Job description
Background of the recruitment and description of the project
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) has been playing a key role in the development of solar-stellar research by acquiring and accumulating observation data delivered for research on solar activity. NAOJ has the Solar Science Observatory (SOL) Project, which operates ground-based facilities (Mitaka telescopes, Nobeyama radio polarimeter), and contributes to the operation of the currently running satellite HINODE as well as the development of the EUV High-throughput Spectroscopic Telescope (EUVST) aboard the satellite mission SOLAR-C in cooperation with the SOLAR-C project. The SOL project drives the development of advanced technology for next-generation solar observations through the CLASP and FOXSI rocket experiments and the SUNRISE balloon project. The SOL project is also expected to maintain international research competitiveness with a suite of solar satellite missions and existing ground-based facilities.
Work content and job description
We invite applications for an assistant professor position to contribute to the Solar Science Observatory and the SOLAR-C project and to pursue cutting-edge solar-stellar physics and space weather research using ground- and space-based facilities associated with NAOJ. The successful candidate will undertake the following duties, with responsibilities tailored to their experience and expertise:
- Build and sustain an integrated solar-observation capability across space- and ground-based assets by supporting existing facilities (HINODE and Mitaka telescopes) and planning SOLAR-C operations prior to launch. After SOLAR-C launch, lead coordinated observations and joint analyses with HINODE and ground-based telescopes to maximize scientific return, particularly for space-weather research.
- Lead optical performance verification for SOLAR-C EUVST and serve as the technical liaison for an internationally developed component, bridging science-driven optical requirements with subsystem development. Collaborate with JAXA and overseas institutes to plan and conduct optical alignment and verification tests, and assess the instrument’s end-to-end performance.
- The successful candidate will contribute to the Observatory and NAOJ as a whole through committee service and public outreach, and will support graduate education at SOKENDAI by lecturing and supervising graduate students.
(Scope of possible changes) Research and teaching activities designated by NINS / NAOJ
Assigned department
Existing departments
Solar Science Observatory
Job type
Assistant Professor level
Research field
- Natural Science - Astronomy
- Others - Others
Solar Physics
Wages
- Annual Salary : 6 million yen ~ 8 million yen
Salary: Annual salary shall be determined based on professional knowledge, skills, required education, and job experiences as per the NINS regulations (NINS, or the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, is an upper-level organization that manages NAOJ). Payments will be made monthly in 12 equal installments.
Allowances: Dependent allowance, residential allowance, commutation allowance, and other allowances will be paid to employees who meet the conditions outlined in the NINS regulations. An amount equivalent to the year-end allowance and diligence allowance will be included in the annual salary.
Working hours
- Working hours :08:30-17:15
- Break time :12:00-13:00
- Holidays : Saturdays and Sundays, National Holidays, New Year holidays (December 29th - January 3rd), Annual paid leave (20days: to be prorated for the first year), Refreshment leave (3 days), Summer closure, Bereavement leave, etc.
- Overtime and other explanations : The Discretionary Labor System for Professional Work shall be applied. (standard work hours: 38.75 hrs/week, from 8:30 to 17:15 with an hour intermission)
Application requirements
Qualifications
Education and Degree Requirements
Ph.D. / Doctor
Minimum Educational Requirement: Ph.D. or equivalent
Work experience
- A working knowledge of solar physics; and
- Other Requirement: To have achieved internationally recognized research or engineering results in the field of expertise, and also have high-level communication skill to promote large international collaboration.
Employment Type
Regular employee
Contract period
Tenured - Non-tenure track
The candidate should be able to start as soon as possible after the job offer has been accepted.
The term of the contract will continue up to the end of the Japanese academic year in which the faculty member reaches NAOJ's mandatory retirement age of 65. (Probation period: 6 months)
A review for the continuation of employment as an assistant professor will occur during the fifth year. In case that the review may result that the successful candidate couldn’t have fulfilled duties as an assistant professor enough, the successful candidate would be requested to transfer to another position within NAOJ.
Probationary period present
Probation period: 6 months
Work location
Others
Division and Location: Solar Science Observatory, Mitaka, Tokyo
(Scope of possible changes) Place designated by NINS / NAOJ
Compensation
Various systems
- Pay increase system : available/ Once a year in accordance with the performance review
- Bonus : An amount equivalent to the year-end allowance and diligence allowance will be included in the annual salary.
