Associate Professor, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Submission Information
Publish Date: 
Friday, June 14, 2019
Archive Date: 
Friday, August 30, 2019
Job Summary
Job Category: 
Faculty Positions (tenure and tenure-track)
Institution Classification/Type: 
Foreign
Institution/Company: 
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Department Name: 
ALMA Project
Street Line 1: 
2-21-1, Osawa
City: 
Mitaka
State/Province: 
Tokyo
Country: 
Japan
Announcement
Job Announcement Text: 

NAOJ announces an Associate Professor position for a person with deep knowledge in Radio Astronomy and Interferometry who leads Solar science with ALMA and contributes to discussion on future Solar science in NAOJ.

1. Job Title: Associate Professor, one position

2. Division and Location: ALMA Project, NAOJ, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan

3. Area of Expertise: Solar Physics, Radio Astronomy, and Interferometry

4. Job Description:

The ALMA telescope is currently the most powerful mm/sub-mm wave astronomical facility on ground. As such, Solar Physics can benefit from the information obtained from Solar Observations in this part of the electromagnetic spectrum with ALMA. Solar Observations with ALMA are however challenging and very specialized due to the nature of the astronomical source: extremely bright and extended.

This position is for a Solar Scientist with the appropriate background in radio astronomy, which can lead the commissioning of new Solar Observation capabilities of ALMA such as wide field polarization observations with high resolution and produce ground-breaking scientific results in Solar science with ALMA. The successful candidate is expected to lead ALMA solar activities (commissioning, observations, publications, science promotion) in Japan, working closely with the ALMA Project Scientist, and the East Asia ARC (ALMA Regional Center) Manager. In particular, he/she will be expected to perform unique and innovative scientific research with ALMA which leads to high impact publications.

In addition, the field of Solar Observations is multi-wavelength and multi-platform in nature, and requires not only radio observations but also observations in other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum (IR to X-rays), from on-ground facilities and from space telescopes. The possibility that the successful candidate could provide the necessary leadership among these different fields and communities and exploit the synergies among facilities while leading international efforts in Solar commissioning and Solar science with ALMA will be evaluated positively. In such a case, the successful candidate would also be expected to contribute to other projects in NAOJ, such as the NAOJ Solar Science Observatory, as appropriate.

The successful candidate must have good communication skills, good English proficiency, and if possible, proven experience of successful work in English in large international multicultural teams.

This Solar Scientist will assign around 70% of his/her working time for the above duties. In addition, he/she will assign around 30% of his/her time for ARC duty as a team member of the EA-ARC, mostly related to Solar activities. The Science Operations tasks conducted by the team include:

- Support of preparation of ALMA observations or evaluation/reduction of the observed ALMA data;

- Promotion of science with ALMA by contributions at science meetings and ALMA East Asian Users Meeting;

5. Terms of Appointment:

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 professor reaches NAOJ's mandatory retirement age of 65.

6. Minimum Academic Requirements:

(1) Ph.D. or equivalent in astronomy or related fields;

(2) Knowledge on astronomy in general, and solar physics, in particular;

(3) Willingness to do observational research using radio astronomy instruments;

(4) Capability to join, discuss and collaborate in English-speaking teams;

(5) Willingness to collaborate with the members of EA-ARC and other ARCs in doing science verification and user support.

7. Required Application Materials: (*To be prepared in English. Any other language will not be accepted)

(1) Cover letter;

(2) Curriculum vitae;

(3) Publications list (Separate refereed and non-refereed papers. SPIE can be included in refereed papers.);

(4) Summary of your past research activities including international collaborations;

(5) Your plans to fulfill the responsibilities and aspirations for the position (including your research plan as needed);

(6) Your easily reachable contact information (e-mail and phone) and the e-mail address of your current supervisor or line manager.

(7) Five or more reference letters. Note that your current supervisor or line manager cannot serve as a reference. Please ask your references to send a letter as an e-mail attachment to the submission address shown in 9. (1). Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the letters arrive before the application deadline. (Reference letters should be written by faculty/staff with tenured positions, and no more than one reference letter will be accepted from each country.)

8. Application Deadline: 2019 August 30, 17:00 (Japan Standard Time)

9. Submission:

(1) E-mail your application documents to:

(E-mail address) apply-alma-assocprof20190830_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @)

(Subject of e-mail) “Application for ALMA Solar Scientist”

10. Notes for application:

•Convert each application documents (from 7.(1) through 7.(6) above) into a separate PDF file and attach them to your application e-mail

•Make PDF files with appropriate resolution so that they won’t be too large (file size: up to 10 MB)

•Upon receipt of your application, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. If you do not receive any response from NAOJ within 3 working days, please contact:

(E-mail address): apply-alma-assocprof20190830_AT_nao.ac.jp (replace _AT_ with @)

•Candidates selected in the final short list may be interviewed by the selection committee either via internet or face-to-face. The expense for travel to the interview will not be covered by NAOJ.

•If the selection committee deems that there is no qualified candidate for this position, it is possible no one will be selected.

11. Remarks

•The NAOJ Advisory Committee for Research and Management will make the final decision for the appointment.

•Policy for Equal Employment Opportunity: Abiding by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act for Men and Women, NAOJ is committed to the realization of 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 http://open-info.nao.ac.jp/danjokyodo/

Application Deadline: 
Friday, August 30, 2019
Selection Deadline: 
Friday, November 15, 2019
Current Status of Position: 
Accepting Applicants
Apply to Job
Attention To: 
Masao Saito
Title: 
Director of Research coordination
Inquiries About Job
Attention To: 
Alvaro Gonzalez
Subject: 
Question on Associate Professor of ALMA Project in NAOJ