AIMEC Researcher (WAS24-002)
Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC)
*There may be a change in affiliation in the case of reorganization of WPI-AIMEC.
“Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (hereinafter as "WPI-AIMEC") Director: Toshio Suga”, jointly proposed by Tohoku University and Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (hereinafter as “JAMSTEC”) has been selected as a new research center of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (herein after MEXT), aimed to accelerate world-class science and collaboration.
At WPI-AIMEC, with a focus on the Northwest Pacific Ocean, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms of environmental changes in the ocean and the responses and adaptations of marine ecosystems by integrating ocean physics, ecology, and mathematical/data science. Our goal is to improve the accuracy of predicting fluctuations in marine ecosystems that also impact human society.
We are now soliciting applications for around 10 positions of AIMEC Researcher who will be engaged in the following research topics while collaborating with researchers participating in the WPI-AIMEC’s international research network.
Based on the philosophy of Under One Roof, the successful candidates are expected to promote research by utilizing the world-class knowledge and research equipment and facilities of both institutions and play an active role in increasing WPI-AIMEC's international presence while publishing academic papers.
In addition, a research grant (3,000,000 yen) will be provided as start-up funding for the first year. (No further funding will be provided thereafter.)
[Research Description]
1. Monitoring the marine physico-chemical environment from the coast to the open sea; developing analytical techniques for marine environmental restoration; and studying marine environment-ecosystem co-variation using environmental indicator organisms.
2. Observations and modelling to understand the state of ecosystems and biodiversity, and conducting theoretical and empirical research to clarify the principles that drive, maintain, and respond to ecosystems and biodiversity.
3. Developing methods for assessing and analyzing marine ecosystems using functional genomics, etc., and elucidating the responses of coastal ecosystems and its services to human activities in coastal areas.
4. Observing the seabed, including its hydraulic observations, to clarify ocean-solid earth change phenomena, and making observations and models to understand spatiotemporal oceanic changes to enable advances in underwater acoustic ranging.
5. Studying the environmental response and adaptation mechanisms of marine organisms at the individual and community levels and developing evaluation and analysis methods; clarifying the mechanisms of regime shift phenomena, including mass outbreaks and mass mortality of marine organisms.
6. Developing molecular biological techniques for analyzing marine microbial ecosystems; studying the dynamics of marine particles and material circulation and the response and adaptive mechanisms of microbial ecosystems to changes in the marine environment, and developing technology for this.
7. Conducting research and technological development related to observations of the effects of circulation and microbial distribution on the distribution of substances in the ocean, maintaining automated oceanographic observation networks, and integrating the analysis of oceanographic observations and simulations.
8. Conducting modelling research and applying artificial intelligence to marine ecosystems (including the physical and chemical environment of the surrounding ocean and atmosphere), and maintaining and developing the computational infrastructure.
9. Developing equations that describe the structure of marine ecosystems and related biogeochemical cycles and their variability, and developing models of the response of marine ecosystems (including harmful toxic algal blooms) and their capacity to adapt to environmental changes in estuarine, coastal, and open ocean environments.
10. Assessing the impacts and interactions of changes in marine ecosystems on human society and vice versa, and social and behavioral changes based on such assessments.
[Relevant Research Fields]
Marine Physics, Marine Ecology, Geochemistry, Ocean Engineering, Geomicrobiology, Computer Science, Meteorology, Meteorological and Ocean Modeling, Earth Science, etc.
[Job Title]
a) Tohoku University
Specially Appointed Assistant Professor (Research) or Specially Appointed Associate Professor (Research) :
Specially Appointed Assistant Professor (Research) or Specially Appointed Associate Professor (Research) is expected to engage in specific research in externally funded, time-limited projects.
b) JAMSTEC
Researcher (Science) :
Researcher (Science) is expected primarily to conduct fundamental, originative or advanced research based on theories, observations and experiments related to research and development.
Researcher (Technology) :
Researcher (Technology) is expected to conduct fundamental, originative, or advanced technology development and related research.
[Position]
AIMEC Researcher :
To contribute to the research and development of WPI-AIMEC, an AIMEC researcher is expected to independently conduct research and technology development and to share results through scientific publications and achieve technology innovation.
Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. in a closely related field of research or technology development.
a) Tohoku University
Aobayama Campus, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, JAPAN
b) JAMSTEC
Yokosuka Headquarters, 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 237-0061, JAPAN
Yokohama Institute for Earth Science (YES), 3173-25, Showa-machi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0001, JAPAN
Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research (KOCHI), 200 Monobe Otsu, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8502, JAPAN
*Tohoku University and Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research: Measures to prevent passive smoking: No smoking on the premises, no work in areas where smoking allowed.
*Yokosuka Headquarters and Yokohama Institute for Earth Science: Measures to prevent passive smoking: No smoking on the premises (smoking areas are available outside), no work in areas where smoking allowed.
- Working Conditions & Contract Period
(1) Number of positions:
10 positions for AIMEC Researcher
(2) Type of contract:
Fixed-term employee
(3) Working Hours:
Discretionary working system for professional work
*The determination of working hours allocation, including start and end times, as well as the method of carrying out research and development activities is left to the discretion of the employee.
(4) Contract Period:
Total period will be terminated on March 31, 2029 after four contract renewals.
*First contract period is from August 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
*Effective date is negotiable.
*Contract period can be renewed depending on the progress of WPI-AIMEC and work performance of the successful candidate.
*Contract period might change due to budget constraints of WPI-AIMEC.
*On reaching the age of 65 during an employed fiscal year, the contract period will expire at the end of the same fiscal year. This bylaw may change.
*These positions fall under Article 15-2, Act on Promotion of Science and Technology Innovation.
*This position is non-tenure-track, fixed-term employee positions.
*Not eligible to apply for the tenure track system at Tohoku University, or the examination for the position of Permanent Employee at JAMSTEC.
Annual salary (paid in 1/12 equal monthly payments)
JPY 6,100,000 or more
*There is no raise.
*Bonus and retirement allowance are included in the annual salary.
(1) Upon appointment, the successful candidate will receive relocation allowances.
(2) Allowance for commuting expenses will be provided.
(3) Both of Tohoku University and JAMSTEC are fully covered by various insurances (health insurance, employee pension insurance, unemployment insurance, workers' accident compensation insurance, etc.) to promote welfare and benefits.
*At Tohoku University, there is the Mutual Aid Association of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and at JAMSTEC, there are the Corporate Pension Fund and Mutual Aid Association System, etc.
(4) At Tohoku University, the successful candidate is eligible to move into the Lodging House.(Available for occupancy if vacancy exists.)
At JAMSTEC, there is a system of providing company housing in private rental housing. (There are criteria based on income etc.)
(5) Holidays and vacations: Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, year-end, and New Year's holidays. Annual vacations with pay, special vacations, leave of absence to care for a family member, and maternity leave are provided.
(6) Tohoku University has the largest on-site childcare environment of any national university in Japan, including the Kawauchi Keyaki Nursery School (22 children) and the Aobayama Midori Nursery School (116 children), which are available to all staff. There is also a nursery for children with minor illnesses and children after illnesses on the premises of the University Hospital, which is available for use by all university staff.
(1) Required documents
a) CV. Valid Email must be provided.
b) Summary of your research (1 page)
c) Research plan for WPI-AIMEC (1 page)
d) "Publication (achievement) list" including thesis titles and "List of competitive research funds" awarded to the applicant
*Please list publications in refereed (peer-reviewed) journals separately from unrefereed publications.
*Include DOI codes if available.
*If you have not been awarded any, include "none" in the list.
e) Two (or fewer) representative publications
*If you do not have a published paper, please upload a PDF stated "none".
(2) Submission
Please apply via the following website:
https://recruit.jobcan.jp/jamstec/entry/new/1919944
*All files must be converted to PDF format.
*Since some of the notation is in Japanese on the website, please refer to the following input procedure when entering your information.
Application guide
(3) Interview
Applicants will be selected based on submitted application material, followed by an interview.
*Web-based online interviews are expected basically.
June 7, 2024 at 23:59 in Japan time
WPI-AIMEC Research Promotion and Planning Division, Recruitment Desk
Email: wpi-aimec_hr[at]jamstec.go.jp
*Please replace [at] with @ when addressing Emails and include "AIMEC Researcher WAS24-002" in the subject line.
For further information, please visit
https://www.jamstec.go.jp/recruit/e/details/wpi20240607/