannot be yourreference. Please ask your references to upload their letters directly using the URL indicated in 9.(1)before the application deadline. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the letters are submitted
before the application deadline. Reference letters should be written by faculty/staff with tenured
positions, and no more than two reference letters will be accepted from the same country.
8. Application Deadline: 2021-10-15, 12:00 (noon) (Japan Standard Time)
9. Submission
1) 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/8z9uDUHuXE
After you submit the initial form, you will receive an email showing the URLs for (a) uploading
your application documents, and (b) for your reference letters.
Once you get the URL 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, 100MBin total, at most 10 files). Please ask your references to upload their letters via the URL you receivefor this purpose.
2) If you have any question related to the job description and other items, please contact;
E-mail address: usuda_AT_naoj.org (replace _AT_ with @)Tomonori Usuda, Project Manager of the NAOJ TMT Project
Subject of e-mail: “Question on Associate Professor at NAOJ TMT Project"3) If you have any question related to the other items, please contact,
E-mail address: apply-TMT-assocprof20211015_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @)Subject of e-mail: “Question on Associate Professor at NAOJ TMT Project”

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 (20days: to be prorated for the first year), Summer holidays (3 days)(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 the school career and job
experiences in accordance with the NINS regulations (NINS, or the National Institutes of NaturalSciences, is an executive institute that manages NAOJ). The payment will be made monthly in 12equivalents.
Allowances: Dependent allowance, residential allowance, commutation allowance, and the otherallowances will be paid when the requirements based on the NINS regulations are all filled. The
equivalent of the term-end allowance and the diligence allowance shall be included in the annualsalary.
Salary Increase: Once a year in accordance with the performance evaluation
Retirement Allowance: Shall be paid
11. Remarks:• Candidates selected in the final short list may be interviewed by the selection committee either viainternet or face-to-face. The expenses incurred for the interview will not be covered by NAOJ.
• NINS Employee Regulations shall be applied to this position.
• Smoking is prohibited on the premises excluding designated outdoor smoking areas.
• 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, child care, and/or family care, please indicate it inyour curriculum vitae. We will consider it when assessing your performance.
For further information about NAOJ's efforts to achieve a gender equal society, see
https://www2.nao.ac.jp/~open-info/danjokyodo/index.html• 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 the selection process is complete, we will securely dispose of all application documents andpersonal 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)