ELSI Research Scientist Positions

Attn: we have currently filled all of our Research Scientist positions. Please contact individual Principal Investigators directly for other possibilities. Please check the website from time to time as positions may open up in the future. For questions, please contact recruitment@elsi.jp.

The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at the Tokyo Institute of Technology is now providing opportunities for ELSI Research Scientist positions.

ELSI aims to answer the fundamental questions of how the Earth was formed, how life originated in the environment of early Earth, and how this life evolved into complexity.

ELSI will pursue these questions by studying the "origin and evolution of life" and the "origin and evolution of the Earth" through an interdisciplinary collaboration between the fields of Earth, Life, and Planetary Sciences. By understanding the early Earth context that allowed for the rise of initial life, we will also contribute to a greater understanding of the likelihood of extraterrestrial life in our solar and exosolar systems.

ELSI is a young and innovative institute (launched Dec. 2012) with a vision to become a world-leading interdisciplinary research hub for Origins of Earth and Life studies. In order to succeed in this mission, ELSI seeks to assemble a team of talented, highly motivated individuals from around the world who wish to pursue original research and also actively engage in cross-disciplinary discussions and synergistic research projects. ELSI as a young institute will provide a unique opportunity for those who wish to play a contributing role in the direction and development of an exciting new research institute.

ELSI will provide the environment and assistance necessary to support this endeavor.

The ELSI Research Scientist positions provide highly flexible connections to ELSI Principal Investigators or research groups. A research fund of at least JPY 0.5 million/year up to JPY 1.0 million/year will be available to each scholar.

Tokyo is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world. ELSI is situated in the Meguro Ward of Tokyo, with convenient and quick train access to all major city centers and attractions. ELSI has experienced staff who are dedicated to providing full relocation assistance to ease the transition to Japan, including help with immigration procedures, housing, health care, and all other basic needs.

We welcome all qualified candidates, regardless of nationality or gender. We encourage and support our candidates' close collaborations with overseas research institutes. Our institutional language is English; Japanese language skills are not required.

Research fields

Scientific fields related to research themes pursued at ELSI include but are not limited to:

• Formation of the Earth
• Early Earth environment and evolution
• Deep Earth properties and dynamics
• Solar system exploration
• Formation and characterization of exoplanets
• Abiotic chemical evolution
• Origin of Life
• Early biological evolution
• Bacterial ecology
• Metagenomics
• High performance computing
• Bioinformatics
• Biogeochemical Cycling

Requirements

ELSI Research Fellows must hold a Ph.D. degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field at the time of appointment.

Number of Openings

Up to 20 positions are offered in the present recruitment.

Place of Work

Earth-Life Science Institute
Tokyo Institute of Technology
2-12-1-IE-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku
Tokyo 152-8550, Japan

Starting Date

January 1, 2014 or earliest possible date thereafter, preferably no later than September 2014. Please discuss with us if this schedule poses potential problems.

Period of Employment

Three years, with a possible extension to five based on performance.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: JPY 4,800,000 to JPY 7,000,000 per year (gross) depending on experience. From it, tax and social insurance costs will be further deducted.

Bonus and retirement allowances are not provided. The following social insurance is covered:

• Medical and dental insurance called "Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Mutual Society of Health Insurance" ("Monbukagakusho Kyousai Kumiai" in Japanese.)
• Employment Insurance ("Koyou Hoken")
• Worker's Accident Compensation Insurance ("Rosai Hoken")

Application Procedure

Please submit a cover letter and resume/curriculum vitae to recruitment@elsi.jp.
If you have any questions, please contact us by email and we will get back to you. Contact recruitment@elsi.jp

Deadline for Application

Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.