Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology - 2020 Application
Guidelines for Associate Professors (Tenure Track)
＜　Japanese Version　＞

1. Overview
  At Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), we are seeking three (3) associate professors for tenure-track positions in the research fields related to two (2) research area “Interdisciplinary Optics-Photonics Initiative for Life-Saving Early Diagnosis and Prevention Technology” and “Plastic-free society”. The tenure-track period will last five years.
  Appointees will be affiliated with the Organization for Promotion of Tenure-track in the Institute of Global Innovation Research (GIR) and will run their independent research laboratory while cooperating with the research institutions (either the Institute of Agriculture or the Institute of Engineering, depending on the appointee’s field of expertise). Appointees who produce outstanding achievements during the tenure-track period will be promoted to tenured positions. The appointees will receive favorable treatment regarding a startup budget, administration support, etc. Furthermore, they will be provided with an environment that enables them to focus on their research with fewer duties in lecture and administrative work. They will be expected to give lectures in their field of expertise at their cooperating departments and the graduate schools, and to supervise undergraduate and graduate students in their research. There will be tenure evaluation in the third and fifth year of the tenure-track period. If the outcome of the evaluation indicates that the appointee has produced promising or significant research, they will be promoted to the status of a tenured position. Those whose performance is especially remarkable may be promoted to a tenured position after the third year evaluation. Under our tenure-track system, we guarantee a tenured position for all who deserve it. Evaluation criteria will be established within six months of appointment, and tenure evaluations will be made based on the appointee’s research and teaching performance. (More details to follow.) As described later, the annual salary of tenure-track appointees is roughly equivalent to those of tenured faculty members.

2. Recruiting Fields
  TUAT is looking to hire three associate professors in the following seven (7) fields related to either one of the two (2) areas that TUAT is strengthening. We welcome not only existing research within the two research areas, but also research proposals that contribute to these two research areas through new approaches.

＜Research Area 1 “Interdisciplinary Optics-Photonics Initiative for Life-Saving Early Diagnosis and Prevention Technology” (JST-OPERA)＞
[Outline]
  There is an increasing need to establish health and medical services that cater to the aging society. This research initiative aims for a wide range of practical applications derived from the fundamental as well as interdisciplinary combination of key technologies in the fields of life science and veterinary medicine that are directly connected to life-saving early diagnosis and prevention; with the optical?photonic science which has a high affinity with other areas.
  International standardization and international deployment of our new technologies will lead to industrial restructuring and new market creation.

＜Research Area 2 “Plastic-free society”＞
[Outline]
 　This research initiative aims to solve various plastic issues that will lead to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and zero usage of oil-based plastics by 2050. Based on our “TUAT Plastic 5R Campus” activities announced in August 2019, researches that include development of cutting-edge new materials with a focus on industrialization of plastic substitutes will be promoted to contribute to the creation of a low environmental impact society.

＜Relevance to research area and desired human resources＞

 Research Field Code A: We are looking for candidates who take on the challenges of advanced themes such as the high production of raw material molecules for plastics by microorganisms, the search and development of plastic-degrading microorganisms and enzymes (e.g., the synthesis of novel acid amides, and the degradation of petroleum-based polymers with carbon-carbon bonds as the main chain). We seek those who will be responsible for the education and management of TUAT after obtaining tenure.

 Research Field Code B: This field aims to clarify homeostatic control mechanisms at the molecular level by using visualization and quantification of dietary metabolites for application in prevention medicine and technology. We are looking for candidates with high aspirations who can conduct original research as a principal investigator in independent laboratory based on multi-disciplinary research that integrates different fields such as agriculture, engineering, medicine and pharmacology. We are looking for candidates who contribute to education in food and nutrition science as well as management of TUAT after obtaining tenure.

 Research Field Code C: We are looking for candidates who will conduct research on the interactions among organisms such as insects, plants, microorganisms, and soil microorganisms in the phytosphere leading to the establishment of new pest control technology using optical-photonic science technology, and those who can enthusiastically work on the education in the Division of Bioregulation and Biointeraction in the future.

