JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT- Project Researcher at ALMA Project, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)
1. Job Title: Project Researcher (Postdoctoral Fellow), one position
2. Division: ALMA Project
3. Work Location: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), Mitaka, Tokyo
4. Area of Expertise: Astronomy
5. Job Description:
ALMA is a partnership of East Asia, Europe, and North America in cooperation with theRepublic of Chile. The NAOJ ALMA Project invites applications for one Postdoctoral
Research Fellow position to carry out cutting-edge science using ALMA and to support theoperation of ALMA. The duty station is NAOJ in Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan, with possible businesstrips to Chile, Europe, North America, Taiwan, and/or Korea.
This position is a joint postdoctoral fellowship to conduct research in collaboration withresearchers in ALMA Project and Division of Science. Details of the different research
projects are listed in the following URL:
<https://y2.nao.ac.jp/index.php/s/SrBbtbo2zd8pxjR>
Please contact the host researchers about research plans before your application. The nameof your desired project and host researchers must be included in your cover letter.
We welcome candidates who are eager to collaborate with researchers at NAOJ as well as thebroader East Asia community members. Promoting multi-wavelength astronomy andsynergies between theory and observations is encouraged. The successful candidate is
encouraged to publish one first-author paper per year on the proposed project and expected
to be engaged in the ALMA science operations (e.g. data reduction, software development,user support on generating observing procedures and help desk), or development (hardware
or software), at a level of 25% of their effort. In addition, the candidate will be involved inpromoting scientific activities such as organization and support of science workshops.
6. Terms of Appointment:
The successful candidate is expected to start the job as early as reasonably possible after thejob offer has been accepted. The term of employment will be three years after the appointment
starts, including the probation period of six months.
Note:(1) If the successful candidate had been employed as a National Institutes of Natural Sciences(NINS, which is an executive institute that manages NAOJ) within six months
retroactively from the start date, the term will be set so that the total employment period
does not exceed ten years.
(2) Any researcher who has been employed as an NAOJ Project Research Fellow or aResearcher (Part-time contract employee) after April 1, 2004 for a total of five or more
years is not eligible to apply for this position.
(3) Annual performance review will be conducted.
7. Labor Conditions:(1) Work Type and Work Hours:
The Discretionary Labor System for Professional Work shall be applied. (Standard workhours: 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 - January3rd), Paid days off (annual leave, summer holidays, etc.)(3) Social Insurances:
MEXT Mutual Aid Association (health insurance), Employees' Pension Insurance,
Employment Insurance, Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance(4) Remuneration:
The project researcher will be employed under an annual salary system, and will receive
a salary of 350,000 JPY per month. Salary will be reviewed every fiscal year according to
the results of performance reviews. Commuting expenses (up to 55,000 JPY per month)
will be provided. Retirement allowances are not provided.
(5) Others:- Day-care center for children (from 57 days old). *Availability depends on the situation.
Childcare staff does not provide English support.
- Smoking is prohibited on the premises excluding designated outdoor smoking areas.
- Travel and relocation costs to NAOJ will be covered, subject to the travel regulations ofNINS (details must be arranged with the administration office).
8. Minimum Academic Requirements: PhD or equivalent in astronomy or related fields

9. Selection Process:A candidate will be selected through screening of application documents and interview (faceto-face or online).
10. Required Application Materials: (*To be prepared in English)(1) Cover letter (including the name of your desired project, host researchers, and yourreferences stated in 10. (7))(2) Curriculum vitae,(3) Summary of your past research activities,(4) List of publications (Separate refereed and non-refereed papers, and indicate all authors'names in the case of co-authored papers),(5) Major papers (up to three),(6) Outline of research plans,(7) Two reference letters: Please ask your reference to upload the letter directly using theURL indicated in 12. before the application deadline. Applicants are responsible forensuring that the letter is submitted before the application deadline.
11. Closing Date for Application: September 1, 2023, 12:00(noon) (Japan Standard Time)
12. Submission:
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/Ud7wVpv17V(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 letter.
(3) Please ask your reference to upload the letter via the URL (2)(b).
(4) Please upload the application documents (from 10. (1) through 10. (6) above) via theURL (2)(a). These files must be in PDF format (max 50MB each, 100MB in total, at
most 10 files).
13. Contacts:
If you have any question related to the job description, please contact;
Alvaro Gonzalez, ALMA Project, NAOJ
E-mail:alvaro.gonzalez_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @)If you have any question related to the other items, please contact;
E-mail: job11-pjt-researcher1_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @)14. Remarks- 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 withthe selection. Once the selection process is complete, we will securely dispose of all
application documents and personal information, except for those submitted by thesuccessful candidate.
- The expense for the interview will not be covered by NAOJ.
- Annual research funds of 500,000 JPY is provided.
- 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 genderequality. If two candidates are deemed equal in their performance evaluation, NAOJ willtake 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 your performance. For details, see https://www2.nao.ac.jp/~openinfo/gender-equality/en/.
15. Name of recruiterInter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes of Natural Sciences(NINS), National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)