NAOJ Postdoctoral Researcher Stationed at Kagoshima University

Job Description:

The NAOJ (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan) ALMA Project invites applications for a Project Researcher (equivalent to postdoctoral researcher) for ALMA Joint Scientific Research Program to conduct the research project “Planet Formation in Protostellar Disks: eDisk and Beyond” using ALMA data (including archival data). The successful candidate will spend 100% of his/her time for this project in collaboration with Professor Shigehisa Takakuwa at Kagoshima University (Kagoshima, Japan). The successful candidate is required (1) to publish one first-author paper per year, and (2) to submit one ALMA proposal per year. The successful candidate may supervise students for the purpose of this project.

See below for further information.

 The ALMA Joint Scientific Research Program:

https://researchers.alma-telescope.jp/e/support_programs/alma_joint_scientific_research_program

 The research project:

https://researchers.alma-telescope.jp/j/files/almagrant_2022_takakuwa_en.pdf

The successful candidate will be employed by NAOJ, and will be stationed at Kagoshima University. In case the PI of the project (Professor Takakuwa) moves to another university or institute, the successful candidate is expected to accompany the PI. However, if the PI of the project moves to the NAOJ or other institutions where the successful candidate cannot follow the PI, the successful candidate will be relocated to NAOJ in Mitaka and continue the proposed research project. In this case, the employment is terminated at the end of the employment contract at that time without extension.

Vacant Post: Project Researcher (equivalent to postdoctoral researcher), one position

Term of Appointment:

In principle, the term is for two years from the starting date, and the probation period of six months is included. The starting date is negotiable, but as soon as reasonably possible after the job offer has been accepted. NAOJ will conduct a review based on the mid-term performance report submitted by the PI and may extend the term for an additional year. For a researcher who was employed by NINS (NINS, or the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, is an executive institute that manages NAOJ) with 6 months retroactively from the starting date, their term will be set so that the total employment period from April 1, 2013 will be less than 10 years.

Qualifications:

The applicant must have a PhD degree or is expected to have it by the starting date. 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.

Submission:

Applicants should prepare the documents in English, convert them to PDF (max 10MB per e-mail) and send them to the e-mail address below with a subject line “Application for ‘’Planet Formation in Protostellar Disks: eDisk and Beyond’“. Please contact us if you do not receive a reply within two working days.

alma-grant-recruit_atmark_alma.mtk.nao.ac.jp （replace _atmark_ with @）

Required Application Materials:

(1) Cover letter with the title of the research project

(2) Curriculum vitae

(3) Publication list (Separate refereed papers from others. State your role for co-authored papers.)

(4) PDF files of your representative publications (up to three)

(5) Statement describing your commitment and plans for the job

(6) Two or more reference letters (must be sent directly to the e-mail address, before the deadline.)

(7) Your e-mail address and phone number

Application Deadline:

The application deadline is 26th August, 2022, 15:00 (JST)

Contacts:

Inquiries about application process

JobRegister-contact-10_atmark_nao.ac.jp (replace _atmark_ with @)

Inquiries about research project

takakuwa_atmark_sci.kagoshima-u.ac.jp (replace _atmark_ with @)

Submission and general inquiries

alma-grant-inquiry_atmark_alma.mtk.nao.ac.jp (replace _atmark_ with @)

Selection Process:

Qualified candidates (in the short list) 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. The NAOJ Fixed-Term Employee Selection Committee will make the final decision for the appointment.

Remarks:

This position is a full time position. The fellow will receive a monthly salary of 350,000 JPY plus compensation for commuting expenses up to 55,000 JPY each month. Social insurance, such as national health insurance, will be covered. Bonus and retirement allowances are not provided. The working hours and holidays will be in accordance with the following and Kagoshima University’s regulations:

- Work days: 5 days per week (from Monday to Friday);

- Work type: Discretionary work (standard work hours: 8:30-17:15 with an hour intermission);

- Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, Year-end and New Year Holidays;

- Paid Leaves shall be subject to the rules and regulations of Kagoshima University;

- Smoking is prohibited on the premises.

It is possible to continue receiving external funds such as Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) that have been approved prior to the employment, or apply for your own research funding after the employment, but the NAOJ ALMA Project will have to confirm whether the funding application conforms to this ALMA Joint Scientific Research Program.

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://www2.nao.ac.jp/~open-info/danjokyodo/index.html

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.

Name of Recruiter:

Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan