April, 24. 2025
Kouki Hikosaka
Dean, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University
Open Call for Full Professor or Tenure-Track Associate Professor
Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University
Dear Sir/Madam,
I hope this letter finds you well.
We are pleased to announce an open call for one Professor or Tenure-Track Associate Professor position in the Department of Molecular and Chemical Life Sciences Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in disseminating this information to qualified individuals and in recommending suitable candidates.
Sincerely,
Kouki Hikosaka
1. Position: Full Professor or Tenure-Track Associate Professor (1 position)
2. Affiliation: Department of Molecular and Chemical Life Sciences, Division of Chemical Biology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University
3. Specialized Field and Qualifications: Applicants should conduct pioneering research in life sciences based on organic chemistry, demonstrate a strong commitment to compliance, and show enthusiasm for undergraduate and graduate education as well as administration.
4. Teaching Responsibilities: The successful candidate will teach an undergraduate course (Chemistry and Life Science) within the Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, in addition to their responsibilities in the Graduate School. They may also be assigned to teach general university education courses.
- Chemistry and Life Science comprises nine laboratories: (1) Food and Biomolecular Science; (2) Nutrition; (3) Bioorganic Chemistry of Natural Products; (4) Food Function Analysis; (5) Terahertz Optical and Food Engineering; (6) Applied Biological Molecular Science*; (7) Bioactive Molecules*; (8) Analytical Bioorganic Chemistry*; and (9) Biostructural Chemistry*.
- The four laboratories marked with asterisks (*) are collaborative fields with faculty members from the Graduate School of Life Sciences.
- This course focuses on the structure and properties of molecules that constitute food, natural products, and their source organisms, as well as their nutritional physiology and functionality of when ingested by humans or animals.
- Chemistry and Life Sciences primarily uses chemistry-based methods.
5. Start Date: April 1, 2026 (tentative)
6. Application Documents:
Documents may be submitted in either Japanese or English.
[Submission Document A]: A single PDF file containing items (1)–(10)
1) Curriculum Vitae
- Format-free
- Photo and gender information are optional.
2) List of Research Achievements
- Categorize by type: original papers, reviews, books, invited lectures, etc.
- Indicate corresponding authorship with an asterisk (*)
3) Summary of Previous Research
- Approximately 2,000 characters in Japanese or 1,200 words in English
4) Descriptions of Five Major Publications
- Approximately 1,000 characters in Japanese or 600 words in English (combined for all five publications)
5) Research Plan and Aspirations Post-Appointment
- Approximately 1,500 characters in Japanese or 1,000 words in English
6) Summary of Educational Experience and Future Educational Policies
- Approximately 1,500 characters in Japanese or 1,000 words in English
7) 10-Year Record of Competitive Research Funding
- Indicate whether the applicant served as principal investigator or co-investigator
8) Additional Information
- Include any other relevant achievements or activities, such as awards, symposium organization, participation in academic societies, editorial board membership of academic journals, patent applications, and international collaborative research.
9) References
- Names, affiliations, and contact information for two individuals familiar with the applicant’s qualifications and professional experience
10) Statement on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
- Discuss experience and aspirations for DEI efforts at the university
- Approximately 1,000 characters in Japanese or 600 words in English
11) Research Identifiers
- Include Scopus author ID, researchmap ID, ORCID, Web of Science, and/or Google Scholar profile
[Submission Document B]: A separate PDF file containing item (12)
12) PDF Copies of Five Major Publications
Corresponding with those listed and described in item (4)
7. Application Deadline: Friday, July 11, 2025
8. Application Method:
Please complete the required fields on the web application form
(https://forms.gle/zjjofxG5C3dmzfU58) and upload your application materials as instructed. Submission Documents A and B should be uploaded as two separate PDF files named “[Your Name]_A” and “[Your Name]_B”, respectively. If you are unable to submit your application via the URL above, please contact us using the information below.
9. Inquiries:
We accept general inquiries via email. If your matter is urgent, please contact us via phone call.
Minoru Ishikawa (Chair of the Professor Selection Committee, Department of Chemical Biology)
Tel: 022-217-6197
Email: minoru.ishikawa.e4@tohoku.ac.jp
For questions about application procedures or employment benefits, please contact the General Affairs Section, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University.
Tel: 022-217-5702
Email: lif-soumu@grp.tohoku.ac.jp
10. Compensation:
- Annual Salary System (According to the rules of Tohoku University).
- Transportation, housing, and dependent allowances may be provided depending on conditions.
- Working hours: Discretionary Working System for Professional Work. Flexible Work Hours: As a basis, 8:30 – 17:15, but left up to the discretion of each employee.
- Holidays: Saturday, Sunday, holidays prescribed by the National Holiday Act, the days from December 29 to January 3.
- Insurance: Admission into the Mutual Aid Association of MEXT, Unemployment Insurance, Worker’s Compensation Insurance.
11. Other Information:
- Short-listed candidates may be invited for an interview.
- The professor and tenure-track associate professor will be expected to run an independent laboratory.
- If hired as a tenure-track associate professor (five-year term), a tenure review will be conducted before the expiration of the term. If approved, a tenured professor position will be offered. If not approved, a term extension of up to two years may be granted upon review.
- An assistant professor will be assigned after the appointment.
- A dual-career system is available to assist with employment of spouses as faculty or staff members of the university. Please inquire if applicable.
- For more information about the Graduat School of Life Sciences, visit: https://www.lifesci.tohoku.ac.jp/en/
- Tohoku University promotes diversity and welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds. For information about the university's support for work-life balance and DEI initiatives, please view: https://dei.tohoku.ac.jp/en/
- The university may give preference to applicants to applicants from underrepresented groups in terms of gender, nationality, cultural background, etc., provided applicants’ abilities are deemed equivalent based on a fair evaluation.
- Tohoku University has the largest on-campus childcare system among Japanese national universities, including three nurseries. Kawauchi Keyaki Nursery School (capacity: 22) and Aobayama Midori Nursery School (capacity: 116) are open to all university employees. Hoshinoko Nursery School (capacity: 120) is open to employees working at Tohoku University Hospital. In addition, Tohoku University Hospital has a childcare room for mildly ill or convalescent children, open to all university employees.
- For more information on the university’s support for parenting and research activities (including measures to promote childcare leave for male faculty member), please refer to the following URLs:
i) Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
https://dei.tohoku.ac.jp/en/vision/consulting/for_family/
ii) Human Resources and Planning Department (Japanese only): https://c.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/jinji-top/external/a-4-kosodate/