Background of the recruitment and description of the project
The Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering at Kyoto Institute of Technology invites applications for one Tenure-Track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in the field of polymeric and organic materials.
We seek a candidate who can pursue highly original and creative research in this field from a physics-based perspective, guided by their own ideas and scientific vision. In particular, the successful candidate should demonstrate a strong commitment to developing new research areas suited to contemporary scientific and societal needs, without the constraints of conventional academic frameworks, and should be capable of contributing to the advancement of science and technology from both academic and industrial perspectives.
This recruitment is intended to appoint a faculty member who will play a central role in the future development of the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate strong enthusiasm for education and research and to contribute actively and collaboratively to administrative and organizational duties.
Work content and job description
Work in:
- Conducting pioneering research based on materials chemistry
- Teaching and supervising undergraduate and graduate students in the field above
- Contributing to KIT administrative and organizational duties
Related educational programs:
- Undergraduate: Polymeric Materials Design, Undergraduate Program of Applied Chemistry
- Graduate programs: Master’s Program in Innovative Materials and Master’s Program in Material's Properties Control/Doctoral Program in Materials Chemistry
Subjects to be taught:
- Laboratory and practical courses
- Undergraduate and graduate courses related to physics, statistical thermodynamics, and chemistry
Assigned department
Existing departments
Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering
Job type
- Associate Professor
- Assistant Professor level
Research field
- Life Science - Unspecified
- Nanotechnology/Materials - Unspecified
- Energy Engineering - Unspecified
- Manufacturing Technology - Unspecified
- Natural Science - Unspecified
Wages
Associate Professor
Annual Salary: 7 million yen ~
- Specific amount to be decided by committee, based on your career achievements.
- Annual income is calculated in accordance with the Annual Salary Scheme based on the wage regulations of Kyoto Institute of Technology. The website below gives information about the salary system in Japanese.https://www.kit.ac.jp/01/prescriptions/aggregate/catalog/index.htm
- KIT has adopted a system that allows Principal Investigators (PIs) to charge a portion of their personnel expenses to the direct costs of competitive research funding, in accordance with their research effort. Under this system, PIs (Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators) may, upon request, charge their personnel expenses to the direct costs of competitive research funds in proportion to the effort devoted to research activities. The funds thereby made available may be used at the PI's discretion, including as a salary supplement. The total amount that may be paid in a single fiscal year, however, is limited to 60% of the PI's annual salary.
- For further information, please refer to the following website (available in Japanese only).https://research.web.kit.ac.jp/pijinkenhi/
Assistant Professor level
Annual Salary: 5 million yen ~
- Specific amount to be decided by committee, based on your career achievements.
- Annual income is calculated in accordance with the Annual Salary Scheme based on the wage regulations of Kyoto Institute of Technology. The website below gives information about the salary system in Japanese.https://www.kit.ac.jp/01/prescriptions/aggregate/catalog/index.htm
- KIT has adopted a system that allows Principal Investigators (PIs) to charge a portion of their personnel expenses to the direct costs of competitive research funding, in accordance with their research effort. Under this system, PIs (Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators) may, upon request, charge their personnel expenses to the direct costs of competitive research funds in proportion to the effort devoted to research activities. The funds thereby made available may be used at the PI's discretion, including as a salary supplement. The total amount that may be paid in a single fiscal year, however, is limited to 60% of the PI's annual salary.
- For further information, please refer to the following website (available in Japanese only).https://research.web.kit.ac.jp/pijinkenhi/
Working hours
Associate Professor
Working hours: 08:30-17:15
Break time: 12:00-13:00
Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and other (August 16, and from December 29 to January 3)
Overtime and other explanations: De facto working hours* under the discretionary labor system for specialist work: 7 hours 45 minutes per day (38 hours 45 minutes per week). *Hours considered to be working hours
Assistant Professor level
Working hours: 08:30-17:15
Break time: 12:00-13:00
Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and other (August 16, and from December 29 to January 3)
Overtime and other explanations: De facto working hours* under the discretionary labor system for specialist work: 7 hours 45 minutes per day (38 hours 45 minutes per week). *Hours considered to be working hours
Application requirements
Qualifications
Education and Degree Requirements
Ph.D. / Doctor
- A doctoral degree completed or expected by the start date
Work experience
- The applicant should have a distinguished record of achievement in research and teaching in the applicant's field, and should have a strong commitment to both research and teaching.
