Detailed information
Work location : Kyushu and Okinawa district - Okinawa
Date of publication : 2025/11/10
Plant protection and disease control, Fixed-term Researcher in Nurturing Young Researcher Category , Applicaton Number 8
D125110367
Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
Research field : Environmental science - Science in plant genetics and breeding | Environmental science - Plant protection science
Researcher/Postdoc level : Regular employee - Nontenured - Tenure-track - Probationary period present
Job description
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Background of the recruitment and description of the project
■Background and Project Overview
In tropical and subtropical regions, crop losses caused by plant diseases have become a serious concern. In particular, rice blast poses a significant threat to the stable production of rice, a staple food in these regions, and presents a major challenge to the achievement of sustainable agriculture. In this regard, the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and research partners in the world, has been conducting research into the diversity of pathogenicity in the rice blast fungus over the years. With the development of the International Blast Differential Systems and the identification of resistant genetic resources, JIRCAS has been working to support the breeding of resistant rice varieties and to establish disease control technologies that reduce the use of chemical pesticides.
The position focuses mainly on rice blast research with the potential to branch out to other rice diseases caused by filamentous fungi. The scope may also include bacterial and viral diseases affecting crops such as sugarcane and tropical fruit trees, depending on the applicant’s expertise. The goal is to promote practical and international collaborative research in plant protection by expanding the knowledge of plant-pathogen interactions and by developing diagnostic, forecasting, and control technologies that contribute to agricultural production in tropical and subtropical regions. -
Work content and job description
■Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will engage in research aimed at enhancing the differential system for the rice blast fungus, analyzing the genetic diversity of the pathogen, isolating avirulence genes, and analyzing host responses – all of which contribute to the development of accurate evaluation methods and the breeding of disease-resistant rice varieties. In this way, it is hoped that the research will pave the way for the reduction of the use of chemical pesticides and the establishment of sustainable disease management systems.
Depending on one’s research background, the candidate may also deal with research on fungal diseases such as rice smut and sheath blight as well as bacterial and viral diseases in crops such as sugarcane and tropical fruit trees. The research work involves the study of plant-pathogen interactions, the development of technologies for diagnosing-predicting-preventing diseases, and the promotion of international collaborative research.
Research activities include field surveys, data collection, and analysis using the fields of JIRCAS and production sites in developing regions carried out in collaboration with researchers in Japan and abroad. In the future, it is expected that the selected candidate will play a leadership role in the international collaborative research on disease control technologies.
■Examples of Research Topics
• Empirical research on improving rice blast identification systems and on reducing the use of chemical pesticides
• Isolation of avirulence genes from the rice blast fungus and analysis of host responses
• Practical research on plant protection contributing to agricultural production in tropical and subtropical regions
■Keywords
Specialized Fields:
Rice blast, differential system, chemical pesticide reduction, genetic diversity, plant-pathogen interactions
International Competencies:
English language proficiency, global outlook for promoting international collaborative research -
Assigned department
Existing departments
Tropical Agriculture Research Front
Job type
- Researcher/Postdoc level
Research field
- Environmental science - Science in plant genetics and breeding
- Environmental science - Plant protection science
Wages
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Annual Salary : 5 million yen ~ 7 million yen
- Monthly (base) salary is determined in accordance with the Employee Salary Regulation,” taking into consideration experience and other factors, and ranges from 346,000 to 410,000 yen (currently in effect).
- Bonuses are paid twice a year (June and December) at 1.725 months' salary per payment (currently), with the first bonus after employment being less than 1.725 months' salary.
- Various allowances (commuting, overtime, regional, etc.) are paid in accordance with the regulations; dependent and housing allowances are not provided.
※ The monthly salary and other terms may change due to corresponding revisions to the regulations.