 Research Field Code D: We are looking for candidates who research for technology that can detect viruses in a non-destructive way using optical?photonic science technology, and to predict infectious diseases that may emerge in the future by analyzing mutation mechanisms in virus genomes (KT5: prediction of the future of infectious diseases/illnesses and preventive measures), and thereby develop measures that can respond to the next coronavirus.

 Research Field Code E: We are looking for candidates who are capable of conducting world-leading education and research in the fields of systems biology and biotechnology to understand biological phenomena and biosynthetic processes as systems. We are looking for candidates who engage in applied research in the medical-related industries and the bioindustry, which are promoted in the areas, by utilizing metabolic engineering, multi-omics analysis, bioinformatics, etc.

 Research Field Code F: We are looking for candidates who can conduct advanced pioneering research concerning early diagnosis and prevention that is directly connected to medical innovation, by making use of the state-of-the-art electron/photon/quantum technologies with optical?photonic science technology as the basis; and by combining life sciences and veterinary medicine in an interdisciplinary way. The successful candidate will run an independent research laboratory and undertake teaching duties in Department of Biomedical System Engineering.

 Research Field Code G: We are looking for candidates who can conduct research that aims to adopt concepts of life cycle assessment in “kotozukuri” (creation of things and values) and “monozukuri” (art of making things) while incorporating new informatics methods, such as AI and quantum calculation, and capturing the entire process from raw materials to material lifespan in order to become a driving force in efforts to preserve global environment and build a sustainable society.

3. Application Requirements
  Applicants must have a doctoral degree, and be engaged in original research in one of the above fields and/or on the teaching and research themes. He/she is expected to have research experiences as a postdoctoral fellow, a research associate or a researcher in academia or industries for several years. The applicants must have a doctoral degree which was obtained within around 10 years at the time of application deadline.

4. Selection Process
  The selection process consists of two stages: a category/field-specific pre-selection, and a final selection encompassing all categories. Both will entail interviews and paper-based screening. TUAT’s selection process emphasizes the following elements:
 　　 ・　Whether the candidate has produced internationally recognized, outstanding achievements in the course of his/her research.
 　　 ・　Whether he/she can contribute to education in departments and graduate schools in related fields.
 　　 ・　Whether he/she is engaged in original research that has social impact.
 　　 ・　Whether he/she can help promote international joint research and publish international collaborative papers.

5. Startup and Research Budgets, Research Space
  Each appointee will be provided with 4.5 million yen for the first year as a startup fund. For the remaining years, annual research budget which is equal to that of the tenured faculty members will be provided. Independent research space will be allocated when the individuals take up the positions.

6. Additional Duties and How Tenure Is Granted
  The tenure-track associate professors in TUAT are required to accomplish advanced research achievements through international collaborative research and internationally co-authored papers due to the nature of this initiative.
  He/she is required to join in the project in the research area 1 or 2 related to their research field, and to contribute to the research promotion. The applicants will also receive assistance from Research Area Projects.
  Mid-term evaluation will be conducted in the third year of appointment; especially remarkable researchers will be promoted to a tenured position at this time. A final evaluation will be conducted in the fifth year. Under our Tenure-track system, we prepare a tenured position for all who deserve it; therefore, those who have achieved excellent results will all be promoted to a tenured position. Those who fail to pass the final evaluation will resign at the end of the tenure-track period,and he/she is allowed to be appointed as an associate professor for special affairs for a maximum of one year.

7. Teaching Work
 As future tenured faculty, appointees will be responsible for the education of TUAT's students. They will therefore be required to give lectures in their field of expertise at affiliated departments and graduate schools, and to supervise undergraduate and graduate students in their research.

8. Salary
  Annual salary will be from about 6,300,000 to 7,000,000 yen. This is roughly equivalent to the salary of tenured associate professors, and the exact amount is determined based on TUAT's regulations taking into account the appointee's previous career, his/her research achievement, and other elements.

