Closed Job Vacancy · 2025

NAOJ Project Assistant Professor

Stationed at The University of Tokyo

The NAOJ ALMA Project invites applications for a Project Assistant Professor for the ALMA Joint Scientific Research Program to conduct the research project “Formation of Stellar Multiples in Magnetized Environments” using ALMA data, including archival data.

The successful candidate will spend all of their time on this project in collaboration with Associate Professor Patricio Sanhueza at the Department of Astronomy, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

The successful candidate is required to publish two first-author papers per year and submit two ALMA proposals per year. The successful candidate may supervise students for the purpose of carrying out this project.

Further Information

Work Location

The successful candidate will be employed by NAOJ and stationed at the Department of Astronomy, The University of Tokyo.

If the PI of the project, Associate Professor Patricio Sanhueza, moves to another university or institute, the successful candidate is expected to accompany the PI.

If the PI moves to NAOJ or to another institution where the successful candidate cannot follow the PI, the successful candidate will be relocated to NAOJ in Mitaka and will continue the proposed research project. In this case, the employment will be terminated at the end of the employment contract at that time without extension.

Scope of possible changes: place determined by NINS/NAOJ.

Basic Information

  • Vacant Post: Project Assistant Professor, one position.
  • Starting Date: April 1, 2026 or October 1, 2026.
  • Initial Term: In principle, two years from the starting date.
  • Probation Period: Six months, included in the term.

Term of Appointment

NAOJ will conduct reviews based on the mid-term performance report submitted by the PI 1.5 years and 3.5 years from the start of the project.

Depending on the review results, the term may be extended. The extension shall be for two years or one year based on the results of the first and second reviews, respectively.

If the successful candidate had been employed by the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, NINS, within six months retroactively from the start date, the term will be set so that the total employment period does not exceed ten years.

Qualifications

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

Submission

Please access the following URL for registration:
https://forms.office.com/r/KXp2WPcb9V

After submitting the registration form, applicants will receive an email showing the URLs for uploading application documents and reference letters.

  • Please ask your references to upload their letters via the reference-letter URL.
  • Please upload the application documents via the application-document URL. These files must be in PDF format, with a maximum of 50 MB each, 100 MB in total, and at most 10 files.

Required Application Materials

Applicants should prepare the documents in English and convert them to PDF.

  1. Cover letter with the title of the research project.
  2. Curriculum vitae.
  3. Publication list, with refereed papers separated from others.
  4. PDF files of up to three relevant papers.
  5. Statement describing your commitment and plans for the job.
  6. Two or more reference letters.
  7. Your email address and phone number.

Application deadline: December 1, 2025, 12:00 noon, Japan Standard Time.

Contacts

Inquiries about application process:
job16-naoj-pap_atmark_nao.ac.jp, replace _atmark_ with @

Inquiries about research project:
psanhueza_atmark_astron.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp, replace _atmark_ with @
https://groups.astron.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/psanhueza/index.html

General inquiries:
alma-grant-inquiry_atmark_ml.nao.ac.jp, replace _atmark_ with @

Selection Process

Qualified candidates who proceed into the final selection may be interviewed by the selection committee either online or in person. The expense for the interview will not be covered by NAOJ.

The NAOJ Advisory Committee for Research and Management will make the final decision for the appointment.

Remarks

This position is a full-time position. The fellow will receive a monthly salary of 550,000 JPY plus compensation for commuting expenses up to 150,000 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 University of Tokyo’s regulations.

  • Work days: five days per week, from Monday to Friday.
  • Work type: discretionary work.
  • Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and New Year holidays from December 29 to January 3.
  • Paid leave will be provided, including annual paid leave and maternity leave.
  • Smoking is prohibited on campus, excluding designated outdoor smoking areas.

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 to apply for personal research funding after employment. The NAOJ ALMA Project will confirm whether the funding application conforms to the 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 performance evaluation, NAOJ will take positive action to employ women.

For details, see: https://www2.nao.ac.jp/~open-info/gender-equality/en/

Information submitted in application documents will not be used for any purpose other than the selection process and for necessary contact related to the selection. Once the selection process is complete, NAOJ will securely dispose of all application documents and personal information, except those submitted by the successful candidate.

Name of Recruiter

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