Job Description
As an alliance-type WPI research center by Tohoku University and JAMSTEC, we are soliciting applications for 10 positions of AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher.
In the first year of the appointment, AIMEC Postdoctoral Researchers will receive 2 million yen to cover research startup costs. (No further payments will be made after this.)
[Research Description]
(Immediately upon employment)
- Monitoring the marine physico-chemical environment from the coast to the open sea; developing analytical techniques for marine environmental restoration; and studying marine environment-ecosystem co-variation using environmental indicator organisms.
- Making observations and models to understand the state of ecosystems and biodiversity, and conducting theoretical and empirical research to clarify the principles that drive, maintain, and respond to ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Developing methods for assessing and analyzing marine ecosystems using functional genomics, etc., and elucidating the responses of coastal ecosystems and its services to human activities in coastal areas.
- Observing the seabed, including its hydraulic observations, to clarify ocean–solid earth change phenomena, and making observations and models to understand spatiotemporal oceanic changes to enable advances in underwater acoustic ranging.
- Studying the environmental response and adaptation mechanisms of marine organisms at the individual and community levels and developing evaluation and analysis methods; clarifying the mechanisms of regime shift phenomena, including mass outbreaks and mass mortality of marine organisms.
- Developing molecular biological techniques for analyzing marine microbial ecosystems; studying the dynamics of marine particles and material circulation and the response and adaptive mechanisms of microbial ecosystems to changes in the marine environment, and developing technology for this.
- Conducting research and technological development related to observations of the effects of circulation and microbial distribution on the distribution of substances in the ocean, maintaining automated oceanographic observation networks, and integrating the analysis of oceanographic observations and simulations.
- Conducting modelling research and applying artificial intelligence to marine ecosystems (including the physical and chemical environment of the surrounding ocean and atmosphere), and maintaining and developing the computer infrastructure.
- Developing equations that describe the structure of marine ecosystems and related biogeochemical cycles and their variability, and developing models of the response of marine ecosystems (including harmful toxic algal blooms) and their capacity to adapt to environmental changes in estuarine, coastal, and open ocean environments.
- Assessing the impacts and interactions of changes in marine ecosystems on human society and vice versa, and social and behavioral changes based on such assessments.
(The scope of possible changes)
The duties designated by WPI-AIMEC
[Related fields of expertise]
Marine Physics, Marine Ecology, Geochemistry, Ocean Engineering, Geomicrobiology, Computer Science, Meteorology, Meteorological and oceanographic modeling, Earth Sciences, etc.
Job Type
AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher:
AIMEC Postdoctoral Researcher should be able to independently conduct the research subject which is authorized by the WPI-AIMEC under direction of a leader, and to be appointed to improve their research qualities.
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.
Specific dates regarding eligibility are below.
*For appointment on April 1, 2026: Applicants who earned a Ph.D. after April 2020.
*For appointment on May 1, 2026: Applicants who earned a Ph.D. after April 2021.
Work Place
(Immediately upon employment)
One of the followings
a) Tohoku University
Aobayama Campus, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, JAPAN
b) JAMSTEC
Yokohama Institute for Earth Sciences (YES), 3173-25, Showa-machi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0001, JAPAN
*Tohoku University: Measures to prevent passive smoking: No smoking on the premises, no work in areas where smoking allowed.
*Yokohama Institute for Earth Sciences: Measures to prevent passive smoking: No smoking on the premises (smoking areas are available outside), no work in areas where smoking allowed.
(The scope of possible changes)
The places designated by WPI-AIMEC (including a place for working from home)
Working Conditions and Contract Period
(1) Number of positions:
10 positions for 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:
Total period will be terminated on March 31, 2029, after 2 contract renewals.
The term of this position is 3 full years in the calendar year.
*First contract period is from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
*Effective date of employment is negotiable.
*Contract period can be renewed depending on the progress ogf WPI-AIMEC 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.
*These positions fall under Article 15-2, Act on Promotion of Science and Technology Innovation.
*These positions are non-tenure-track, fixed-term employee positions.
*Not eligible to apply for the tenure track system at Tohoku University, or the examination for the position of Permanent Employee at JAMSTEC.
Salary
Annual salary (paid in 1/12 equal monthly payments)
JPY 6,600,000-7,200,000
*Salary will be competitive based on the academic qualifications and demonstrated research skills of the successful candidate.
*Bonus and retirement allowance are included in the annual salary.
*There is no raise.
Application Procedure
(1) Required documents
a) CV. Valid Email must be provided.
b) Summary of your research (1 page)
c) Research plan 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) Two (or fewer) representative publications
*If you do not have a published paper, please upload a PDF stated “none”.
(2) Submission
Please apply via the following website:
https://recruit.jobcan.jp/jamstec/entry/new/2189345
*All files must be converted to PDF format.
*Since some of the notation is in Japanese on the website, please refer to the following input procedure when entering your information.
Application guide
(3) Interviews
English interviews will be held for applicants who pass the document screening and will be conducted online, in principle.
Closing Date
December 21, 2025 at 23:59 in Japan time
*Depending on the situation of applications, the closing date may be extended.
Contact
Recruitment Desk, Research Promotion and Planning Division, WPI-AIMEC
Email: wpi-aimec_hr@jamstec.go.jp
*Please include “WAP25-002” in the subject line.
More information about this opportunity here.