Working hours
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Working hours :08:30-17:15
Break time :12:00-13:00
Holidays : - Two-day weekend system (Saturday, Sunday)
- Holidays: National, Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 to January 3)
- Annual leave: 5 days granted upon employment (April 1, 2026)
- Other kinds of leave: Sick, special (summer (3 days), caregiving (5 days), marriage, childbirth, bereavement, etc.)Overtime and other explanations : - Regular working hours (08:30 - 17:15)
- Flexible working hours and discretionary working hours are available (after completion of the probationary period) (procedures required)
Application requirements
Qualifications
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Education and Degree Requirements
Ph.D. / Doctor
- Those who already have doctoral degrees or are expecting to obtain one before the scheduled starting date.
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Work experience
- Possesses the knowledge and skills required for the position as a research staff member
- Individuals with Japanese language proficiency sufficient for daily work
- Possess international awareness and language proficiency (English) to promote international collaborative research
- Research experience overseas is desirable -
Description
- This center promotes gender equality in keeping with the Basic Law for a Gender-Equal Society and encourages applications from female researchers.
- We welcome applications from foreign researchers, provided that they have obtained the necessary residence status to work at this organization in Japan by the date of employment.
Employment Type
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Regular employee
Contract period
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Nontenured - Tenure-track
5 years (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031)
- If you take special leave for childbirth, childcare, or caregiving during your term of employment, you may request an extension of your term of employment equivalent to the duration of such leave.
- Tenure review is conducted for eligible candidates 11 months before the end of the term. Those who pass the review will continue as research fellows without a fixed term upon the expiration of their initial term.Probationary period present
- 6 months
Work location
- 907-0002 Okinawa Ishigaki-shi, Maezato-Kawarabaru 1091-1
Compensation
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Insurance
Employees' Health Insurance : Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Mutual Aid Association
Employees' Pension Insurance : Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Mutual Aid Association
Worker's accident insurance : Available
Employment insurance : Available
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Measures for preventing passive smoking at the workplace
Smoking is prohibited on the premises except for designated smoking rooms.
Application Considerations
Number of hired
1 person(s)
Hiring date : 2026/04/01
Starting date : 2026/04/01
Application period
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2025/11/10~2025/12/05 Deadline for receipt
Application method
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Application documents (specified forms)
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Attached documents
Application Form : Online SubmissionJIRCAS Researcher Entry Sheets
- Please fill out the prescribed form (EXCEL, Application Form Sheet).
- Be sure to include your email address (for administrative communications).
- Submit the Application Form Sheet and Publications Sheet in the same file (file name: Application Number-Applicant's Name-1.xls, e.g., 1-Kokusai Tarou-1.xls) without converting it to PDF.Achievements and Activities : Online SubmissionJIRCAS Researcher Entry Sheets
- Please fill out the prescribed form (EXCEL, Publication Sheet).
- Be sure to include your email address (for administrative communications).
- Submit the Application Form Sheet and Publications Sheet in the same file (file name: Application Number-Applicant's Name-1.xls, e.g., 1-Kokusai Tarou-1.xls) without converting it to PDF.Other online application forms
1. PDF file of the recommendation letter (A4 size, 1 page. Free style. Include the recommender's name, affiliation, position, phone number, and email address).
- Must include the recommender's handwritten signature.
- JIRCAS staff members cannot serve as recommenders.
- Submit the PDF file of the recommendation letter with a file name: Application Number-Applicant's Name-2.pdf, e.g., 1-Kokusai Tarou-2.pdf.
2. PDF files of the applicant's main peer-reviewed papers (5 at most)
- If available online, the URLs may be listed on the achievement sheet instead. -
Return of application documents
We will dispose of all application documents responsibly.
URL of this job posting
Selection / Notification of result
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Selection
1. Document screening: December 2025
2. Interview: January 2026
※Venue: Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (1-1 Oowashi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture) -
Notification of result
All applicants will be notified by email.
Application documents will not be returned regardless of the outcome.
Contact details
Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
Research Planning and Management Office
Oka
0298386330
KenkyuKobo-ml(at)jircas.go.jp
* Please change (at) to @ and send it.
Notes
1. All expenses incurred in the course of job application are to be borne by the applicant.
2. Application documents will not be returned regardless of the outcome of the selection process.
3. All administrative correspondence will be done by email.
4. To get an idea of what it is like to work at JIRCAS, please see the messages posted by staff on:
https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/gender/messages
