CfA: Postdoctoral Fellow at Tokyo College
About Tokyo College
Tokyo College is an international institute for advanced study based at the University of Tokyo (UTokyo). Our mission is to serve as an interface between UTokyo and researchers/research institutions around the world and create a shared vision of an ideal future with people from across the globe and to take action together to pursue its realization. Leading scholars, promising early-career researchers, and influential intellectuals from overseas gather and stay at Tokyo College, where they have frequent opportunities to exchange ideas with our scholars and students, creating synergy and generating new knowledge, which help us shape our future. Knowledge created by these activities is delivered directly to the public through lectures, seminars, and symposia organized by Tokyo College.
1. Job Title
Postdoctoral Fellow at Tokyo College, the University of Tokyo
2. Field of Expertise
Tokyo College is looking to invite researchers from all disciplines including the humanities, social sciences, sciences, engineering and medicine under the research theme „The Earth and Human Society in 2050“ to carry out interdisciplinary collaboration that will contribute to the realization of a sustainable and inclusive future for humanity. Applicants’ field of expertise should be related to one or more of the following five research themes.
A. Digital Revolution and the Future of Humanity
B. Sustainable Futures on a Damaged Planet
C. Japan Viewed from the Inside and Outside
D. The Humanities, Society, and the Future of Academic Knowledge
E. Life and its Value for Future Society
3. Job Description
Tokyo College promotes interdisciplinary thinking and research, and fosters an inclusive research community of scholars from all over the world.
• Postdoctoral fellows are expected to: pursue their own research objectives through an interdisciplinary lens;
• undertake collaborative research with researchers both within and outside of Tokyo College;
• actively expand interdisciplinary research collaborations and networks within the country and overseas;
• actively attend or host research seminars at Tokyo College, including online seminars/events to be broadcasted;
• pursue public engagement, such as outreach and social/cultural/artistic activities that connect with constituencies beyond academia.
4. Terms
The appointment must start on either April 1, July 1, October 1, or December 1, 2025. It is a fixed-term, three-year contract without extension.
5. Eligibility
A Ph.D. obtained within five years prior to the contract start date. Applicants scheduled to receive a Ph.D. degree before the start date are also eligible to apply. We encourage applicants, where relevant, to include a statement regarding career interruptions in their CV. (Note: We will consider extensions of this eligibility period for career interruptions. For a list of career interruptions, please see the FAQ on our website at Tokyo College Job Recruitment)
https://www.tc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/recruit/12916
• Good communication skills in English. No Japanese language skills are required. Although English is the main language of communication in Tokyo College, we strongly encourage applications from those with diverse cultural or linguistic backgrounds. We also encourage applications from promising scholars who have had no or limited opportunities to be based at Japanese institutions and wish to build academic networks in Japan and abroad.
6. Compensation & Benefits
● Work environment: office space and access to UTokyo resources
● Annual gross salary of JPY 6,000,000 plus benefits (may increase depending on annual performance)
● Commuter allowance: Maximum JPY 55,000 per month
● Social Insurance: Eligible for MEXT* Mutual Aid Association membership, employees’ pension, unemployment insurance, and workers’ accident compensation insurance (*MEXT: Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
● Vacation: Annual paid vacation, sick leave (paid), special vacation (paid)
● Research fund: Maximum JPY 1,000,000 per annum will be provided to cover research related expenses, including books or references, travel expenses, etc.
● Relocation support for researchers from overseas: Tokyo College will provide support including obtaining a work visa and finding accommodation
7. Employment Status and Working Hours
In principle, postdoctoral fellows are employed full-time by the University of Tokyo. The working hours may be made more flexible by adopting a discretionary labor system (exemption system) for this position and are left to the employees’ discretion. Other terms and conditions on this employment status shall be subject to the University of Tokyo working regulations.
Further information: Postdoctoral Position at Tokyo College – Tokyo College (u-tokyo.ac.jp)