【Job Description】
Tenure-track Associate or Assistant Professor [Female Only]
WPI Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University was established in October 2017 as a World-class research center under the World Premier International Research Center (WPI) program of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). At NanoLSI, the world’s most advanced bio-SPM (Scanning Probe Microscopy) technology and supramolecular chemistry technology are combined and developed, and we develop nanoprobe technology to directly observe, analyze, and manipulate the dynamics of
proteins, metabolites, and nucleic acids in the surface and interior of living cells at the nanoscale. Then, based on these innovative nanoprobe technologies, we aim to fundamentally understand the mechanisms of basic functions of living cells at the nanoscale through the integrated use of knowledge from “cancer” research and computational science.
We are seeking a tenure-track associate professor to promote interdisciplinary research in “nanoprobe life sciences” or related interdisciplinary fields as a Jr. PI (an independent researcher similar to a PI) at the WPI Nano Life Science Institute. The target fields should be “nanometrology and related fields”. In addition, the associate professor may be asked to be in charge of education at the Division of Nano Life Science in the Graduate School of Frontier Science Initiative and may also be asked to be in charge of related undergraduate education.
【Workplace Address】
WPI Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University (Kakuma Campus, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, 920-1192, Japan)
【Recruitment Capacity】
One position
【Type of Work】
Full-time, tenure-track (The term of tenure-track will be five years from the date of employment.)
Application Requirements
(1) Must be female.
*Article 8 of the Equal Employment Opportunity Law. The employment of female faculty members is limited as a measure to actively improve the current situation in which the percentage of female faculty members is considerably low.
(2) Must have outstanding research achievements in “nanometrology and related fields” and be willing to promote interdisciplinary research in “life sciences,” “supramolecular chemistry,” and “mathematical and computational sciences” based on those research achievements.
(3) Must have good communication skills in English.
(4) Must be able to conduct independent research activities and to manage a team.
(5) Must have a doctoral degree (including equivalent degrees such as a PhD from overseas universities).
【Job Details】
[Job Title]
Associate Professor or Assistant Professor
*Full-time, tenure-track
The associate/assistant professor is assigned as a research professor to concentrate mainly on research activities.（Please refer to the following URL.）
https://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/kiteishu/act/frame/frame110000411.htm (in Japanese)
【Period of Employment】
Five years from the earliest possible date on or after January 1, 2026
・The employment start date is subject to negotiation.
・If a life event, such as childbirth, occurs during the tenure-track term, the term can be extended for a certain period of time according to the period of absence from work.
【Working Hours】
Working hours are determined according to the Discretionary Labor System for Professional Work (7 hours and 45 minutes per day).
【Salary】
An annual salary system is applied, and the amount of the starting salary will be decided based on academic experiences and so on. (Please refer to the following URL.）
https://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/kiteishu/act/frame/frame110000862.htm (in Japanese)
In addition to the salary, a NanoLSI allowance, generally 1,800,000 JPY (in the case of an Associate Professor) or 1,320,000 JPY (in the case of an assistant professor) per year, will be provided until March 2027 (The allowance after April 2027 is undecided.). The amount of the allowance will be decided based on research achievements and other factors.
【Reappointment and promotion system】
According to the results of the review of research achievements, tenure will be granted after the fixed term expires. The decision on whether or not to grant tenure will be made at a specified time before the end of the fixed term based on an assessment of research and other achievements. Depending on the review results, the applicant can be promoted to an upper position or transferred to the same position after the fixed term has expired. In the event the tenure review process results in approval for an extension of the tenure track period (up to a maximum of three years), a review will be conducted again in the final year of the extended period.
Outline of Criteria for Granting Tenure
(1) The applicant must be recognized as having outstanding research achievements in the relevant field internationally.
(2) The research plan, including interdisciplinary research, must be properly planned and accomplished.
(3) Sufficient competitive research funds must be obtained.
【Research support】
In conjunction with the salary, the following support will be provided.
・Start-up research fund : A total of 10,000,000 JPY
・Employment of postdoctoral fellow
：1 person who must be either female or of non-Japanese citizenship. (Employment period is 3 years and undetermined thereafter. )
・Open facilities：Cryo-FIB-SEM, High-Speed AFM, Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), NMR(600 MHz／400MHz), Atomic resolution/3D-AFM(FM-AFM),Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy (SICM) etc.
【Insurance】
Enrollment in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Mutual Aid Association Health Insurance, Employment Insurance, and Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance.
【Application Deadline】
June 30, 2025
【Application, Selection Details, and Contact Information】
[Application]
＜Application Documents＞
1. Curriculum vitae with a recent photograph of the face, listing present address, phone number, e-mail address, academic career (including the title of doctoral dissertation), research career, professional career, academic affiliations, rewards and reprimands, ORCID ID, Researchmap ID, etc.
2. Research achievements: peer-reviewed papers, conference presentations (categorized into general lectures and invited/special lectures), review articles, commentaries, books, patents, etc., and include the name of the co-author, organization of presentation, volume (issue), first and last page, and year of presentation
3. Offprints of primary published papers (five papers maximum, pdf files are accepted)
4. List of acquisition of external funds such as KAKENHI (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research), commissioned research projects, joint research projects and donations, etc. (time period, name of grant, title of education/research, and amount of money should be included)
5. Outline of past research activities (two sheets in free format, A4 or letter)
6. Desired position (“Associate Professor” or “Assistant Professor”) and proposal of research at NanoLSI (two sheets in free format, A4 or letter)
7. Names and contact information of up to two recommenders If you have letters of recommendation from the above recommenders, please submit them along with the other application documents.
*Please send the application documents by email or post.
*If you send your application via email, we cannot receive emails larger than 5 MB; please use an uploader if the size of your email exceeds 5 MB. Please write “Application for Faculty Position” in the title of the email.
*Please ensure that you provide your contact information, including your address, phone number, and email address, in your application documents, write “Application for Faculty Position” in red on the envelope, and send your documents by registered mail to the following address:
The Administrative Office, Nano Life Science Institute
Kanazawa University
Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
Email: nanolsi-jobs@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
*Please note that all application documents will not be returned.
[Selection Method and Hiring Decision, and Notification of Result]
Document screening and interview
*We do not cover the transportation expenses associated with the interview.
[Contact Information Regarding Business Content]
Professor (Director),Takeshi Fukuma
Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University (WPI-NanoLSI)
Tel: +81-76-234-4847
Email: fukuma@staff.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
【Additional Information】
(1) We plan to interview a few candidates in the selection process.
(2) The website below gives information about employment regulations.
http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/university/administration/regulation/rules (in Japanese)
(3) Kanazawa University is committed to providing a diverse research and educational environment and supporting female researchers. Please refer to the following URL.
https://ipdi.w3.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
(4) Kanazawa University will consider conducting joint research, etc., through crossappointments by matching the fields of expertise if the spouse of the faculty hire is a
researcher.
(5) WPI Nano-Life Science Institute provides English-language support as a MEXT World Premier International Research Center Initiative Program site and about 35% of its researchers are from overseas.
More Information
- Address Japan
