CfA: Postdoctoral Research Position at Tokyo College, Institute for Advanced Study2026.8.9 {en}

About Tokyo College

Tokyo College is an international institute for advanced study based at the University of Tokyo (UTokyo). Our mission is to serve as an interface between UTokyo and researchers/research institutions around the world and create a shared vision of an ideal future with people from across the globe and to take action together to pursue its realization. Leading scholars, promising early-career researchers, and influential intellectuals from overseas gather and stay at Tokyo College, where they have frequent opportunities to exchange ideas with our scholars and students, creating synergy and generating new knowledge, which help us shape our future. Knowledge created by these activities is delivered directly to the public through lectures, seminars, and symposia organized by Tokyo College.

1. Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Tokyo College, the University of Tokyo

2. Field of Expertise

Tokyo College is looking to invite researchers from all disciplines including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering to carry out interdisciplinary collaboration that will contribute to the realization of a sustainable and inclusive future for humanity. Applicants’ field of expertise should be related to one or more of the following six research themes.

A. Digital Revolution and the Future of Humanity

B. Sustainable Futures on a Damaged Planet

C. Japan Viewed from the Inside and Outside

D. The Humanities, Society, and the Future of Academic Knowledge

E. Life and its Value for Future Society

F. Institutions for the Future

3. Job Description

Tokyo College promotes interdisciplinary research and fosters an inclusive research community of scholars from all over the world.

Postdoctoral research fellows are expected
1. To pursue their own research as full-time researchers at the University of Tokyo.
2. To enrich their own research agenda with interdisciplinary perspectives.
3. To contribute to building an intellectual community at Tokyo College by joining collaborative research projects and undertaking associated administrative tasks.
4. To participate in Tokyo College Events and other public engagement activities.

4. Terms

The appointment starts on April 1, July 1, October 1, or December 1, 2027. The initial appointment is for one year. However, the fellowship is intended to last for three years, with renewals at the end of the first and second years unless the fellow chooses to leave earlier.

5. Eligibility

A Ph.D. obtained within five years prior to the contract start date. Applicants scheduled to receive a Ph.D. degree before the start date are also eligible to apply. We encourage applicants, where relevant, to include a brief explanation regarding career interruptions in the AJO Application Form in the relevant box (Note: We will consider extensions of this eligibility period for career interruptions. For a list of career interruptions, please see the FAQ below.)

Excellent communication skills in English. Although Japanese language skills are not required,
interested postdoctoral research fellows may enroll in subsidized Japanese language courses. We
encourage applications from those with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We also
encourage applications from promising scholars who have had little or no opportunity to be based at
Japanese institutions.

6. Compensation & Benefits

• Work environment: office space and access to UTokyo resources such as library resources, sporting facilities, medical facility.
• Annual gross salary of JPY 6,360,000 plus benefits
• Commuter allowance: Calculated in accordance with the University of Tokyo rule. Capped at JPY 55,000 per month.
• Social Insurance: Eligible for MEXT* Mutual Aid Association membership, employees’ pension, unemployment insurance, and workers’ accident compensation insurance (*MEXT: Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
• Vacation: Annual paid leave up to 20 days/year, sick leave, and special vacation (refresh leave 3 days, from December 27 to January 3, etc.) (paid).
• Research fund: Maximum JPY 1,000,000 per annum will be provided to cover legitimate research-related expenses, including books and other research materials and travel expenses.
• Relocation support for researchers from overseas: Tokyo College will provide support including obtaining a work visa.

7. Employment Status and Working Hours

A postdoctoral research fellow is a full-time employee at the Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo. Postdoctoral research fellows are not allowed to have outside employment unless such employment directly supports their research activities. The terms and conditions on this employment status shall be subject to the University of Tokyo working regulations. For example, any research trip must be approved well in advance. While this is an on-campus position, working hours can be made flexible by applying to be under the University’s Discretionary Labor System.

8. Place of Work

This position is at the Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo. (7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 JAPAN). We do not have non-resident fellow positions at this point. If you need to spend substantial time away from Tokyo during the appointment, you may find this position too constrained.

9. Application Materials

1. Academic Jobs Online (AJO) Application Form:
   Please answer ALL questions on the form. If not relevant, please put N/A. Incomplete application form will not be considered. Please pay particular attention to the following information requested on the form:
   – Select ONE field of expertise closest to your research project, related to the six main
   research themes of Tokyo College. Names of potential University of Tokyo faculty hosts
   (except for the faculty at Tokyo College). Please do NOT contact them in advance.
   – Preferred start date (either April 1, July 1, October 1, or December 1, 2027)
   – Explain briefly your career interruptions, such as caring responsibilities, disaster, medical conditions, parental leave, unemployment, non-research positions, etc.
   – Names and contact details of 2 references. Only shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit references.
2. Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications and work in progress. Please do NOT include your photo and gender information in the CV.
3. Research Statement, including the following aspects (maximum 2 pages):
   Your research statement must be understandable to researchers outside your discipline.
   – A brief description of doctoral research and other relevant research you have conducted*,
   – An executive summary of your planned research at Tokyo College and its expected impact,
   – Demonstrated or potential contributions to interdisciplinary research,
   – What you wish to achieve at Tokyo College beyond your own research project, e.g., your career path, interdisciplinary research, public scholarship, etc.
   – A demonstrated ability to work as part of a diverse team as evidenced by activities such as research collaboration, building external networks and linkages, and community building.
4. One writing sample (e.g., an article, a book chapter, or a chapter from doctoral dissertation, either published or unpublished)

