Group MMM at National Institute of Informatics, Tokyo, Japan, invites applications for postdoc and senior researcher positions. Besides this and this calls with specific scopes, this is a call for one or two researcher positions without specified topics.
JST ASPIRE Project
The positions are for the JST ASPIRE project “Network of Software Studies towards Social Trust in Information Technologies.” The project’s PI is Ichiro Hasuo, and it collaborates with, as overseas co-PIs, Bart Jacobs (Radboud U, Nijmegen, NL), Joost-Pieter Katoen (RWTH Aachen, DE), and Sam Staton (U Oxford, UK). Collaboration with their groups is pursued under mutual visits.
In the JST ASPIRE project, we aim to establish a general interface between society and emerging information technologies such as automated driving and generative AI. For human-centric adoption and development of those information technologies–-they are intrusive in the sense that they necessarily incur changes of the shape of our current society—transparent, explainable, and accountable safety guarantees are vital. We use cutting-edge software science techniques for this purpose, from abstract, mathematical, and categorical to concrete, heuristic, and algorithmic.
Job Description
This is a call for researchers at the JST ASPIRE project without specified topics. Relevant backgrounds include (but are not restricted to) formal methods, mathematical semantics, category theory, software science, programming languages, mathematical logic, control theory, machine learning, and optimization. Familiarity with formal logic is mandatory.
The group is hosted at National Institute of Informatics (NII), an institute that is dedicated to IT research and hosts 70+ faculty members and another 50+ researchers. The institute (together with our Group MMM) will provide you with a highly creative environment suited for conducting globally competitive research.
You should be (self-)motivated, dedicated, and able to work both independently and collaboratively. The project is of an interdisciplinary nature: breadth of interests beyond your own field and the willingness and ability to move back-and-forth between theory and practice are mandatory. Strong communication skills in oral/written English are required, too. The positions are initially until the end of a fiscal year (Mar 31), with the possibility of extension (maximum until the project ends in March 2029).
Senior Researchers
You will play a leading role in the research activities of the group, helping junior researchers and students when needed. You will also create new interdisciplinary collaborations, sometimes going beyond your original background. You need a PhD degree, a proven global publication record, and a record of research leadership. The annual gross salary is based on your qualifications; it starts at approximately JPY 6,000,000 (and goes potentially much higher). It is possible that you will be granted an academic title (like Project Assistant/Associate Professor).
Postdocs
You will pursue your research agenda, in line with the project’s goal of logical interface between society and ICT. You are strongly encouraged to spend at least 30% of your time for research beyond your core topic (e.g. working with people from different disciplines, and extending your realm in the theory-application spectrum). You need a PhD degree (or be close to completion) and a proven publication record. Experience of actively collaborating for publication is highly desirable. The annual gross salary is based on your qualifications; it starts at approximately JPY 4,260,000.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS
- Motivated and dedicated. Able to work both independently and collaboratively
- Eagerness to broaden their research scope. Courage to learn and experiment with new techniques
- Proven publication record
- Eagerness and experience in collaborative theoretical research
- PhD degree (or be close to completion)
- Eager to communicate and work with other team members
- Positive and easy-going
- Fluency in English, both orally and in paper writing
DESIRABLE SKILLS
The following skills are not at all mandatory. They however will be a plus
- Programming skills and experience
- (Japanese language skills will be useful for everyday life, but not mandatory at all)
Practical
- This call was posted in January 2025. It will remain open until the positions are filled. (There are this and this calls that we are currently advertising, too.)
- Annual gross salary: starting at JPY 4,260,000 yearly, gross. It depends on qualifications and experience; for senior researchers, it can go quite high
- The contract is initially until the end of a fiscal year (March 31), with the possibility of extension (maximum until the project ends in March 2029).
- Our admin staff will provide support for moving, visa application, etc.
- Starting date: as early as possible
- Location: Tokyo, Japan (you will need to move there)
APPLICATIONS AND INQUIRIES
Applications should be sent to application_eratommsd [at] group-mmm.org, with the subject “ASPIRE Researcher Application (Open Call).” Please include
- your brief CV,
- short description of research interests (can be very informal and short),
- the list of papers (a dblp or Google scholar link will do, for example),
- a couple of representative papers (in pdf), and
- the contact of two or more references (you can also send us their recommendation letters).
We will contact you for further material, provided that we find sufficient relevance in your application.
Inquiries should also be sent to application_eratommsd [at] group-mmm.org, with the subject “ASPIRE Researcher Inquiry (Open Call).”
LIVING AND WORKING IN TOKYO
We have employed 20+ researchers and scientific programmers from abroad–see our list of members/former members. We have ample experience supporting them in coming to and living in Tokyo.
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Something comparable to those in Europe and Canada. This also explains our salary range (that should not put you off just because it is below the US standard).
The income tax is lighter than in many European countries. Try https://japantaxcalculator.com/ for an idea.
PRICES
Tokyo is not an expensive city. On actual prices and availabilities you will find a lot of information sources on the web (including this). Some sample prices:
- An studio apartment, 30m2, 30min door-to-door to our Tokyo site: JPY 90,000 / month
- A 2-bedroom apartment, 40m2, 20min door-to-door to our Tokyo site: JPY 150,000 / month
- A 15-min metro ride: JPY 200
- A quick (but nice) Japanese set meal: JPY 800-1200
- An exquisite sushi set meal (which even locals rarely have): JPY 30,000
- A pint of beer: JPY 800
APARTMENTS
You can easily find an apartment using the following websites: www.sabbaticalhomes.com, www.sakura-house.com/en, gaijinpot.com, and others. (We have a more comprehensive list)
LANGUAGE
The working environment is totally in English, with more than half of the team coming from abroad. Japanese language skills will help everyday life, but one can definitely live without them, as we know from our colleagues’ experience.