September 16, 2009
1．Objectives
Research activities at universities are driven by researcher's unlimited inspiration,intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm in quest of truth. Promoting research activities therefore entails the development of human resources with extraordinary creativity,originality and challenging spirit, in a wide variety of academic fields.
Fostering such human resources is also essential for Kyoto University. In response to the progress of globalization, it is particularly important to foster human resources with superb creativity, as well as broad perspectives and flexible mindset, all of which are important to be able to pioneer new academic frontiers. With this view in mind, Kyoto University will launch the Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers, in addition to augmenting efforts in various existing initiatives taken by individual faculties/schools. In the Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers, the university will appoint promising young researchers as program-specific faculty members (associate professor/assistant with an annual salary) and support their research activities on themes of their own choice.
2．Target Research Areas
Research programs in every range of basic and applied studies in all academic fields, from the humanities, to social and natural sciences.
3．Eligibility
Researchers with a doctorate degree (or equivalent research abilities) There is no restriction on the applicants' age, nationality or residency.
4．Employment
Up to 20 applicants will be appointed annually. Priority will be given to female researchers and non-Japanese researchers if more than one researcher is judged to have equivalent abilities based on a fair evaluation.
In principle, the term of appointment will begin on April 1, 2010. In response to the requirements of individual researchers, however, the term can be changed to begin, for instance, on January 1, 2010.
5．Employment Conditions
Selected applicants will be appointed for a maximum of five years as program-specific faculty members (associate professor/assistant professor with an annual salary) in compliance with the Rules of Employment for Fixed-Term Program-Specific Faculty Members. These members will be titled "Kyoto University Hakubi* researchers" as evidence of the university's recognition of them as excellent researchers to pioneer a new path in their respective academic fields.
6．Affiliation
To implement the Kyoto University Hakubi Project to Foster and Support Young Researchers, the university will establish the Kyoto University Young Researcher Development Center. Hakubi researchers are affiliated with the Kyoto University Young Researcher Development Center.
7．Research Funds and Facilities
The university will provide each researcher with an annual research fund of approximately 1 to 4 million yen. Depending on the research plans of each individual.
The center itself does not have any research facilities. Accordingly, individual researchers are strongly encouraged to find a "host" (researcher/institution/faculty) within Kyoto University that can provide a suitable research environment.
8．Research Reports and Presentations
Researchers on this project shall provide annual reports on their research activities, and are also required to give presentations on their research results at the end of their fixed term.
9．Screening Method
A screening council (called the Hakuraku** Council) will be established at the Kyoto University Young Researcher Development Center. As the primary screening, a committee of specialists (under the Council) from their respective academic fields, will examine application documents. As the secondary screening, the Hakuraku Council will conduct interviews (in either Japanese or English). In addition to applicants' academic achievements, the Council will evaluate their potential to become leading figures in the future global academic community. Successful applicants will be finalized by the Steering Committee (responsible for the management/organization of the Center).
Applicants will be informed of the final screening results.
10．Documents to Submit
Please submit items [1] and [2] using the attached forms.
[1] Resume and list of academic achievements: 1 copy each (PDF) (Word)
[2] Research Proposal: 1 copy (PDF) (Word)
As evidence of academic achievements, applicants may submit dissertations or other major papers (up to 3 articles), if desired.
11．Deadline
Due NLT 12:00, November 16, 2009
12．Submit either by postal mail or e-mail to:
Planning Manager, Research Promotion Division, Kyoto University
Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City 606-8501, Japan
On the envelope, write in red ink "Application for Hakubi Project."
E-mail: hakubi2009@mail2.adm.（Please append "kyoto-u.ac.jp" at the end of E-mail address. ）
Write in subject box "Application for Hakubi Project," and attach your resume, list of
academic achievements and research proposal in three separate PDF files.
13．Contact Information
For further information, please contact:
Planning Manager, Research Promotion Division, Kyoto University
E-mail: hakubi2009@mail2.adm.（Please append "kyoto-u.ac.jp" at the end of E-mail address. ）
FAX: +81-75-753-2042
14．Notices
The University will not return your application documents.
Personal information contained in the application documents will be used solely for the purpose of screening applicants, and never for any other purpose.
Expenses needed to apply for this project (including but not limited to expenses of document preparation, postage and travel expenses) shall be borne by applicants.
Kyoto University supports a gender-equal society. We hope that many female researchers will apply for the Hakubi Project.
Notes:
* Hakubi: This term, which literally means "white eyebrows," originated in shoku, one of the kingdoms in the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. In the kingdom lived five brothers with extraordinary talents. Since the eldest brother, who was particularly outstanding, had white hairs in his eyebrows, hakubi (white eyebrows) refers to the most prominent of figures.
**Hakuraku: This term, originally referring to a person who is a good judge of fine horses in ancient Chinese literature, is presently used to mean an excellent judge of human resources.