* Please bear in mind that Tokyo College is a highly interdisciplinary institute and you must be able to communicate your research in a way that is accessible to researchers outside your immediate field of expertise.

10. Application and Selection Process

Application deadline: September 30, 2026, Eastern Daylight Time (11:59PM, EDT)

Submission: All application materials should be uploaded via AJO by the application deadline:
https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32355

Submission through email or postal mail will not be accepted. All documents must be in English.

Selection process: After an initial screening process, shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview (around late November to early December). Applicants who have not been shortlisted will be notified of the outcome.

* Personal information will be handled according to the Privacy Policy of the University of Tokyo and will be used only for the purpose of the selection process.
* The University of Tokyo is committed to the principles of gender equality in its recruitment. Diversity, inclusion, and equity are fundamental for knowledge creation and education.
* We welcome applications from people of all genders, those who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and applicants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including those from non-English speaking educational institutions.

11. Others

Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA)
https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4412

If you are personally in contract with foreign governmental bodies, corporations, or you are in receipt of a large benefit (financial or any other form) from foreign governmental bodies during the period of your employment*, the provisions of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA) may prohibit or
restrict the sharing of technologies designated as controlled technologies possibly making it difficult for you to fulfill your duties as an academic or administrative staff of the university as a result. Therefore, in such cases it is necessary to keep such contracts/benefits within the scope where it does not hinder the sharing of technologies necessary for your duties by the university.

* Receiving funds for the purpose of conducting research from a university or other entity with which you are not in an employment relationship (excluding foreign governments, foreign government agencies, foreign local governments, foreign central banks, or foreign political parties or other political organizations) is not subject to the above restrictions.

• Status of measures to prevent passive smoking
Smoking is allowed only in the designated smoking areas outside the buildings at the University of Tokyo.

• Disclosure of any history of criminal penalties, administrative sanctions, or disciplinary actions related to sexual harassment, sexual violence, or other misconduct involving students.

The University of Tokyo aims to create an environment appropriate for academic education and research.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to fill out a declaration form at the time of the second screening.

Declaration regarding past criminal penalties.docx

【Frequently Asked Questions】

1. Is there an age limit to apply for the position?
– No, all we require is that applicants have completed a Ph.D. within five years of their proposed start date.

2. I am not sure how my research topic relates to one of the research themes of Tokyo College.
– Our six themes are flexible and have room for new ideas. However, we expect you to frame and situate your research in the broader contexts indicated by one or more of these themes so that we can understand how it contributes to our research agenda. For more information about our six research themes, please visit: https://www.tc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/research/themes/

3. How should I select a potential faculty host?
– Please refer to the university website at: https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/en/people/
to identify potential faculty hosts. Please do NOT contact the potential host in advance.

4. Can I learn Japanese at the University of Tokyo?
– Yes, the university provides free Japanese language courses for researchers. The course has two modes (intensive and regular) and offers 5 levels from beginner to advanced. For more information, please refer to https://globe.u-tokyo.ac.jp/nkc/ja/index.html

5. Will I be able to/expected to teach?
– This is not a teaching position, so you are not expected or encouraged to teach. Those who wish to experience teaching at the University of Tokyo, however, may have opportunities to co-teach with our faculty members at the UTokyo undergraduate liberal arts program.

6. What qualifies as career interruption?
– Caring responsibilities, disaster, medical conditions, parental leave, unemployment, non-research positions. Please consult Tokyo College if you have any other career interruptions.

7. Where have former Tokyo College postdoctoral research fellows gone after completing their fellowships?
– Former fellows have gone on to positions at The University of Tokyo, Ochanomizu University, Waseda University, Stockholm School of Economics, University of Lisbon, University of Oslo, National University of Singapore, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Xi’an Jiaotong University, The University of Sydney, Radboud University, United Nations University, Google, YouTube, and Bridgewater Associates.

8. I am in a STEM field. Will Tokyo College provide access to specialized technical equipment/an experimental lab environment?
– Tokyo College itself does not provide lab facilities and technical equipment. However, we will support applicants in exploring options to collaborate or be co-affiliated with labs in other UTokyo departments.

Further information at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32355.

Source: The University of Tokyo – Postdoctoral Research Position at Tokyo College, Institute for Advanced Study,The University of Tokyo | H-Net, H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online „CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.“