7th batch (2016)

Recruit information
【Global Type】

※The 7th period (2017) open call for participants has ended.

In 2009, Kyoto University inaugurated the Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers (“the Project”), in which the University appoints promising young researchers to support their research activities as world-leading researchers and to develop visionary researchers who will pioneer new paths in their respective academic fields.

Following the past recruitment system, the Project newly introduces 2 types of appointment【Global Type】, and【Tenure-track Type】, part of “the Leading Initiative for Excellent Young Researchers (LEADER)” subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan (MEXT).

This Call for Researcher Applications is the announcement of【Global Type】. Detailed information of【Tenure-track Type】will be announced on the website of the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research around the beginning of April 2016.

1.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

2.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.

3.Employment

Around 10 applicants will be appointed.

4.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.
  • Their affiliation will be the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research (“the Center”), Kyoto University.
  • The term of appointment will begin on October 1st 2016 in principle, but can be adjusted according to the requirements of individual researchers.
  • The period of service will be five years in principle.
  • The Center 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Researchers on this project shall prepare annual reports on their research activities, and are also are required to give presentations on their research results at the end of their fixed term. Although self-assessment shall be implemented by the regulation of Kyoto University, the Center does not conduct any appraisals.

5.Screening Method

Primary screening

An expert committee at the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University from the applicant’s 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.

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 a Hakubi researcher, considering the results of interviews held by the Hakuraku Council, etc.
Interviews will be held in Yoshida Campus, Kyoto University.

6.Results of Screening

Results of the screening will be sent 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.

7.How to Apply / Deadline

  1. Register the applicant’s information using the form available on the website below.
  2. When your online registration is completed successfully, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement (or confirmation) e-mail.
  3. Upload your proposal for the Kyoto University Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers [Global Type] on the website notified in the acknowledgement e-mail of the online registration.
  4. 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 Form

Registration form

13:00 (Japan time), Monday April 11, 2016 The deadline has passed.

Deadline for online registration

13:00 (Japan time), Monday April 11, 2016

Deadline for upload of proposal

Proposal
13:00 (Japan time), Monday April 25, 2016
*We will send an acknowledgement email of your application within a week from the Deadline for upload of proposal. If you did not receive an email, please contact
hakubi*mail.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp (Please replace “*” with “@”).

8.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]

[Information Meeting in Kyoto]

9.Contact Information

Please see more detailed information in FAQ.
【Reference】FAQ
If you have further inquiries, contact us either via e-mail. 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 “@”.)

10.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.
  • If you have any further questions regarding this application procedure, please refer to the FAQ pages.

Recruit schedule
【Global Type】

February 25thOpening of application period
March 3rd
March 9th
Briefings of open application in Tokyo
Briefings of open application in Kyoto
April 11th (at 13:00)Deadline for website registration
 
April 25th (at 13:00)Deadline for upload proposal
 
Mid-May ~Screening of applications
July 31stInterview by the Hakuraku Council
August 5thDetermination of appointed researchers by Steering Committee

Informal appointment for
Hakubi researchers【Global Type】

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 10 researchers who will be hired in the Kyoto University Hakubi Center for Advanced Research.

List of prospective Hakubi Researchers【Global Type】in the Kyoto University Hakubi Center for Advanced Research

NameResearch TopicPositionCurrent Affiliation/Position
Kenichi AmemoriMeasuring and Navigating Primates’ Cerebral Cortex Circuits To Control Anxiety and ConflictAssociate ProfessorMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Research Scientist
Kazushi IwaoWorld Order and Diplomacy on Eastern Eurasia during the 7th and 13th CenturiesAssociate ProfessorVisiting Researcher, Kobe City University of Foreign Studies
Atsushi KanazawaCalabi-Yau manifolds and mirror symmetryAssistant ProfessorHarvard University, Postdoctoral fellow
Norita KawanakaUnderstanding and observing radiation from astrophysical transientsAssociate ProfessorAssistant professor, Department of Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo
Woodae KimReconsidering Actual Conditions and Social Progress in Interactions with the Kofun Era Korean PeninsulaAssistant ProfessorAssociate Fellow, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
Yusuke TakahashiLongitudinal behavioral genetic study on emotion regulation from infancy through adolescenceAssociate ProfessorAssociate Professor, Division of Cognitive Psychology in Education, Graduate School of Education, and Collaborative Graduate Program in Design, Kyoto University
Keisuke HuziwaraFrom Modern Language to Dead Language: The Case of Tibetan, Burmese, and Luish Language GroupsAssociate ProfessorVisiting Research Fellow, Kobe City University of Foreign Studies
Yusuke BesshoChina-Facing Nepal: Development Investment and ‘Buddhist Politics’ in the Chinese-Indian Border RegionsAssociate ProfessorResearch Fellow, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University
Masayuki HorieArcheology of the RNA Virus: Biological Experiments and Evolutionary AnalysisAssociate ProfessorAssistant professor, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University
Shosuke YoshidaMultifaceted survival strategies of environmental microorganismsAssociate ProfessorDepartment of Polymer Chemistry, Kyoto University

Status of Application and Informal Appointment

Number of ApplicantsNumber of Informal AppointmentCompetitive Ratio
483 people11 people43.9 times
Number of ApplicantsRatioNumber of Informal AppointmentRatio
Male/Female382:10179.1%:20.9%11:0100.0%:0.0%
Humanities/Science161:32233.3%:66.7%5:645.5%:54.5%
On-campus/Off-campus126:35726.1%:73.9%2:918.2%:81.8%
Domestic/Overseas357:12673.5%:26.5%9:281.8%:18.2%
Associate Professor/Assistant Professor157:32632.5%:67.5%9:281.8%:18.2%
Average age
(Associate Professor)
(Assistant Professor)
38.0
31.0

*Reprinted from proposal.

【Tenure-track Type】
Hiring decision

In 2009, Kyoto University inaugurated the Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers (“the Project”), in which the University appoints promising young researchers to support their research activities as world-leading researchers and to develop visionary researchers Following the past recruitment system, the Project newly introduces 2 types of appointment【Global Type】, and【Tenure-track Type】, part of “the Leading Initiative for Excellent Young Researchers (LEADER)” subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan (MEXT). As a result, 5 researchers are hired.

List of researchers in【Tenure-track Type】

NameName of DepartmentResearch Field
(Field)
Research Field
(Discipline)
PostWorking Form
Yuki KurashigeGraduate School of ScienceChemistryBasic chemistryAssociate ProfessorTenure-track Type
Yuichiro AndoGraduate School of EngineeringInterdisciplinary science and engineeringApplied physicsAssociate ProfessorTenure-track Type
Itaru ImayoshiGraduate School of BiostudiesBiologyBiological scienceAssociate ProfessorTenure-track Type
Satoko SuzukiGraduate School of ManagementSocial scienceManagementAssociate ProfessorTenure-track Type
Yusuke IsonoResearch Institute for Mathematical SciencesMathematical and physical sciencesMathematicsAssistant Professor RatioTenure-track Type

About “the Leading Initiative for Excellent Young Researchers (LEADER)”

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Website Link
http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/jinzai/takuetsu/index.htm

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Website Link
http://www.jsps.go.jp/j-le/index.html