| Available Position | AIMEC Researcher or AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher (WAM25-001) |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Department |
Marine Environment Integrative Analysis Unit, Coastal Ecosystem Services Research Unit, Marine-Earth System Analytics Unit, Marine Ecosystem Modeling Research Unit, Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC), Tohoku University and Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) *Successful candidates may be considered for assignment to units other than those listed above, depending on their aptitude. *There may be a change in affiliation in the event of a reorganization of WPI-AIMEC. |
| Job Description | A double-host type research center, WPI-AIMEC, established by Tohoku University and JAMSTEC, is recruiting for 2-3 positions of AIMEC Researcher or AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher to engage in the following research. As a research start-up grant for the first year, AIMEC researchers will receive 3 million yen, and AIMEC postdoctoral researchers will receive 2 million yen. (No further payments will be made after this.) [Research Description] (Immediately upon employment) 1.We embark on pioneering research that will provide new and exciting insights into the trophic cycles and material cycles of marine ecosystems. This research will involve measuring the elemental and stable isotopic compositions of specific biopolymers contained in marine (micro)organism tissues, bones, and marine particles, etc., using cutting-edge techniques and instruments. The specific research activities are as follows: (1) Develop analytical protocols that enable the measurement of the stable isotopic composition of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur, and other elements in proteins, nucleic acids, and other biopolymers collected from the marine environment using a Fourier transform high-resolution mass spectrometer or similar instrument. (2) Integrate the obtained data and analytical protocols into genomics, proteomics, and physical oceanographic data sets. (3) From these data, we aim to develop an integrated understanding of food chains, elemental and material cycles, and spatiotemporal migration and advection patterns of species and ecosystem functions in marine ecosystems. 2. We conduct modeling research on Climate-Ocean-Ecosystem interactions, including the physical and chemical environments of the oceans and atmosphere and artificial intelligence (AI)-based approaches. The successful candidate will be engaged in research using, and development an advanced Earth System Model (ESM) that incorporates regional-to-global-scale processes for marine ecosystem dynamics to advance projection studies on their future change, with the potential to significantly impact the field. The specific research topics are as follows: (1) Improvement of the treatment of marine and terrestrial carbon uptake processes in the ESM, including the introduction of a sophisticated scheme to represent complex coastal carbon uptake and transport processes, (2) Development of an advanced marine ecosystem model that reproduces the complex structure of lower trophic level marine ecosystems and its incorporation into the ESM and/or ocean general circulation model, followed by analyzing the dynamics of marine ecosystems using the developed model, (3) Development of the ESM to improve the reproducibility of extreme events such as typhoons and marine heat waves that cause changes in the ocean surface layer and to assess their impact on marine ecosystems, (4) Enhancement of the ESM through methods such as AI-based surrogate model. (The scope of possible changes) The duties designated by WPI-AIMEC. [Related fields of expertise] Marine Physics, Marine Ecology, Geochemistry, Ocean Engineering, Geomicrobiology, Computer Science, Meteorology, Meteorological and oceanographic modeling, Earth Sciences, etc. |
| Job Type | [Job Title] Researcher: Researcher is expected primarily to conduct fundamental, originative or advanced research and development based on theories, observations and experiments related to research and development. [Position] AIMEC Researcher: To contribute to the research and development of WPI-AIMEC, an AIMEC researcher is expected to independently to conduct research and technology development and to share results through scientific publications and achieve technology innovation. [Job Title] AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher: AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher is expected to independently conduct the research subjects which are authorized by the Director under the direction of a leader, and to improve their research qualities. *Job title will be determined during the employment process. |
| Requirements |
AIMEC Researcher: Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. in a closely related field of research or technology development. AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher: Applicants are required to have been awarded or expect to have obtained a Ph.D. in a related field by October 1, 2025. In addition, no more than 5 years can have passed between the last day of the fiscal year in which the applicants obtained a Ph.D. and the effective date of employment. (i.e., applicants who earned a Ph.D. after April 2020 are eligible.) |