- A high level of Japanese proficiency sufficient to perform the required duties
Employment Type
Associate Professor
Regular employee
Full-time
Assistant Professor level
Regular employee
Full-time (Tenure Track)
Contract period
Associate Professor
Tenured - Non-tenure track
In the event an appointee takes maternity leave, child-care leave or nursing leave, a research assistant will be provided.
Probationary period present
6 months
Assistant Professor level
Nontenured - Tenure-track
Non-tenured (5 year term)，nonrenewable contract
Duration of Contract: 5-Year Tenure Track Program
Independent research will be supported during this tenure track program. Research space and a mentor will be provided.
In the event an appointee takes maternity leave, child-care leave or nursing leave during the duration of his/her Contract, not only a research assistant would be provided but also the Contract of this appointee would be extended.
Final Review: The final review will be implemented during the first half of the fifth year of the contract, and passing the final review will lead to an associate professor appointment. The final review will be implemented to assess progress of the research plan, research achievements during this tenure track program, and the eligibility as a tenured Associate Professor position. This review will be based on the result of midterm, and latest annual reviews.
Probationary period present
6 months
Work location
606-8585 Kyoto Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku
Compensation
Various systems
Pay increase system: available
Bonus: available
Retirement allowances: available
Transportation expenses: available
Retirement age: 65 years old
Insurance
Employees' Health Insurance: available
Employees' Pension Insurance: available
Worker's accident insurance: available
Employment insurance: available
Measures for preventing passive smoking at the workplace
Smoking is prohibited on campus (excluding one designated outdoor smoking area).
Supplementary explanation of compensation
- The successful candidate will establish and lead an independent research laboratory. - Approximately 200–300 m² of research space will be provided. - Approximately two to three students are expected to join the laboratory each year.The Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering actively promotes the recruitment, career development, and continued research activities of women researchers. Applications from women researchers are particularly encouraged. This statement does not preclude applications from men.
When a woman researcher is appointed through this recruitment, the Faculty will provide the following start-up research support to facilitate the establishment of her research activities and future acquisition of competitive research funding.
Annual support: Approximately JPY 1 million in principle
Support period: To continue for approximately three years after appointment
Maximum total support: Approximately JPY 3 million
Eligible expenses: Research equipment, supplies, travel, conference participation, personnel costs, honoraria, academic journal publication fees, English-language editing, and other research-related expenses
Purpose of support: Establishment of the research environment, dissemination of research outcomes, and development of a foundation for acquiring external research funding
The amount and duration of the support will be determined in consideration of the appointee’s existing research funding and other relevant circumstances. Applicants or appointees who already hold competitive research funding above a specified level may not be eligible for this support.
In addition, women researchers may make use of other institutional support programs, including the Research Assistant Support Program:
https://www.sankaku.kit.ac.jp/researcher/index.html
Application Considerations
Number of hired
1 person(s)
Hiring date: 2027/04/01
Starting date: 2027/04/01
Job content supplemental explanation
If there are no suitable applicants, the position could remain empty.
The tenure-track system is as follows;
Duration of Contract: 5-Year Tenure Track Program
Independent research will be supported during this tenure track program. Research space and a mentor will be provided.
Following successful appointment, annual, midterm and final reviews will be implemented to assess the possibility of tenure. A good result in the final review will lead to adoption as a tenured Associate Professor position. An excellent performance and the good progress of research plan in the midterm review may lead to assessment of the eligibility as a tenured Associate Professor position. A final review with a result of “not adopted” will result in termination of the appointment at the end of the contract.
