JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Project Research Fellow, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) invites applications for the positions ofProject Research Fellow (Project Researcher on Annual Salary System).
1.

Job Title: Project Researcher on Annual Salary System, three positions

2.

Division and Location, Area of Expertise, and Job Description:
The fellow is expected to spend up to 50 % of their time to jobs/researches requested by
the project they belong to. For the details, please visit the following URLs and check thelist of project jobs/researches. The applicant must designate a host researcher with theproject in the table and should consult with the host researcher about the application
and research plans shown by the project etc. The name of your desired project and hostresearcher must be included in a cover letter.
In Japanese
https://www.nao.ac.jp/about-naoj/employment/jobs-project-1.html (general)
https://www.nao.ac.jp/contents/about-naoj/employment/task-list-2023.pdf (list)
In English
https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/about-naoj/employment/jobs-project-1.html (general)
https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/contents/about-naoj/employment/task-list-2023.pdf (list)

3. Terms of Appointment:
The successful candidate should be able to start at April 1st, 2023 or later, but no later
than September 30th, 2023. The term is for three years, including the probation period of
six months. An annual performance review will be conducted. At the end of the contract
term, there is no possibility for contract extension.
If the successful candidate had been a Project Research Fellow or a Researcher (Parttime Contract Employee) at NAOJ before, the term may be adjusted so that the total
length of employment does not exceed five years. If the successful candidate had been
an NINS employee within six months retroactively from starting date, the term will beset so that the total employed period does not exceed ten years.
4. Minimum Academic Requirements:
The applicant must have a PhD degree as of March 31st, 2023 or is expected to have itby the starting date. It should be described if the applicant is expected to have a PhD
degree by September 30th, 2023.
5. Required Application Materials: (*To be prepared either in English or Japanese. Any otherlanguages will not be accepted)(1) Cover letter (including the name of your desired project, host researcher, and yourreferences stated in 5. (6)),(2) Curriculum vitae,(3) Summary of your past research activities including expertise to fulfill the duties(approximately 1500 words, excluding figures and references),(4) Publications list(i) Refereed papers with individual citation count of which you are the corresponding
author,1

(ii) Other refereed papers,(iii) Non-refereed papers (for co-authored papers, list the names of all the authors),The applicant is encouraged to provide a URL to the Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
library in addition to a written list for the list (i). The lists (ii) and (iii) can be replaced byURLs to publication lists of the ADS library.
(5) Outline of research plans including a plan for the project duty/research(approximately 1500 words, excluding figures and references), and(6) One or more reference letters. Note that your NAOJ host researcher cannot serve as areference. Please ask your references to upload the letters directly to the URL stated in 7 beforethe deadline. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the letters are submitted before theapplication deadline. The name of the reference should be identified in the application coverletter.
6. Application Deadline: 2022-11-01, 12:00 (noon) (Japan Standard Time)
7. Submission:
Applicants are required to apply via the NAOJ Nextcloud on the web. Please access theapplication form at the following URL: https://forms.office.com/r/6jBpq5Q4sP
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.
Please use the URL (a) for uploading your documents (1) through (5) stated in 5. They
must be in a single PDF file (max 50MB).
Please ask your references to upload their letters via the URL(b) you receive for thispurpose.
＊Regarding an NAOJ host researcher who will accept your proposal, please consult
with him/her in advance.
If you have any general question related to the job description, contact
E-mail: kentaro.motohara_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @),Dr. Kentaro Motohara, Director of Research Coordination
Subject of e-mail: “Question on JD of Project Research Fellow.”
If you have any specific questions, contact email addresses in the table of individual
projects.
Subject of e-mail: “Question on JD of Project Research Fellow.”
If you have any question related to the application process or other items, contact,
E-mail: job14-naoj-prf_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @)Subject of e-mail: “Question on Project Research Fellow.”
8. 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 becovered by NAOJ. The interview is planned to be held on December 6, 2022 (JST).
9. 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 2

January 3rd),
Annual paid leave (20days: to be prorated for the first year), Summer holidays (3days)(3) Social Insurances:
MEXT Mutual Aid Association (health insurance), Employees' Pension Insurance,Employment Insurance, Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance(4) Remuneration:
Salary: The fellow will receive a monthly salary of 350,000 JPY.
Allowances: Commutation allowance (up to 55,000JPY per month) will be paid when
the requirements based on the NINS regulations are all filled.
Retirement Allowance: Shall not be paid
10. Remarks• The fellow will receive annual research funds of 500,000 JPY.
• NINS Regulations of Employment for Employees on Annual Salary System shall beapplied to this position.
• The travel and relocation costs to NAOJ will be covered, subject to the travel
regulations of NINS (details have to be arranged with the administration office).
• The qualification to apply for Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) isgiven.
•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 genderequality.
- If two candidates are deemed equal in their performance evaluation, NAOJ will takepositive action to employ women.
- If you have taken a leave(s) such as for maternity, child care, and/or family care, pleaseindicate it in your curriculum vitae. We will take it into account when assessing yourperformance.
For further information about NAOJ's efforts to achieve gender equal society, please see
https://www2.nao.ac.jp/~open-info/gender-equality/en/•Smoking is prohibited on the premises excluding designated outdoor smoking areas.
•Information submitted in your application documents will not be used for any purposes
other than the selection process and for contacting you with necessary notices inconnection with the selection. Once the selection process is completed, we will securely
dispose of all application documents and personal information, except for thosesubmitted by the successful candidate.
11. Name of recruiterInter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes of Natural
Sciences (NINS), National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)

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