9. Institute of Affiliation and Place of Work
 Affiliation: Organization for Promotion of Tenure-track, Institute of Global Innovation Research,
 　　Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
 Institution name: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
 Type of institution: National University Corporation
 Location: 3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8538, Japan
 Place of work: One of the following (determined by the appointee’s partner institution)
 　　Koganei Campus, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
 　　Fuchu Campus, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan

10. Duration of Tenure-track Period
  Five years from the time of appointment
(if the appointee is found to satisfy preset criteria in the course of tenure evaluation based on his/her research and teaching performance during the tenure-track period, he/she will be promoted to a tenured position)

11. Time of Appointment (To be changed)
  As early as possible after October 1, 2020.

12. How to Apply and Documents Required
  Fill in the required entries on the application web form under URLs below, and submit it together with the following set of application documents. We will not accept any applications submitted via e-mail or on paper for any of the listed fields (submission via post is limited to recommendation letters). Before applying, make sure to read below.
  Personal information relating to applications will be handled in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Law and TUAT's regulations. The application will not be disclosed; however, it may require inquiries for the selection process. Note that the application documents will not be returned.

＜TUAT Application Form (Online System)＞
 　　 http://web.tuat.ac.jp/~tuatgir/tt/2020koubo/tt-application.html

＜Application Documents＞
 　　 (1) Application form
 　　 　 (Attach portrait, download the form from the website below, convert to pdf before submitting.)
 　　 　　Link to application form:
 　　　　 http://web.tuat.ac.jp/~tuatgir/tt/2020koubo/form2020-en.docx
 　　 (2) Photographic portrait (jpg) (attach the same data as that of the photograph attached to the application form)
 　　 (3) Offprints of your major publications (PDF) (up to 5; at least 1 is required)
 　　 (4) Summary of previous research results (PDF) (up to 2 pages including figures).
 　　 (5) Overview of research plan at TUAT (PDF) (up to 2 pages including figures)
 　　 (6) Educational achievements and plan (PDF) (up to 1 A4 page)
 　　 (7) Recommendation letter(s), if possible (PDF or Postal Mail) (A4 paper, free format, either signed or sealed by the recommender)
 　　 * Documents (4), (5), and (6) should be prepared in a way that allows us to judge how your research and teaching relate to and contribute to Area 1 or Area 2. We welcome not only existing research within the two research areas, but also research proposals that contribute to these two research areas through new approaches.

Points to Note
 　　1) All documents can be prepared in English or in Japanese. In case of submitting all documents in Japanese, (3) and (4) must be prepared both in English and in Japanese.
 　　2) The data capacity for each uploaded file is limited by system configurations. (The maximum data size for each file is shown on the website.)
 　　3) Recommendation letter may be sent by postal mail, but all other documents (above mentioned (1) to (6)) must be submitted through website. Make sure to write on the envelope "Recommendation Letter for the Tenure-Track Position” if it is sent by postal mail.
 　　Recommendation letter must indicate applicant’s full name and the research field he/she is applying for. It can be sent either from applicants or directly from recommenders.

 　　　The mailing address for the recommendation letter:
 　　　　 　Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
 　　　　 　Research Support Office
 　　 　　　3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, 183-8538, Japan

13. Deadline for Application (To be postponed)
  June 11, 2020, 4:00 p.m. (Japan time) The application site will be closed at this time and date.
  Recommendation letters must be postmarked by the date shown above, if sent via postal mail.
  More information is available at the TUAT Website below.
 　　 http://www.tuat.ac.jp/en/outline/kyousyoku/kyouin/

14. Selection Schedule (Schedule has been changed)
  Pre-selection (interview and application document review by field): until middle July
  Final selection (TUAT-level interview and application document review): August 1 or 2 (tentative)
  Appointment: Beginning in October 2020

15. Inquiries (including contacts for general questions on application)
  If at all possible, use the inquiry form below to make sure that TUAT staff will contact you.

TUAT Application Inquiry Form
 　　 http://web.tuat.ac.jp/~tuatgir/tt/2020koubo/inquiry.html

Organization for Promotion of Tenure-track System, Application Office
 　　 E-Mail: t-track[a]cc.tuat.ac.jp (for inquiries, please substitute the @ symbol for “[a]”)