As part of a major positive action initiative to support female researchers, the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University is establishing new professor positions exclusively for applicants who identify as female.
This initiative was established under the provisions of Article 8 of the Act on Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment (Special Provisions Concerning Measures for Female Workers).

＊download（PDF）
＊International Recruitment of Female Faculty Members A Message from President Tominaga

Recruitment:

Permanent Professor at the Graduate School of Science

Summary:

Position:	Professor
Research Fields:	Earth and Environmental Sciences
Number of Positions:	1
Job type:	Permanent
Location:	Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University 6-3, Aramaki Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Qualifications:	・Doctoral degree upon taking up the post ・Distinguished research achievements ・Ability to communicate effectively in English or Japanese
Submission:	Submit via the application form https://jotform.com/252640500891453
Application Deadline:	May 31, 2026
Starting Employment:	After August 1, 2026
For questions contact:	jun.muto.a3 * tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

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Recruitment:

Permanent Professor at the Graduate School of Science

Background and Purpose:

As a strategic measure to further strengthen our research and educational capabilities, the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University is conducting a targeted recruitment of qualified scholars who identify as female for professor positions.
Welcoming outstanding female researchers from Japan and abroad into leadership positions will bring diverse perspectives to our research fields, serving as a driving force for breakthroughs in existing academic disciplines. Furthermore, the presence of diverse role models will have a profound educational impact on fostering the next generation of talent. With the aim of promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) this recruitment is conducted under the provisions of Article 8 of the Act on Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment (Special Provisions Concerning Measures for Female Workers) as a "positive action" initiative. This measure goes beyond merely improving numerical targets; it aims to accelerate the participation of female in research, thereby elevating the University's research excellence and driving its transformation into a worldleading research institution.

The Graduate School of Science at Tohoku University has positioned the promotion of cutting-edge research and the cultivation of the next generation of global leaders at the core of its research strategy. Building on its established research achievements, the Graduate School advances research in its areas of strength, fosters collaborative and interdisciplinary research, and promotes diverse research activities--including industry-academia collaboration--that will serve as the seeds of future core research fields.

Under this call, the Graduate School of Science invites applications for a Professor-level faculty position. The successful candidate will engage in research and education in Earth and Environmental Sciences, with a particular focus on the evolution of the Earth and changes in the environment. While grounding their work in approaches and expertise from geology, geochemistry, and mineral sciences, the candidate is also expected to integrate geophysical data and numerical modeling to elucidate long-term variability and evolutionary processes of the Earth system. Through deepening collaborative research with the World Premier International Research Center Initiative - Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC) and the Department of Geophysics, the appointee is expected to contribute to the development of an internationally open and forward-looking research framework in Earth and Environmental Sciences.

In education, the successful candidate will play a key role in doctoral-level training through graduate programs in which the Department of Earth Science is involved, including the International Joint Graduate Program in Earth and Environmental Sciences (GpEES) and the WISE Program for Sustainability in the Dynamic Earth (SyDE). Through these programs, the appointee is expected to contribute to the education and development of a diverse cohort of doctoral students and to the cultivation of highly skilled researchers capable of leading the field globally.

The Department of Earth Science conducts research and education as part of the Core Research Cluster of Earth and Environmental Science, one of Tohoku University's five strategic research pillars. Within this framework, the Department brings together leading international researchers from both inside and outside the University across disciplinary boundaries, with the aim of deepening a comprehensive and fundamental understanding of the Earth and its environment. Furthermore, by strengthening collaboration and communication with research fields closely connected to society, the Department seeks to establish itself as an international research hub that translates advances in Earth and Environmental Sciences into solutions for societal challenges and contributes to the sustainable development of humanity.

Qualifications:

Candidates must have a doctoral degree upon taking up the post and be able to communicate effectively in English and/or Japanese. Distinguished research achievements in the field of being applied for will be evaluated favorably by the selection committee.

Application Method:

After registering via the pre-application form below, we will send you a separate application form via email. Please upload the required documents as separate PDF files using this application form.
Using this application form, please select your preferred department and upload the following documents 1 through 9 as separate PDF files. For item 10, please enter the information directly into the corresponding field on the application form.

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae (with photograph attached)
3. Career History
4. List of achievements
5. Statement on future research plans with reference to the graduate school's goals (2 pages)
6. Statement on future plans in education and teaching (2 pages)
7. Statement on future plans for contributions to the development of others/Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (1 page)
8. Statement on future plans for community outreach/industry collaboration/ application of research results (1 page)
9. References, including contact information, and letters of recommendation
10. Researcher ID Information (Scopus Author ID, ORCID iD, Researchmap *Please enter directly in the application form.)

Application Form: https://jotform.com/252640500891453
Application Deadline: May 31, 2026

Selection:

The selection committee may ask shortlisted candidates to make a presentation during the selection process. This may include a visit to get to know the candidate in person or online. Shortlisted candidates may also be asked to submit a teaching dossier, including sample course materials and past student evaluations. We will only contact those who pass the document screening for an interview.

Starting Employment:

After August 1, 2026

Allocation, Laboratory Space & Accommodation:

Successful individuals will be allocated an office and laboratory space on campus in the Department of Earth Science. There may also be the opportunity to move into university accommodation if there are any vacancies.

Compensation & Benefits:

The annual salary for the appointment will be determined in accordance with Tohoku University's employment regulations and will be based on the experience and performance of the candidate.

Special Funding & Duties:

Selected individuals will be provided with a start-up fund as a basis for research operations.

Welfare:

Successful individuals will be enrolled as a member of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Mutual Aid Association which will also provide health insurance for any dependents. Tohoku University will also provide pension insurance, employment insurance as well as industrial accident compensation insurance.

Annual Paid Leave:

Employees are entitled to twenty days annual paid leave per year. The number of days provided is reckoned as of January 1st. Each year, twenty days are added to any remaining paid leave from the previous calendar year (up to twenty days). Annual leave for the first year of employment is calculated based on the start date (e.g., a start date of April 1st would provide 15 days for the remaining nine months of the calendar year).

Tohoku University's DEI Promotion:

・Tohoku University promotes activities to enhance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Tohoku University's website about the DEI Declaration can be found here:

・For details on Tohoku University's research support, work-life balance support, and other initiatives related to DEI, as well as collaborative participation efforts, please visit the URL below.
Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Tohoku University Website:
Human Resources and Planning Department website (in Japanese only):

・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.

・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:

Posted on：March 4, 2026