Researcher,WEDiDEA Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN)

Job description

Background of the recruitment and description of the project

Project description

In a rapidly changing and interlinked world, achieving sustainable development has been increasingly understood as an outcome not only of economic and social policies but also of the ability to manage disaster-related risks. Economic connectivity has made increasingly clear ecological connectivities between distant places and transformed multi-sited local nature-society relations. We seek to understand how thickening economic and ecological connectivities through global commodity chains have led to growing risks and vulnerabilities of disasters, and integrative policy responses. Conceptually, our project draws on World Ecology, Social Production of Disasters, and Diverse Values of Nature to rethink development that would integrate multiple values into policies and governance of economy, environment, and disasters through shifting knowledge systems, worldviews and values on humanity-in-nature relations. By integrating these themes, the postdoctoral researcher engages in collaborative research that enhances the impacts of the WEDiDEA.

https://www.disastersanddevelopment.org/

Work content and job description

(At the time of appointment)

The candidate will carry out research activities of the WEDiDEA project, in close collaboration with the team and under the guidance of the PI and case study leads. Specifically, the selected candidates will carry out the following research tasks:

1. Analyses of environmental changes associated with disasters and development in East Asia. Drawing on open data from different sources, literatures, government statistics, and data collected by project members, the candidate will carry out qualitative and quantitative analyses on changes in social-ecological relations and values in the study areas and support a comparative analysis across the study sites.
2. Field-based research to evaluate diverse values of nature in changing social-ecological relations. The research will be conducted in close collaboration with the team. The data will be collected using a mixed methods approach and analyzed in combination with social data.

(Scope for changes to duties)

None.

Assigned department

Newly established departments

WEDiDEA Project, Program Research Department

Date of new establishment : December 2026

Job type

Researcher/Postdoc level

Research field

• Environmental science - Social-ecological systems
• Environmental science - Environmental policy and social systems

Wages

• Annual Salary : 5 million yen ~ 6 million yen
• Daily Wage 19,800 JPY

Working hours

• Working hours :08:30-17:00
• Break time :12:15-13:00
• Overtime and other explanations : Based on the general working hours of Mon.–Fri. 8:30-17:00 (excluding the 12:15-13:00 lunch break), with discretionary employment system of professional work.

Application requirements

Qualifications

Education and Degree Requirements

Ph.D. / Doctor

1. PhD in relevant fields at the time of appointment

Work experience

2. Ability to conduct original research in collaboration with other project members.
3. A proven record of fieldwork experience is required. Experience with working in the case study countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, and Thailand) is an advantage.
4. Familiarity with transdisciplinary approaches is an advantage. Experience with working in interdisciplinary research teams is an advantage.
5. Ability to write academic papers and professionally present materials in English

Employment Type

Contract employee

Based on the general working hours of Mon.–Fri. 8:30-17:00 (excluding the 12:15-13:00 lunch break), with discretionary employment system of professional work. Holidays: Japanese national holidays and 29 December–3 January.

Contract period

Nontenured - Non-tenure track

From April 1, 2027 and ends on March 31st, 2028.

(The contract may be renewed after the term expires. However, the maximum term is until March 31st, 2029.)

Probationary period absent

Work location

603-8047 Kyoto

Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (Address: 457-4 Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 603-8047 Japan)

Compensation

Various systems

• Transportation expenses : Yes
• Others : Yes(Rent Allowance)

Insurance

• Employees' Health Insurance : Yes(Mutual aid association of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
• Employees' Pension Insurance : Yes
• Worker's accident insurance : Yes
• Employment insurance : Yes

Measures for preventing passive smoking at the workplace

RIHN seeks to prevent passive smoking by prohibiting smoking in all our facilities except in designated areas.

Application Considerations

Number of hired

• 1 person(s)
• Hiring date : 2027/04/01
• Starting date : 2027/04/01

Application period

• 2026/08/03~2026/11/09 Deadline for receipt
• 9 November, 2026 by 10:00 am, JST

Application method

Attached documents

Other online application forms

To apply, please submit the following documents in English:

1. Curriculum vitae (with photograph), using the National Institutes for the Humanities format. If you have not yet been awarded a PhD, be sure to state the expected conferral date.
2. Cover letter
3. Statement of Research – Applicants should provide specific information about research plans and how their research will contribute to the project (around 2,000 words)
4. List of research outputs (doctoral thesis, peer-reviewed articles, books/monographs, awards). If your researchmap page already contains these four categories, you may provide the URL in lieu of a separate list.
5. Recent Publications – please include at least one publication (up to three)
6. Three references and their contact information. We will only request letters of recommendation for shortlisted candidates.

The submitted documents will be used only for the purpose of employment screening. The submitted documents will not be disclosed, transferred, or loaned to any third party without good reason. In principle, application documents will not be returned.

E-mail your Application Materials to:

• Prof. Makoto Taniguchi, Program Director, makoto[a]chikyu.ac.jp
• Prof. Takeshi Ito, project leader, WEDiDEA [Email：takeshi.ito[a]sophia.ac.jp
• Prof. Carl Middleton, project subleader, WEDiDEA [Email: Carl.M[a]chula.ac.th

([a] should be substituted by @ when in use)

If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt within three business days, please contact the above email address again.

Return of application documents

We will dispose of all application documents responsibly.

URL of this job posting

https://www.chikyu.ac.jp/rihn_e/careers/005746.html

Selection / Notification of result

Selection

A short list will be made by a selection committee on the basis of application materials.

Notification of result

Candidates on the short list will be asked for an online interview in mid- and late November 2026.

Contact details

National Institutes for the Humanities, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature

Program Research Department

WEDiDEA project

makoto(at)chikyu.ac.jp

• Please change (at) to @ and send it.

Please contact all three of the following individuals by email.

• Prof. Makoto Taniguichi, Program Director [Email：makoto@chikyu.ac.jp]
• Prof. Takeshi Ito, Project Leader, WEDiDEA [Email：takeshi.ito@sophia.ac.jp]
• Prof. Carl Middleton, Project Subleader, WEDiDEA [Email: Carl.M@chula.ac.th]

Notes

• To prevent exposure to second-hand smoke, smoking is prohibited throughout the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, except in designated smoking areas.
• The Research Institute for Humanity and Nature is committed to promoting diversity with regard to gender, race, and creed, and encourages applications from women.