- Retirement allowances : Shall be paid
- Transportation expenses : Provided.
- Retirement age : available/65
- Others : Travel and relocation:
Eligible employees will be provided with a relocation travel package to NAOJ, subject to the travel regulations of NINS (details must be arranged with the administration office).
Insurance
- Employees' Health Insurance : available/MEXT Mutual Aid Association
- Employees' Pension Insurance : available
- Worker's accident insurance : available
- Employment insurance : available
Measures for preventing passive smoking at the workplace
Smoking is prohibited on the premises excluding designated outdoor smoking areas.
Application Considerations
Number of hired
1 person(s)
Application period
2026/11/09~2027/01/12 Deadline for receipt
12:00(noon) (Japan Standard Time)
Application method
Attached documents
Other online application forms
Required Application Materials (To be prepared in English. Any other language will not be accepted)
- A cover letter;
- A curriculum vitae;
- Publications list (Separate refereed and non-refereed papers. SPIE and COSPAR can be included in refereed papers);
- A summary of your past research activities related to this position;
- Your commitment and plan to fulfill the duties (including your research plan as needed);
- Your address (e-mail and phone) for prompt contact and the email address of your current supervisor or line manager, and
- Two or more reference letters; All reference letters must be prepared by faculty/staff with tenured positions. Reference letters from multiple countries are preferred. Please ask your references to upload their letters directly using the URL indicated in [How to Submit an Application]. before the closing date for application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the letters are submitted before the closing date for application.
Return of application documents
Others
Information submitted in your application documents will not be used for any purpose other than the selection process and for contacting you with necessary notices in connection with the selection. Once the selection process is complete, we will securely dispose of all application documents and personal information, except for those submitted by the successful candidate.
JREC-IN Portal web application
Not available
E-mail Application
Not available
Recruiting Institution's Web application system
Accept
How to Submit an Application
Applicants are required to apply via the NAOJ Nextcloud on the web.
- Please access the following URL for registration:https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/AHexVGGezJ
- After you submit the registration form, you will receive an email showing the URLs for (a) uploading your application documents and (b) for your reference letters.
- Please ask your references to upload their letters via the URL (2)(b).
- Please upload the application documents (from (1) through (6) above) via the URL (2)(a). These files must be in PDF format (max 50MB each, 100MB in total, at most 10 files).
URL of this job posting
https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/jobs.ac.kr/jobs/prd/1981447/20261106-solar-en.pdf
Selection / Notification of result
Selection
Candidates selected in the final short list may be interviewed by the selection committee either via the internet or face-to-face. The expense for the interview will not be covered by NAOJ.
Notification of result
Contact details
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
If you have any question related to the other items, contact
Personnel Unit, General Affairs Group, Administration Department
0422343600
job04-assistantprof(at)nao.ac.jp
- Please change (at) to @ and send it.
If you have any questions related to the job description, contact
E-mail address: yukio.katsukawa_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace AT with @)
Prof. KATSUKAWA, Yukio
Director of the Solar Science Observatory, NAOJ
Subject of e-mail: “Question on JD of Assistant Professor of the NAOJ Solar Science Observatory”
Notes
- NINS Employee Regulations shall be applied to this position.
- This position is subject to the NINS Employee Regulations. The annual salary schedule indicated in Table (2) of the Research-Education Employee Base Annual Salary shall be applied to this position.
- Policy for Equal Employment Opportunity: Abiding by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act for Men and Women, NAOJ is committed to realizing a society with gender equality.
- If two candidates are deemed equal in their performance evaluation, NAOJ will take positive action to employ women.
- If you have taken a leave(s) such as for maternity, child care, and/or family care, please indicate it in your curriculum vitae. We will consider it when assessing your performance. For further information about NAOJ's efforts to achieve gender equal society, see [//www2.nao.ac.jp/~open-info/genderequality/en/]. *put "https:" before //.
- NINS implements the program to support staff members (young researchers) who received educational loans (scholarships) from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) and are now repaying them. For details, see [//www.nins.jp/about/folder7/dairihenkan.html]. *put "https:" before //.
- For information on the relevant rules and consultation services, please refer to the basic policy available through the link below. [//www.nins.jp/open/assets/j_hara_nins20260910.pdf]. *put "https:" before //.
Name of recruiter
Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS),
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)
・NINS does not tolerate any form of sexual harassment against job applicants or prospective applicants in connection with job search and recruitment activities.
