Recruit information
※The 6th period (2014) open call for participants has ended.
In 2009, Kyoto University inaugurated the Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers, in which the University appoints promising young researchers as program-specific faculty members (associate professor/assistant professor under the annual salary system) and supports their research activities on themes of their own choices, so as to develop visionary researchers who will pioneer new paths in their respective academic fields. Kyoto University calls for applicants in 2014 as described below.
1.Objectives
Research activities at universities are driven by the researcher’s unlimited inspiration, intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm in quest of truth. Therefore it is of paramount importance to develop human resources with extraordinary creativity, originality and a willingness to take on new challenges over a wide variety of academic fields.
Fostering such human resources is also essential for Kyoto University. In response to the progress of globalization, it is particularly important to foster human resources with superb creativity, as well as broad perspectives and a flexible mindset, all of which are important to be able to pioneer new academic frontiers. With this view in mind, during 2009, Kyoto University inaugurated the Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers, in addition to augmenting efforts in various existing initiatives taken by individual faculties/schools. In the Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers, the university employs promising young researchers as program-specific faculty members (associate professor/assistant professor with an annual salary) and supports their research activities on themes of their own choosing.
2.Target Research Areas
Research programs in every range of basic and applied studies in all academic fields, from humanities to social and natural sciences.
【Reference】Research field
3.Eligibility
Researchers with a doctorate degree (or equivalent research abilities).
All nationalities are accepted.
Only those who have been hired in the Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers are not able to apply.
4.Employment
Up to 20 applicants will be appointed as program-specific faculty members (associate professor or assistant professor with an annual salary).
In principle, the term of appointment will begin on April 1, 2015. The term can be adjusted, however, according to the requirements of individual researchers.
5.Employment Conditions
Selected applicants will be appointed as program-specific full-time faculty members (associate professor or assistant professor with an annual salary under limited-term contracts) in compliance with the Rules of Employment for Fixed-Term Program-Specific Faculty Members. Although their period of service will be five years in principle, it may not extend over more than five academic years. These individuals will be referred to by the title of “Kyoto University Hakubi researcher” in recognition of their excellent research abilities to pioneer a new path in their respective academic fields.
6.Affiliation
To implement the Kyoto University Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers, the university has established the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University to which Hakubi researchers are affiliated.
7.Research Funds and Facilities
The university will provide each researcher with an annual research fund of approximately 1 to 4 million yen, depending on a number of factors such as the research plans of each individual. The center itself does not have any research facilities. Accordingly, individual researchers are asked to make their own arrangements where possible, by finding a “host” (researcher/institution/faculty) within Kyoto University that is willing to provide suitable research facilities.
8.Research Reports and Presentations
Researchers on this project shall prepare annual reports on their research activities, and are also required to give presentations on their research results at the end of their fixed term.
9.Screening Method
- Primary screening:
An expert committee at the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University from their respective academic fields will examine application documents, focusing on academic achievements and research plans. - Secondary screening:
The Hakuraku Council under the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University will conduct interviews. In addition to applicants’ academic achievements, the Council will evaluate their potential to become leading figures in the future global academic community. An additional interview will be carried by the President of Kyoto University or other individuals of similar standing. - Third screening:
The Steering Committee of the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University will make the final decision as to who is accepted as Hakubi researcher, considering the results of interviews held by the Hakuraku Council, etc.
The implementation site of interviews is in Yoshida Campus, Kyoto University.
10.Results of Screening
Results of the screening will be notified to all applicants by e-mail.
Please note that information on the process of the screening and reasons for pass/fail will not be provided.
11.To Apply
- Register the applicant’s information using the form available on the website below.
- When your online registration is completed successfully, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement (or confirmation) e-mail.
- Upload your proposal for the Kyoto University Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers on the website notified in the acknowledgement e-mail of the online registration.
- Applications will be accepted only after the online registration is completed and the proposal is uploaded. Please note that both conditions must be fulfilled for evaluations to be made.
“Guidelines for Preparing a Proposal Form” explains each section. Please read it before registering the online registration.
