JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT - Project Researcher on Annual Salary System (Exoplanets, Prof. Ikoma group)(Division of Science) – 1. Job Title: Project Researcher (Postdoctoral Fellow), one position 2. Division and Location: Division of Science, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan 3. Area of Expertise: astronomy, planetary science, and/or related fields
4. Job Description:
The Division of Science aims to strategically develop new fields of growth in natural science for further advancement of astronomy. The Division has a strong planetary science group that conducts research in exoplanets, planet formation, and protoplanetary disk, including theory, modeling, and numerical simulations. The group members are also involved in some large observation projects regarding exoplanets and protoplanetary disks. We invite applications for a project researcher (postdoc) to conduct research in exoplanetary science or r related topics, mainly with Prof. Masahiro Ikoma at t he Division of Science. A successful candidate is expected to develop atmospheric and formation models of exoplanets to understand the diversity and origins of planets and planetary systems and interpret data from spectroscopic observations applying machine learning-based retrieval techniques. We are seeking candidates with expertise in any of the following topics: exoplanets, planet formation and evolution, and planetary atmospheres. Candidates are not necessarily required to have professional knowledge of machine learning at the start of employment.
5. Term of Appointment:
(1) The successful candidate is expected to start the job as early as reasonably possible after the job offer has been accepted. The start date is negotiable. Please contact us about the start date if you have any inquiries. (2) The term of employment will be three years after the appointment starts, including the probation period of six months. Annual performance review will be conducted. If the successful candidate had been employed by the 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 after April 1, 2013 does not exceed ten years. Any researcher who has been employed as a NAOJ Project Research Fellow for a total of five or more years is not eligible to apply for this position. 6. Minimum Educational Requirement: The applicant must have a PhD degree or is expected to have it by the start date. 7. Closing Date for Application: April 28 (Thursday), 2022 12:00 (noon) (Japan Standard Time) 8. Required Application Materials: (*To be prepared in English) (1) Curriculum vitae, (2) List of publications (Separate refereed and non-refereed papers and provide individual citation counts from ADS), (3) Summary of past research activities, (4) Outline of research plans, (5) Anticipated start date of the job appointment, (6) Two reference letters. Please ask your references to upload their letters directly using the URL indicated in 10. before the application deadline. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the letters are submitted before the application deadline.
9. Selection Process:
Qualified candidates who will proceed into the final selection may be interviewed by the selection committee either via the internet or in person. The expense for the interview will not be covered by NAOJ. 10. How to Submit an Application: 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/aYYdQ6Ac0T (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 letters. (3) Please ask your references to upload their letters via the URL (2)(b). (4) Please upload the application documents (from 8. (1) through 8. (5) above) via the URL (2)(a). These files must be in PDF format (max 50MB each, 100MB in total, at most 10 files).
11. 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: Salary will be paid on annual salary system, equivalent to an assistant professor at national universities or NAOJ Project Research Fellows. The payment will be made monthly in 12 equivalents. Allowances: Commutation expenses (up to 55,000 JPY per month) will be provided. Retirement allowances are not provided. 12. Contacts: If you have any question related to the job description, contact; Prof. Masahiro Ikoma, Division of Science, NAOJ E-mail: masahiro.ikoma_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @) If you have any question related to the other items, contact; E-mail address: apply-DoS-pr20220428_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @) Subject of e-mail: “Question on Project Researcher of Division of Science, NAOJ”
13. Remarks
- - Travel and relocation costs to NAOJ will be covered, subject to the travel regulations of NINS (details must be arranged with the administration office). Project researchers are eeligible 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 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, 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/~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 purpose other than the selection 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 and personal information, except for those submitted by the successful candidate. 14. Name of recruiter Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS), National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)