"Postdoctoral Researcher of Marine ecology"

Job Details

【Job Description】

WPI-AIMEC aims to elucidate the response of marine ecosystems to global environmental change and to enhance future projections of marine ecosystem dynamics. We invite applications for an AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher to conduct research on interactions between the climate system, biogeochemical cycles, and marine ecosystems — drawing on insights from both the past and modern ocean as a guide to the future. We are soliciting applications for 1 position of AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher.

[Research Description]

(Immediately upon employment)
The successful candidate will contribute to the development of trait-based microbial and animal ecosystem models integrated within simulations of ocean circulation and climate. These tools will be applied to a broad range of questions related to ocean biodiversity, habitability, and extinction; marine productivity, the biological pump, food webs and fisheries; and nutrient and oxygen cycling, including oxygen minimum zones.

The research focus will be tailored to the candidate's expertise and developed in collaboration with Prof. Justin Penn.

(The scope of possible changes)
The duties designated by WPI-AIMEC.

[Related fields of expertise]

Ocean biogeochemistry, Ecosystem/Earth system modeling, Climate science, Marine ecology, Chemical Oceanography, Paleobiology, Biogeography, Ecophysiology, Fisheries science.

【Job Type】

AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher:
The AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher is expected to independently conduct research under the guidance of Justin Penn, publish results in peer-reviewed journals, and disseminate research findings at academic conferences.

【Requirements】

Applicants are required to have been awarded or expect to have obtained a Ph.D. in a related field by the effective date of employment. In addition, no more than 5 years can have passed between the last day of the fiscal year in which the applicants obtained a Ph.D. and the effective date of employment.

[Experience]

It is desirable that the successful candidate has experience with numerical models of ocean ecosystems, biogeochemistry, circulation, and/or climate and has published results in peer-reviewed international journals. Familiarity with Matlab/Python is encouraged.

【Working Conditions & Contract Period】

(1) Number of positions:
1 position as an AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher.

(2) Type of contract:
Fixed-term employee

(3) Working Hours:
Discretionary labor system for professional work
*The determination of working hours allocation, including start and end times, as well as the method of carrying out research and development activities (including teleworking), is left to the discretion of the employee.

(4) Contract Period:
AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher:
The total period will be terminated on June 30, 2029 after 2 contract renewals.
The term of this position is 3 full years in the calendar year.
*First contract period is from July 2026 to June 2027.
*Effective date of employment is flexible.
*Contract period can be renewed depending on the performance and working attitude of the successful candidate.
*Contract period might change due to budget constraints of the project.
*On reaching the age of 65 during an employed fiscal year, the contract period will expire at the end of the same fiscal year. This bylaw may change.
*This position falls under Article 15-2, Act on Promotion of Science and Technology Innovation.
*This position is a non-tenure-track, fixed-term employee position.

【Salary】

Annual salary (paid in 1/12 equal monthly payments)
*Annual salary may be revised based on the research performance review.
*Bonus and retirement allowance are included in the annual salary.
AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher:
The starting salary is JPY 6,600,000.

【Benefits】

(1) Upon appointment, the successful candidate will receive relocation allowances.
(2) Allowance for commuting expenses will be provided.
(3) Fully covered by various insurances (health insurance, employee pension insurance, unemployment insurance, workers' accident compensation insurance, etc.) to promote welfare and benefits.
*There is the Mutual Aid Association of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology。
(4) Both AIMEC Researchers and AIMEC Postdoctoral Researchers assigned to Tohoku University have the right to move into the Lodging House.
(5) Holidays and vacations: Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, year-end, and New Year's holidays. Annual vacations with pay, special vacations, leave of absence to care for a family member, and maternity leave are provided.
(6) Tohoku University has the largest on-site childcare environment of any national university in Japan, including the Kawauchi Keyaki Nursery School (22 children) and the Aobayama Midori Nursery School (116 children), which are available to all staff. There is also a nursery for children with minor illnesses and children after illnesses on the premises of the University Hospital, which is available for use by all university staff.

【Application Procedure】

(1) Required documents
a) CV. Valid Email must be provided.
b) Summary of your research (1 page)
c) Research interests/goals for WPI-AIMEC (1 page)
d) "Publication (achievement) list" including thesis titles and "List of competitive research funds" awarded to the applicant
*Please list publications in refereed (peer-reviewed) journals separately from unrefereed publications.
*Include DOI codes if available.
*If you have not been awarded any, include "none" in the list.
e) 1-3 representative publications
*If you do not have a published paper, please upload a PDF stated "none".
f) Contact information for three references
g) Statement on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Aspirations for Promoting DEI at the University (1 page maximum)

(2) Submission
Please email the following address:
Email: aimec-jinji [at] grp.tohoku.ac.jp
*Please replace [at] with @ when addressing Emails and include "AIMEC WAM25-KTJ1" in the subject line.

*All files must be converted to PDF format.

(3) Interview
Applicants will be selected on the basis of submitted application materials, followed by an interview.
*Web-based online interviews are expected basically.

【Contact】

Recruitment Desk, Research Promotion and Planning Division, WPI-AIMEC
Email: aimec-jinji [at] grp.tohoku.ac.jp
*Please replace [at] with @ when addressing Emails and include "AIMEC WAM25-KTJ1" in the subject line.