【Reference】Guidelines for Preparing a proposal
13:00 (Japan time), Thursday April 24, 2014 The deadline has passed.
12.Documents to Submit
13.Deadline
We must receive all necessary documents (online registration and uploaded proposal) by the dates and times as following:
Deadline for online registration:
13:00 (Japan time), Thursday April 24, 2014
Deadline for upload of proposal:
13:00 (Japan time), Thursday May 8, 2014
14.Hakubi Application Information Meeting
Meetings providing information on the Hakubi Project will be held as detailed below. Send an e-mail to register your participation to the e-mail address below, including your name, affiliation, position and telephone number. We must receive it at the latest, one day before each meeting, respectively.
However, you may participate in the meeting without prior registration.
E-mail address for registration of Information Meeting:
hakubi*mail.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp (Please replace “*” with “@”.)
[Information Meeting in Tokyo]
- Date and Hour: 18:00~, Monday, March 24, 2014
- Place: The Kyoto University Tokyo Office Conference Room 2, 3
http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/tokyo-office
[Information Meeting in Kyoto]
- Date and Hour: 18:00~, Wednesday, March 26, 2014
- Place: Inamori Hall, Shiran-Kaikan, Kyoto University
http://www.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp/shiran/
15.Contact Information
Please see more detailed information in FAQ.
【Reference】FAQ
If you have further inquiries, contact us either via e-mail or facsimile. Inquiries will not be accepted by phone.
The Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University
E-mail:hakubi*mail.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp (Please replace “*” with “@”.)
FAX:+81-75-753-5310
16.Note
- Personal information contained in the application documents will be used only for the purpose of screening applicants and recruiting procedure, never for any other purpose without applicants’ consent.
- Expenses needed to apply for this project shall be borne by applicants in principle.
- Kyoto University supports a gender-equal society. We hope that many female researchers will apply for the Hakubi Project.
[Data of applicants in 2013]
Number of applicants | Number of successful applicants | Competition rate |
644 | 20 | 32.2 times |
Number of applicants | Percentages(%) | Number of successful applicants | Percentages(%) | |
Male : Female | 499:145 | 77.5%:22.5% | 15:5 | 75.0%:25.0% |
Arts : Sciences | 289:355 | 44.9%:55.1% | 9:11 | 45.0%:55.0% |
Kyoto U Affiliate : Others | 147:497 | 22.8%:77.2% | 5:15 | 25.0%:75.0% |
Address Japan : Other Countries | 435:209 | 67.6%:32.5% | 9:11 | 45.0%:55.0% |
Associate Prof. : Assistant Prof. | 220:424 | 34.2%:65.8% | 5:15 | 25.0%:75.0% |
Average age (Associate Prof.) | - | - | 37.0 years old | - |
Average age (Assistant Prof.) | - | - | 31.3 years old | - |
* Classifications based on the proposals written by applicants
Recruit schedule
March 11th | Opening of application period |
March 24th March 26th | Briefings of open application in Tokyo Briefings of open application in Kyoto |
April 24th (at 13:00) | Deadline for website registration |
May 8th (at 13:00) | Deadline for upload proposal |
mid-May ~ | Screening of applications by Expert Committee |
August 23th August 24th | Interview by the Hakuraku Council |
September | Deliberation and determination of appointed researchers by Steering Committee |
Informal appointment for Hakubi researchers
To foster prospective young researchers, Kyoto University established the Kyoto University “Hakubi Project” to Foster and Support Young Researchers in 2009 and has accepted applications. Until now, strict examination has been held such as applicant screening by the expert committee of the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research and interview by the Hakuraku Council. As the results of deliberations by the Steering Committee of the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University decided informally 18 researchers who will be hired in the Kyoto University Hakubi Center for Advanced Research.
