Specially Appointed Assistant Professor (Research) or Postdoctoral Researcher (Up to two positions)

Astronomical Institute, Tohoku University

6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan

April 1, 2026 or later (negotiable)

The successful candidate is expected to focus on observational studies or theoretical studies that can be directly compared with observations related to exoplanets and planetary system formation, and to contribute to the advancement of the field through collaborations with researchers in Japan and abroad, especially via international joint research.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or be expected to obtain one by the start date.

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

(1) Salary: Based on Tohoku University's regulations for fixed-term employees; annual salary system. (In addition, basic research funding will be provided separately to support research activities.)

(2) Employment status: Full-time

(3) Term: 5 years

(4) Working Hours: Discretionary labor system for professional work shall apply.
Standard hours are 8:30 AM to 5:15 PM, but actual working hours are left to the discretion of the employee.

(5) Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and year-end/New Year holidays (December 29 to January 3)

Document screening and (online) interviews

(1) Curriculum Vitae

(2) Preferred start date and desired position (Specially Appointed Assistant Professor or Specially Appointed Researcher)

(3) Summary of past research and future research plans

(4) List of publications (clearly distinguish peer-reviewed papers; mark up to three major papers)

(5) At least one letter of recommendation (to be sent directly via email to Dr. Fukagawa as listed in item 11)

(6) Names and contact information of 2-3 individuals who can provide opinions about the applicant

The link to the application documents should be sent to the e-mail address:
misato.fukagawa[at]astr.tohoku.ac.jp (replace [at] with @).
with the subject line: "Application for specially appointed assistant professor or postdoc fellow".
Acknowledgement will be sent to the applicant via e-mail within a few days after receiving the application.

Prof. Misato Fukagawa, Astronomical Institute, Tohoku University E-mail: misato.fukagawa[at]astr.tohoku.ac.jp (replace [at] with @).

・ Tohoku University promotes activities to increase Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and encourages people of varied talents from all backgrounds to apply for positions at the university.
Tohoku University's website about the DEI Declaration is here:
https://dei.tohoku.ac.jp/en/vision/about/

・ Pursuant to Article 8 of the Act on Securing, Etc. of Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment, Tohoku University shall, as a measure for increasing the presence of women among the academic staff, prioritize the hiring of women deemed qualified for each job opening, based on impartial evaluation.

・ Tohoku University has published 'Tohoku University-Live as Who You Are-Guidelines for Gender and Sexual Diversity' to provide explanations and details of how those at the university should respond with respect to diverse sexuality. The purpose of the guidelines is to create an environment in which all students, faculty, and staff respect diverse sexuality in their academic, research, and professional activities.
Please see the Tohoku University Center for Gender Equality Promotion website:
https://dei.tohoku.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/EN_GuideLine.pdf

・ Tohoku University has the largest on-campus childcare system of all Japanese national universities. This network comprises three nurseries: Kawauchi Keyaki Nursery school (capacity: 22) and Aobayama Midori Nursery school (116), both open to all university employees, as well as Hoshinoko Nursery school (120), which is open to employees working at Tohoku University Hospital. In addition, Tohoku University Hospital runs a childcare room for mildly ill and convalescent children which is available to all university employees

・ See the following website for information on these and other programs that Tohoku University runs to assist work-life balance, to support researchers, and to advance gender equality, including measures to promote childcare leave among male employees.
Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Tohoku University Website:
https://dei.tohoku.ac.jp/en/support_program/
Human Resources and Planning Department website:
https://c.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/jinji-top/external/a-4-kosodate/