In the event an appointee takes maternity leave, child-care leave or nursing leave during the tenure track program, a research assistant will be provided and the tenure track period will be extended.
Research Environment: The appointee will be provided with research space and a start-up research fund in the first year (3 million yen). Funding, based on an intramural standard, will be provided after the first year with a guarantee of 65% of the total hours of duty allotted for research throughout the duration of the tenure track position.
Final Review: The final review will be implemented during the first half of the fifth year of the contract, and passing the final review will lead to an associate professor appointment. The final review will be implemented to assess progress of the research plan, research achievements during this tenure track program, and the eligibility as a tenured Associate Professor position. This review will be based on the result of midterm, and latest annual reviews.
Application period
2026/09/11~2026/10/23 Deadline for receipt
Not later than 5:00 p.m. (JST)
Application method
Application documents (specified forms)
- 様式1_Curriculum Vitae (Form 1).doc
- 様式2_Research Achievements (Form 2).docx
- 様式3_Position No. and department (form 3).doc
- 様式_職種の希望に係る調書 Job Type Preference Statement (No.2 Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering).docx
Attached documents
Application Form: Online Submission
(1)Curriculum Vitae (Form 1 available at the “Job posting URL” above)
Achievements and Activities: Online Submission
(2)Research Achievements (Form 2 available at the “Job posting URL” above)
Other online application forms
(3)A document stating the name of the Department applied for (Form 3 available at the “Job posting URL” above)
(4)List of successfully acquired competitive funding (if any)
Please include the full funding scheme title, duration of the grant, project research theme, amount and the name of the principal project investigator in the case of a joint application when the principal project investigator is someone other than the applicant.
(5)Five major publications (one copy of each)
Offprints and photocopies are acceptable.
(6)Description of teaching experience and future goals (approximately 1000 Japanese characters or 500 English words)
(7)Description of research activities and future plans (approximately 1000 Japanese characters or 500 English words)
(8)Names and contact details of two referees (include email addresses)
(9)Job Type Preference Statement (Form "様式_職種の希望に係る調書 Job Type Preference Statement (No.2 Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering)" available at the “Job posting URL” above)
For other application documents, please refer to the “Job posting URL” above.
Send all application file PDFs to the Labor and Personnel Department, Kyoto Institute of Technology by e-mail.
*Write "APPLICATION DOCUMENTS - ×××× Position - " in the subject line of the e-mail.
If your e-mail exceeds 10MB in size, please divide it into smaller separate files attached to multiple email messages or use a large file transfer service.
After receiving your application, you will be sent a confirmation e-mail. If you do not receive this confirmation email within a few days, please contact us.
Return of application documents
We will dispose of all application documents responsibly.
JREC-IN Portal web application: Not available
E-mail Application: Accept
jinji-saiyou07(at)jim.kit.ac.jp
- Please change (at) to @ and send it.
Recruiting Institution's Web application system: Not available
URL of this job posting
https://www.kit.ac.jp/2026/09/recruitment20260911/
Selection / Notification of result
Selection
Document screening, and interview
After document screening, the shortlisted applicants might be interviewed at Kyoto Institute of Technology. The travel expenses are to be borne by applicant. If any additional submission of paperwork is required, then the costs for that will also be borne by applicant.
Notification of result
Individually by E-mail.
Contact details
Kyoto Institute of Technology
Labor and Personnel Department
Labor and Personnel Department
0757247018
jinjikikaku(at)jim.kit.ac.jp
- Please change (at) to @ and send it.
Notes
- Application documents and the information provided by them will be used only for the hiring decision purposes.
- Kyoto Institute of Technology promotes a research environment in which diverse human resources can play an active role. We comply with Japan’s Basic Law for Gender-equal Society and Basic Plan for Gender Equality, and recruit staff in alignment with Article 5, the Law of Equal Employment Opportunities for Men and Women.
- KIT faculty would also fulfill community outreach in addition to university service mentioned above.