List of prospective Hakubi Researchers in the Kyoto University Hakubi Center for Advanced Research
Name | Research Topic | Position | Current Affiliation/Position |
---|---|---|---|
Mami Iima | Development of a New Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tool for Investigating Breast Cancer Using Diffusion Weighted MRI | Assistant Professor | JSPS Research Fellow (PD), Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University |
Kenta Ishimoto | Theoretical Hydrodynamics of Sperm Swimming | Assistant Professor | JSPS Research Fellow (DC1), Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University |
Atushi Uemine | Reconstruction of Early Palaeolithic history based on the novel research methods of lithic observation, excavation and dating. | Assistant Professor | Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, JSPS Research Fellow (PD) |
Teruaki Enoto | Fundamental Physics of Neutron Stars Studied via Cosmic X-rays | Associate Professor | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / RIKEN / JSPS SPD Fellow |
Gen Ohtuki | Physiological elucidation of the principle of learning and thought, and brain malfunction cure by focusing on the clonally-related cells. | Associate Professor | Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University |
Hirotoshi Ogihara | Propagation of the Maitreya-cult in Central Asia | Associate Professor | Institute for Historical and Philological Studies of China’s Western Regions, School of Chinese Classics, Renmin University of China |
Katushi Kagaya | Brain-body mechanism and its evolution of ultrafast movement in mantis shrimp | Assistant Professor | Department of Biology, Duke University |
Minsoo Kim | Deciphering the “Ubiquitin codes” | Associate Professor | University of Tokyo, Institute of Medical Science, Associate Professor (Project) |
Kenji Suetugu | Diverse interactions of heterotrophic plants with their hosts, pollinators and seed dispersers | Assistant Professor | Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, JSPS Research Fellow (PD) |
Aki Takigawa | Formation and Evolution of circumstellar dust: from evolved stars to the early solar system | Assistant Professor | Kyoto University, JSPS Research Fellow (SPD) |
Yusuke Torisawa | Development of biomimetic microsystems to reconstitute organ-level bone marrow function | Associate Professor | Harvard University, Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Research Associate |
Makoto Hayashi | Chromosome instability during telomere crisis stage in human somatic cells | Assistant Professor | Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Research Associate |
Hiroshi Harada | Developmental and Physiological Importance of Heterogeneous Oxygen Microenvironment in the Human Body | Associate Professor | Associate Professor, Kyoto University Hospital; JST PRESTO |
Yoshihiro Maruyama | Categorical Foundations of Mathematics, Physics, and Language, and a Unified Image of the World | Assistant Professor | University of Oxford, Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences Division, D.Phil. Student |
Yuji Murakami | Jewishness and Antisemitism in the works of Marcel Proust | Assistant Professor | École normal supérieure/République des savoirs : Lettres, sciences, philosophie (USR 3608), Research Fellow |
Shunsuke Yamana | Special values of automorphic L-functions and periods | Assistant Professor | Faculty of Mathematics, Kyushu University, Assistant Professor |
Asako Yamayoshi | Development of novel approaches for regulation of“RNA-Epigenetics” | Associate Professor | Kyoto Institute of Technology, Graduate School of Material and Science, Assistant Professor |
Werner Marcus Christian | Modified general relativity and gravitational lensing tests | Assistant Professor | Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo; Mathematics Department, Duke University |
Status of Application and Informal Appointment
Number of Applicants | Number of Informal Appointment | Competitive Ratio |
---|---|---|
585 people | 20 people | 29.3 times |
Number of Applicants | Ratio | Number of Informal Appointment | Ratio | |
Male/Female | 463 :122 | 79.1%:20.9% | 16 :4 | 80.0%:20.0% |
Humanities/Science Ratio | 191 :394 | 32.6%:67.4% | 6 :14 | 30.0%:70.0% |
On-campus/Off-campus Ratio | 144 :441 | 24.6%:75.4% | 6 :14 | 30.0%:70.0% |
Domestic/Overseas Ratio | 418:167 | 71.4%:28.6% | 13 :7 | 65.0%:35.0% |
Associate Professor/Assistant Professor Ratio | 171 :414 | 29.2%:70.8% | 9 :11 | 45.0%:55.0% |
Average age (Associate Professor) (Assistant Professor) | - | - | 37.8 | - |
- | - | 30.9 | - |
*Reprinted from proposal.