Employment information,Shizuoka University

Tenure Track Position at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Japan (Material Mechanics Field)

08/05/14

The Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University is inviting applications for a five-year tenure track assistant professor position with financial support for research. Aimed at development of innovative material analysis in mechanical fields, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering is seeking a tenure track assistant professor for researching in the area of material analysis of macroscopic mechanical properties for structural materials, functional materials, or biomechanical materials from the multi-scale point of view.
The tenure track system at Shizuoka University aims to provide promising young researchers with opportunities to promote their scientific careers, and to nurture their talents and skills in research, leadership, management, and education. Holders of tenure track positions are expected to primarily undertake scientific research in their respective fields. However, since they will also eventually undertake teaching responsibilities, the tenure track program includes duties to guide students’ thesis projects. Holders of tenure track positions are promoted to tenured positions depending upon successful completion of the tenure track program. Extremely competent individuals may be promoted to tenured positions even earlier.
Shizuoka University is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of nationality, race, gender, or religion.

1. Job Description
FieldKeywordsNo. of PositionsContacts
Material mechanics*Mechanical properties, Strength and fracture, Microstructural characterization, Experimental multi-scale analysis of materials Assistant Professor
(1 position) 		Professor Yoshihisa Sakaida
E-mail: tysakai@ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp
Phone: +81-53-478-1035
* See 4.Qualifications for further detail
2. Starting date The successful candidate is expected to start on February 1, 2015, or on the earliest possible date after this day.
3. Additional Job description (1) Duration
Five years from the start of employment.

(2) Assessment of Tenure track Positions
Performance of the tenure track position holder will be evaluated on a regular basis. The assessment will be aimed at evaluating his/her capabilities in scientific research, leadership and management, acquisition of competitive research funding, and providing teaching and tutorship for Bachelor/Master course students. The assessment will take into account the original research plan, mid-term and final research goals submitted at the start of employment, and results of interviews. The assessment will be scheduled as follows:
  • 1) Yearly evaluations will take place at the end of the first, second, and fourth years.
  • 2) An interim assessment will be conducted within the month following expiry of two and a half years since the start of employment.
  • 3) The final assessment will be conducted within the month before the expiry of four and a half years since the start of employment.
*Successful assistant professors will be promoted to lecturer or associate professor and acquire tenure until the retirement age (currently 65 years old).

(3) Remuneration
  • 1) Allowances, including those for dependents, commutation and housing will be provided in accordance with the Shizuoka University guidelines. An annual salary system will be applied from April, 2015 in some cases.
  • 2) Bonuses will be provided in accordance with the Shizuoka University guidelines.
  • 3) Relocation expenses will be covered in accordance with the Shizuoka University guidelines.
(4) Research Support
  • 1) During the first year, a start-up fund of 5 million yen and an independent research space will be provided. During the second year, research fund of 2 million yen will be provided. During the third, fourth and fifth years, a research fund of 1 million yen per annum will be provided.
  • 2) The successful candidate shall conduct his research under the guidance of a mentor/research advisor.
  • 3) It is possible that the research fund may be changed by the situation of a future budget.
(5) Primary Responsibility
In addition to research on a special field, supports for the subjects on seminars, experimental works and lectures to the students are obligated.
Applicants must have enthusiasm for research and education in the emerging field of material mechanics. Approximately 70% of efforts during the period of the employment will be focused on research and 30% on education.

(6) Place of work
The successful candidate shall be assigned to work at Hamamatsu Campus of Shizuoka University (Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan).
4. Qualifications A young researcher who can promote innovative research on structural materials is expected. Especially, applicants are expected to have a strong background, motivation and skill in the macroscopic mechanical properties of materials (e.g., structural materials, functional materials, and biomechanical materials) concerning microstructural characterization.
Even if applicants belong to another field than mechanical engineering at the time of application, he or she can apply for this tenure track position. After the employment, an employee is also expected to have strong motivations to teach “material mechanics” and “structural materials” in Department of Mechanical Engineering, and to advise graduate theses and master theses in those fields.

  • (1) Applicants must have been conducting outstanding research in the relevant fields.
  • (2) Applicants must possess a doctoral degree obtained within ten years as of October 31, 2014.
  • (3) Applicants whose native language is not Japanese must demonstrate their plan to reach a level of proficiency in Japanese language sufficient for teaching, within the period of employment.
5. Documents for Submission
  1. Application form (curriculum vitae, photograph, past achievements and research funds, impact factor and citation count of individual paper) …………FORM 1 (word, pdf).
  2. Summary of previous research (two A4 size pages) …………FORM 2 (word, pdf).
  3. Plan of proposed research for five year period (two A4 size pages) …………FORM 3 (word, pdf).
  4. Ambition for teaching in Shizuoka University (one A4 size page) …………FORM 4 (word, pdf).
  5. Copies of up to five most important scientific publications (journal articles, books).
  6. At least two letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant's current supervisor. Sealed letters of recommendation should be e-mailed or mailed directly from the referees to the following mailing address:
    Prof. Yoshihisa Sakaida
    E-mail: tysakai@ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering
    Shizuoka University
    3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, 432-8561 Japan
  • FORMs 1-4 must be filled in English or in Japanese and printed one-side on A4 size paper. The list of the requested referee’s full name, affiliation, e-mail and mail addresses must be specified in sec. 11 of FORM 1.
  • The above documents (1)-(5) must be sent by registered mail to the mail address shown below.
  • Please mark the envelope “Application forms for tenure track assistant professor” using red pen. Submissions by e-mail are not acceptable. The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants.
6. Deadline Applications must reach the office by 5 p.m. October 31, 2014, Japan standard time.
7. Selection Procedure
  • (1) Document Review –November 2014
  • (2) Interviews – December 2014. Only those who have passed the document review will be notified for an interview. Travel expenses will not be disbursed.
  • (3) Selection is done by considering achievements, future prospects, and enthusiasm for research and education. If several applicants have similar abilities, then female applicants will get an advantage.
8. Mail address for the application and General queries Tenure Track Support Office, Shizuoka University
3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan
E-mail：dwak-2@ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp