Job description
Background of the recruitment and description of the project
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) has the JASMINE Project aiming to develop the science payload and the mission operation system of the JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)’s infrared space astrometry mission, JASMINE. JASMINE will conduct high-precision infrared astrometry toward the central region of the Milky Way to study its formation and evolution, and will also carry out time-domain observations for the exploration of potentially habitable exoplanets.
JASMINE completed the Mission Definition Review (MDR) at the JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) in July 2024 and is currently advancing technical studies and organizational preparations toward the next phase of the mission.
JASMINE will repeatedly observe stars over the mission period and produce an astrometric catalog for more than 100,000 stars. To achieve the required astrometric precision, the mission must establish, before launch, analysis methods and infrastructure that use large-scale observation simulations to evaluate performance, calibrate systematic effects, and derive astrometric parameters. The JASMINE Project therefore develops the instrument, observation strategy, and data analysis system in close coordination so that the required precision is achieved by the mission system as a whole.
Work content and job description
We invite applications for an assistant professor position at the JASMINE Project of NAOJ. A successful candidate for this position is expected:
- to lead the development of analysis methods to derive astrometric parameters from JASMINE observational data, including verification using mission-scale simulations and relevant observational data;
- to make a significant contribution to the design and construction of the data analysis infrastructure required for JASMINE, including adaptation to emerging computational technologies and environments;
- to make a significant contribution to the operation of JASMINE astrometric data analysis and to the public release of the JASMINE astrometric catalog;
- to collaborate with other NAOJ projects and centers to advance JASMINE data analysis, while also contributing to the development of astronomical big data analysis;
- to foster early career scientists and graduate students at NAOJ and to collaborate with them through activities related to the JASMINE mission and its broader scientific applications.
(Scope of possible changes) Research and teaching activities designated by NINS / NAOJ
Assigned department
Existing departments
JASMINE Project
Job type
Assistant Professor level
Research field
- Natural Science - Astronomy
- Others - Others
and/or related fields
Wages
- Annual Salary : 6 million yen ~ 8 million yen
- Salary: The amount of an annual salary shall be determined based on the school career and job experiences in accordance with the NINS regulations (NINS, or the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, is an executive institute that manages NAOJ). The payment will be made monthly in 12 equivalents.
- Allowances: Dependent allowance, residential allowance, commutation allowance, and the other allowances will be paid when the requirements based on the NINS regulations are all filled. The equivalent of the term-end allowance and the diligence allowance shall 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)
- Overtime and other explanations : Saturdays and Sundays, National Holidays, New Year holidays (December 29th - January 3rd), Annual paid leave (20 days: to be prorated for the first year), Refreshment leave (3 days), Summer closure, Bereavement leave, etc
Application requirements
Qualifications
Education and Degree Requirements
Ph.D. / Doctor
Ph.D. or equivalent in astronomy or related fields
Work experience
Experience in the development of data analysis software, preferably with experience in large-scale data analysis or statistical modeling.
Willingness and ability to adopt new analysis methods and programming technologies and to adapt flexibly to next-generation computing environments, including GPU-based systems.
Description
Ability to integrate heterogeneous astronomical data and catalogs for scientific research is desirable.
Communication skills necessary to work effectively with researchers and engineers in domestic and international collaborations, and a strong interest in fostering students and young researchers.
Employment Type
Regular employee
Contract period
Tenured - Non-tenure track
The successful candidate should be able to start as soon as reasonably possible after the job offer has been accepted. The term of contract is up to the end of the Japanese academic year in which the faculty reaches NAOJ's mandatory retirement age of 65. The probation period of six months is included.
A review for the continuation of employment as an assistant professor will occur during the fifth year. If the review determines that the successful candidate has not satisfactorily fulfilled the duties of an assistant professor, the successful candidate will be requested to transfer to another position within NAOJ.
Probationary period present
The probation period of six months is included.
Work location
181-8588 Tokyo 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka
Division and Location: JASMINE Project, Mitaka, Tokyo
(Scope of possible changes) Place designated by NINS / NAOJ
Compensation
Various systems
- Pay increase system : Once a year in accordance with the performance evaluation
- Bonus : The equivalent of the term-end allowance and the diligence allowance shall be included in the annual salary.
- Retirement allowances : Shall be paid.
- Transportation expenses : Provided.
- 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
2026/11/09~2026/12/18 Deadline for receipt
12:00(noon) (Japan Standard Time)
Application method
Attached documents
Other online application forms
(*To be prepared in English. Any other languages will not be accepted.)
- A cover letter;
- A curriculum vitae;
- A list of publications (Separate refereed and non-refereed papers). SPIE can be included in refereed papers.
- A summary of your past research activities, including international collaborations;
- Your commitment and plan to fulfill the duties (including your research plans 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. Reference letters should be written by faculty/staff with tenured positions. Reference letters from multiple countries are preferred. Please ask your references to upload the letters directly to the URL indicated in [How to Submit an Application] before the deadline. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the letters are submitted before the application deadline.
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 application form at the following URL:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/gxe2Vzw9Fv
After you submit the initial form, you will receive an email showing the URLs for (a) uploading your application documents, and (b) for your reference letters.
Once you get the URL(a) for your application documents, please upload the files corresponding to the documents (1) through (6). These files must be in PDF format (max 50MB each, 100MB in total, at most 10 files).
Please ask your references to upload their letters via the URL(b) you receive for this purpose.
URL of this job posting
https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/jobs.ac.kr/jobs/prd/1981449/20261106-jasmine-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 during December 23-25, 2026 (exact date to be assigned). 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 questions related to submissions or other items, contact]
Personnel Unit, General Affairs Group, Administration Department
0422343600
job04-assistantprof(at)nao.ac.jp
- Please change (at) to @ and send it.
[For inquiries, please contact with a subject; “Question on Assistant Professor of JASMINE”]
E-mail: ryouhei.kano_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace AT with @),
Professor Kano, Ryouhei, Director of JASMINE Project, NAOJ
Notes
- 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.
- If the selection committee deems that there is no qualified candidate for this position, it is possible no one will be selected.
- 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 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 a gender-equal society, see
[//www2.nao.ac.jp/~open-info/gender-equality/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.
