The Hakubi Project

｜　JAPANESE　｜

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

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 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

13:00 (Japan time), Thursday April 24, 2014 The deadline has passed.

12．Documents to Submit

Proposal

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.

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]

* Classifications based on the proposals written by applicants