| Available Position | JAMSTEC Young Research Fellow (JYRF) |
|---|---|
| Job Description | The JAMSTEC Young Research Fellow program seeks outstanding early career researchers to conduct challenging research using state-of-the-art facilities, such as research vessels and the Earth simulator. Fellows are expected to independently define their own research topics, produce results, and contribute to the international research community. ・Research budget: 1,000,000 yen each year for a total of 3,000,000 yen Research budget will be provided to successful fellows to facilitate the smooth start-up of their research at JAMSTEC. ・Mentorship system: The assigned mentor and sub-mentor provide advice on the fellow's research progress and support for all aspects of research life. JAMSTEC’s Research and Development: https://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/about/research/ Research Vessels, Facilities and Equipment: https://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/about/equipment/ [Description of Duties] (Immediately upon employment) Successful fellows will be expected to engage in the research subject which is authorized by JAMSTEC in the assigned affiliation under direction of leaders. (The scope of possible changes) The duties designated by JAMSTEC *Department assignments for successful fellows will be determined by the selection committee based on each fellow’s preferences and research plan. *There may be changes to department assignments in the event of a reorganization at JAMSTEC. [Relevant Research Fields] Any natural science or engineering field |
| Requirements | Applicants are required to have a Ph.D. in natural science or engineering field (including applicants expected to obtain a Ph.D. by the effective date of employment.) *Specific dates regarding eligibility are below; ・ Applicants who have already been awarded a Ph.D. on or after August 1, 2020 ・ Applicants who are expected to obtain a Ph.D. by September 30, 2026 |
| Work Place | (Immediately upon employment) Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ・Yokosuka Headquarters ・Yokohama Institute for Earth Science ・Mutsu Institute for Oceanography ・Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research *Work Place will be one of the institutions listed above. Please refer to the following website for details. https://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/about/access/ *Measures to prevent passive smoking ・ Yokosuka Headquarters, Yokohama Institute for Earth Science and Mutsu Institute for Oceanography: No smoking on the premises (smoking areas are available outside), no work in areas where smoking allowed. ・ Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research: No smoking on the premises, no work in areas where smoking allowed. (The scope of possible changes) The places designated by JAMSTEC (including a place for working from home) |
| Working Conditions & Contract Period | (1) Number of positions: About five JYRF positions (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: Total period will be terminated on March 31, 2029, three full calendar years after several contract renewals. *First contract period is from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, in principle. *Effective date is negotiable. (In principle, employment will begin by October 1, 2026 at the latest.) *Contract period can be renewed depending on the performance and working attitude of the successful fellows. *In the event of acquisition of childcare leave, acquisition of nursing care leave, or other special circumstances, the contract may be further renewed up to two years after the end of the contract period set forth. *On reaching the age of 65 during an employed fiscal year, the contract period will expire at the end of the same fiscal year. *JYRF is a non-tenure-track, fixed-term employee position. However, the years of experience as JYRF will be included in the qualification when the researcher who has the JYRF experience applies for the selection examination for the permanent employee position. *This position falls under Article 15-2, Act on Promotion of Science and Technology Innovation. |
| Salary | Annual salary (paid in 1/12 equal monthly payments) JPY 6,600,000 - 7,200,000 *Salary will be competitive, based on the academic qualifications and demonstrated research skills of the successful fellow. *There is no raise. *Bonuses and retirement allowance are included in the annual salary. |
| Terms of Employment | (1) Upon appointment, the successful fellow will receive relocation allowances. (2) Allowance for commuting expenses will be provided. (3) Employee and JAMSTEC will share the premiums for social insurance and labor insurance in the proportion specified by current statute. (4) JAMSTEC employee cooperative provides various subsidies for mutual aid and welfare services. (5) Housing lease service is not available. (6) 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. |
| Application Procedure | [Submission] Please apply via the following website: https://recruit.jobcan.jp/jamstec/entry/new/2174060 *Applicants should complete the application form in English. However, those who are proficient in Japanese are encouraged to complete it in Japanese instead. *Since some parts of the submission website are in Japanese, please refer to the guide below when entering your information. Application guide for JAMSTEC Young Research Fellow 2026 [Required documents] *All documents should be submitted in English, except f) Letter of recommendation. *All files should be uploaded in PDF format only. a) CV: *Please download the designated form and complete all required fields. Other forms are not accepted. CV form (Excel) *The person listed as a reference should be different from the person who wrote the letter of recommendation and should not be an employee of JAMSTEC. b) Summary of previous research (1 page) c) Research plan at JAMSTEC (up to 6 pages; you may use diagrams if necessary.) 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". f) Letter of recommendation *The letter must be uploaded directly to the link below by the letter writer, not the applicant. https://recruit.jobcan.jp/jamstec/entry/new/2174091 *The letter can be written in either English or Japanese. *The letter must include the signature of the letter writer. *Employees of JAMSTEC are not eligible to provide letters of recommendation. *Please ensure that the letter is submitted by the closing date. [Interview] Applicants will be selected based on submitted application materials, followed by an interview. *The interview is currently scheduled to be held online on October 17, 23, and 24, 2025. *The interview process consists of two parts: a research presentation at an open seminar attended by JAMSTEC researchers, followed by an interview with the selection committee. Both the presentation and the interview will be conducted in English. |
| Closing Date | August 3, 2025 at 23:59 in Japan time *All required documents, including the letter of recommendation, should be submitted from the website by this date. *Depending on the situation of applications, the closing date may be extended. |
| Contact | Human Resources Section, Human Resources Dept., JAMSTEC Email: jyrf2026[at]jamstec.go.jp *Please replace [at] with @ when addressing Emails and include "JYRF2026" in the subject line. For more information, please refer to our FAQs. If you cannot find the answer you are looking for, please contact us. |
| 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 fellows 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 JAMSTEC. |
| Diversity and Inclusion | In our quest to perform state-of-the-art research and develop scientific and technological innovations based on diverse values, JAMSTEC not only actively recruits 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/ |