Job description
Background of the recruitment and description of the project
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) promotes cutting-edge astronomy through the construction and operation of large-scale facilities and the development of advanced instruments. The NAOJ Gravitational Wave Science Project (GWSP) develops gravitational-wave astronomy and contributes to the construction, operation, commissioning, and upgrade of KAGRA, a 3-km-scale cryogenic gravitational-wave telescope located underground in Kamioka, Gifu, Japan, in collaboration with the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR), The University of Tokyo, and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK). The GWSP also develops key technologies for future KAGRA upgrades and next-generation ground- and spacebased gravitational-wave detectors.
Work content and job description
We invite applications for an associate professor position in GWSP. The successful candidate is expected to:
- lead KAGRA's Auxiliary Optics Group and oversee the development and enhancement of KAGRA's auxiliary optical systems. As the highest-priority task in preparation for the fifth observing run (O5), the candidate will lead the upgrade of the Output Mode Cleaner (OMC) and its implementation in KAGRA, including the development of its vibration-isolation platform, in close collaboration with the Vibration Isolation Group;
- advance the development of foundational technologies—such as optical systems, sensors, vibration isolation, and control systems—for future upgrades of KAGRA, as well as for next-generation ground-based and space-based gravitational-wave detectors;
- support the management of KAGRA and GWSP from a technical perspective and promote collaboration among relevant groups and institutions.
The successful candidate will also hold a concurrent appointment with NAOJ's Advanced Technology Center (ATC) to facilitate efficient collaboration with ATC engineers in the development of the OMC, while also extending gravitational-wave technologies such as sensors, optics, vibration isolation, and control to other fields and practical applications. In particular, the candidate will promote applications of inertial sensors to space missions in collaboration with the Space Innovation Center (SIC). Through O5, approximately 80% of the candidate's effort is expected to be devoted to GWSP and 20% to ATC. The primary work location is Mitaka. The candidate will also contribute to activities in the broader NAOJ community, and to the development of the next generation of researchers and engineers, including PhD students.
(Scope of possible changes) Research and teaching activities designated by NINS / NAOJ
Assigned department
Existing departments
Gravitational Wave Science Project (GWSP)
Job type
Associate Professor
Research field
- Natural Science - Astronomy
- Others - Others
- Physics, Engineering, or Instrumentation
Wages
- Annual Salary : 7 million yen ~ 10 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
- Requirement regarding research experience: Development of instrumentation for gravitational-wave telescopes
- Other Requirements: Fluent English communication and experience of experiments
- Applicants are expected to have broad knowledge and hands-on experience in experimental astronomy or physics, with broad knowledge spanning optics, sensors, vibration isolation and control, and ultra-high-vacuum technology, as well as demonstrated leadership and good communication skills in English.
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 the contract will continue up to the end of the Japanese academic year in which the faculty reaches NAOJ's mandatory retirement age of 65. The Probation period is 6 months.
Probationary period present
The Probation period is 6 months.
Work location
181-8588 Tokyo 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka
Division and Location: Gravitational Wave Science Project (GWSP), Mitaka Office
(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. Commutation allowance will be paid to employees who meet the conditions outlined in the NINS regulations.
- Retirement age : 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
2026/11/11~2027/01/14 Deadline for receipt
12:00(noon) (Japan Standard Time)
Application method
Attached documents
Other online application forms
Required Application Materials in English
- Cover letter;
- Curriculum vitae;
- Publications list (Separate refereed and non-refereed papers);
- 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 9 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 following URL for registration:https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/DVx7ExhpKe
- 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/1983095/20261110-gwsp-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
job02-associateprof(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: takayuki.tomaru_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace AT with @)
Professor Tomaru, Takayuki,
Director of Gravitational Wave Science Project (GWSP), NAOJ,
Subject of e-mail: “Question on JD of Associate Professor of NAOJ-GWSP”
If you have any questions related to the other items, contact;
E-mail address: job02-associateprof_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace AT with @)
Subject of e-mail: “Question on Associate Professor of NAOJ-GWSP”
Notes
- The work location may be NAOJ Kamioka branch depending on the situation of the project.
- The NAOJ Advisory Committee for Research and Management will make the final decision for the appointment.
- NINS Employee Regulations (NINS is an executive institute that manages NAOJ) 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. For details, see [www2.nao.ac.jp/~open-info/genderequality/en/] *put "https:" before //.
- If you have taken a leave(s) for maternity, childcare, and family care, please indicate it in your curriculum vitae. We will consider it when assessing your performance.. For details, 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.