| Work Place | (Immediately upon employment) The work place will be determined based on the successful candidate's research background, future research direction, and research environment. a) Tohoku University Aobayama Campus, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, JAPAN *Measures to prevent passive smoking: No smoking on the premises, no work in areas where smoking allowed. b) JAMSTEC Yokohama Institute for Earth Sciences (YES), 3173-25, Showa-machi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0001, JAPAN *Measures to prevent passive smoking: No smoking on the premises (smoking areas are available outside), no work in areas where smoking allowed. (The scope of possible changes) The places designated by WPI-AIMEC (including a place for working from home) |
| Working Conditions & Contract Period | (1) Number of positions: 2 to 3 positions for AIMEC Researcher or AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher. (2) Type of contract: Fixed-term employee (3) Working Hours: Discretionary labor 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 (including teleworking), is left to the discretion of the employee. (4) Contract Period: AIMEC Researcher: The total period will be terminated on September 30, 2030 after 5 contract renewals. The term of this position is 5 full years in the calendar year. AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher: The total period will be terminated on September 30, 2028 after 3 contract renewals. The term of this position is 3 full years in the calendar year. *First contract period is from October 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. *We welcome those who intend to start work before October 1 2025 *We request that the successful candidates start work by March 31, 2026. *Effective date of employment is negotiable. *Contact period can be renewed depending on the performance and working attitude of the successful candidate. *Contract period might change due to budget constraints of the project. *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. *These positions are non-tenure-track, fixed-term employee positions. |
| Salary | Annual salary (paid in 1/12 equal monthly payments) *Salary will be competitive, based on the academic qualifications and demonstrated research skills of the successful candidate. *Bonus and retirement allowance are included in the annual salary. *There is no raise. AIMEC Researcher: e.g., JPY 6,700,000-14,000,000 AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher: e.g., JPY 6,600,000-7,200,000 |
| Terms of Employment | (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) Both AIMEC Researchers and AIMEC Postdoctoral Researchers assigned to Tohoku University have the right to move into the Lodging House. At JAMSTEC, AIMEC Researchers are eligible for the company housing lease service, although there are criteria based on income etc., and AIMEC Postdoctoral Researchers are not eligible. (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. |
| Application Procedure | (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/2169966 *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 on the basis of submitted application materials, followed by an interview in English. *Web-based online interviews are expected. |
| Closing Date | June 15, 2025 at 23:59 in Japan time *Depending on the situation of applications, the closing date may be extended. |
| Contact | Recruitment Desk, Research Promotion and Planning Division, WPI-AIMEC Email: wpi-aimec_hr[at]jamstec.go.jp *Please replace [at] with @ when addressing Emails and include "AIMEC WAM25-001" in the subject line. |
| Remarks | (1) Submitted documents will be managed safely according to strict rules. Personal information received during the recruiting process will be used only for recruitment screening and appointment procedures and not for any other purposes. (2) Successful candidate should submit a certificate documenting their health upon appointment. (3) Please kindly inform us in case of withdrawal of your application by Email. (4) Above conditions may be changed at the discretion of the WPI-AIMEC. (5) For non-Japanese speakers, daily work will be conducted in English. |
| Diversity and Inclusion | Tohoku University promotes activities to improve Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and welcomes active applications from diverse individuals. With the aim of realizing an environment in which employees respect diversity in their academic, research, and professional activities, the University has established "Tohoku University - Everyone Plays a Leading Role - Guidelines on Diverse Sexuality" that outlines its policies and specific measures to be taken. Please refer to the following website for information on Tohoku University's DEI initiatives. https://dei.tohoku.ac.jp/en/ In JAMSTEC's quest to perform state-of-the-art research and develop scientific and technological innovations based on diverse values, we not only actively recruit women based on gender equality but also strives to create a work environment in which individuality is respected regardless of nationality, race, gender, gender identity, age, or the presence or absence of disabilities. In response to the diverse needs of our employees, we will also promote more flexible work styles and environments, including shorter working hours and opportunities for discretionary work. You can see specific actions from the website below. https://www.jamstec.go.jp/j/about/gender_equality/ |