Arid Land Research Center (ALRC), Tottori University, Japan

Vacancy Announcement

Visiting Research Fellowships for Foreigner

( Visiting Professor / Associate Professor / Junior Associate Professor )

Positions are available for foreign visiting professor / associate professor / junior associate professor starting from 1st April 2010. Candidates interested in the position should contact any of professors of the Arid Land Research Center (ALRC) to explore the possibility of their hosting them. Once the host professor has agreed to host, the candidate should submit application, with all necessary documents, to ALRC, through the host professor within the deadline. Application received after the deadline will not be considered.

A brief description of the program and the documents needed is given below.

1. Number of positions available --- Two in all. (The position could be in any of the category.)

2. Application deadline --------------------- 17:15 hrs. Japanese Local Time, Tuesday, 15th September 2009

3. Duration of fellowship --------------------- Six months to one year

4. Qualifications and other requirements:

(a) A doctorate degree;

(b) Outstanding research achievements in the area of desertification and land degradation prevention;

(c) Willingness to cooperate with the host professor in the relevant division of ALRC in the conduct of research here;

(d) Assurance that the candidate would take the assignment once the offer was made by the ALRC. (Prior permission from the parent institution of the candidate would be needed.)

５.Documents needed:

(a) Curriculum vitae(CV) on the required format. Please use the attached format in developing the CV and ensure that the details of the whole periods of your studies and work are indicated, without any gaps. A full record is needed for computing the salary entitlement of the candidate. If there are gaps in studies or work, these should be indicated. Be sure to fill details of any military service done by you.

(b) Certificate of each degree obtained, or any least that of the highest degree.

(c) List of books and other publication as per the style indicated in the CV format. This part is very important for evaluation of the candidature by the selection committee.

(d) Reprints of publications: Candidates for Professorship should submit latest 30, for Associate Professorship 10, and for Junior Associate Professorship all publications, either as reprints or as photocopy.

(e) A detailed resume of your research and work experience to your host professor, based on which he/she would prepare a letter of recommendation for you and submit to the selection committee.

(f) A letter of recommendation from the Director or the Head of the Department of the Parent Institute.

(g) A clear but concise write-up of the Research Plan to be executed by the candidate at the ALRC.

→ curriculum vitae(Form)

General Information about the Visiting Research Fellowship Program

The visiting research professorship program for foreign professors is operated by the Arid Land Research Center (ALRC) of the Tottori University. Senior scientists actively engaged in dryland research are encouraged to apply. The general information about the program is given below.

1. Definition:

Visiting foreign research fellows are scientists of outstanding research achievement who would participate, on a full-time basis, with the Staff of the ALRC in jointly planned research in a specific area of arid land studies.

2. Status:

Visiting foreign research fellow will be granted a status in the University equivalent to that of a Japanese counterpart for the period of the assignment. The Fellow would be conferred with the title of Professor/Associate Professor / Junior Associate Professor depending on his/her qualification and research experience.

3. Duties:

Visiting foreign research fellow will participate with the University Staff in jointly planned research in the context of the activities of the ALRC or other units of Tottori University.

4. Contract duration:

The period of employment could be from six months up to a year.

5. Remuneration:

The monthly remuneration would be computed based the qualification and professional experience, evaluated as per the prescribed criteria. Indicative figures are given in Table 1. The salary is subject to upward revision in accordance with the regulations governing the salary adjustments for the personnel in General Service. In addition, commutation allowances shall be provided as applicable to the Japanese faculty members. Salary will be paid on a fixed date of each month ( usually 17th day). The salary is subject to income tax deductions. However, an exemption would be allowed for the individuals coming from the countries with which a Tax Convention agreement of Japan exists and if the status of the visiting fellows fits the requirement in the relevant article of the Convention. Information on this can be obtained from the relevant tax authorities in the country concerned.

Table 1 Salary (Japanese Yen) for the visiting fellows based on the points scored

by them based on qualification and professional experience ( as of January 2009)

6. Mutual Aid Association:

Visiting foreign research fellows would become union members of the Mutual Aid Association at the time of employment. Regardless of age, members are obliged to pay for health insurance, nursing-care insurance (aged between 40 and 64) and pension scheme. Upon return home, they can be reimbursed part of the contribution they have made as the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment.

7. Travel Expenses:

Travel expenses on taking up appointment:

These will be paid based on the most economical route and method of travel, whether by land, sea, or air, together with a fixed daily allowance. The actual travel expenses recognized as miscellaneous travel costs include immunization fees, passport fees, visa fees, foreign exchange procurement fees, and immigration/emigration taxes. Documentary evidence of expenditure (e.g. air ticket, receipts for various fees, etc.) would be needed for reimbursement of these expenses. Travel expenses for family dependents are not paid.

Travel expenses on return to home country:

These are paid on the same conditions as above, but only if the period of contract has been completed.

8. Facilitation of Visa for Japan:

The ALRC would need the following documents from the candidates in order to arrange a certificate that will facilitate the issuance of Japanese visa to candidates in the country of their employment:

(a) Photocopy of the passport

(b) Certificates verifying the current employment position

(c) Two photographs (4×3 cm).

An authorization certificate will then be sent to you on basis of which the Japanese Consulate in the country of the current residence of the candidate would issue the Japanese Visa.

9. Invitation and other Procedures:

Once the application of a candidate has become successful, based on the evaluation of the documents provided by the candidate, a formal letter of invitation will be issued by the President of the Tottori University. The invitation letter would be spell out the terms and conditions of assignment including the position offered, period of assignment, title of research to be conducted, and the entitlement for remuneration and travel expenses. Once the visiting research fellow arrives at the University to take up the appointment as per the invitation issued by the President, a contract will be formally concluded between the candidate and the President may be outlining the terms and conditions already mentioned in the letter of invitations and the obligations of the two parties. The contract will be both in Japanese and English and one copy of each will be retained by each party.