Job description

• Background of the recruitment and description of the project

  Every year 25-30% of the world's crop production is lost to diseases between growth stage and post-harvest storage. Inadequate control systems for infectious diseases have led to severe losses in tropical and subtropical regions. Changes in areas where diseases occur and their rapid transmission to other places have also become problematic due to climate change and globalization. And with the increased focus on environmentally regenerative agriculture, biodiversity concerns, and environmental conservation, the global demand to lessen the use of pesticides and fertilizers is on the rise.
  In view of the above, we are looking for a researcher who will be engaged in research fields that show the genetic, physiological, biochemical, and molecular biological characteristics of plant pathogens and their interactions with plants; as well as the epidemiological factors, occurrence ecology, distribution, and transmission methods of diseases. The target commercial crops include rice, sugarcane, cassava, tropical fruit trees, and horticultural ones in tropical and subtropical regions.
  Besides the necessary knowledge and research achievements for this particular field of research, the staff member is to undertake tasks related to plant protection – namely, disease diagnosis, occurrence prediction, development of disease-resistant varieties through the artificial inoculation or newly established resistance evaluation methods, exploration of genetic resources with resistance, and identification of these resistance genes -- in collaboration with the respective crop researchers. Not only is the candidate tasked to collect and analyze data in the said research areas but also to cooperate with domestic and international joint-researchers and research assistants.

• Work content and job description

  Establishment of Innovative Plant Disease Control Systems through Exploratory Research in Plant Disease and Development of Advanced Plant Protection Technologies
  
  The researcher is expected to play a major role in the development of comprehensive disease control technologies that integrate omics analysis and AI, thereby contributing to the realization of an environmentally sustainable agricultural society.
  
  Examples of Research Projects：
  ○ Global adaptation research of plant protection technologies aimed to decrease the use of pesticides worldwide
  ○ Development of virus-resistant crops by genome editing in cassava
  ○ Establishment of disease resistance evaluation methods and development of resistance breeding techniques in sugarcane
  ○ Development and practical application of new diagnostic technologies to demonstrate the pathogenicity of rice blast fungus
  ○ Development of new control systems with low environmental impact for anthracnose in mango, avocado, strawberry, etc.
  
  Keywords：
  Fields of Expertise: Plant Pathology, Molecular Physiology, Disease Prediction, Disease Diagnosis
  International Field: English Language Proficiency, International Outlook and Ability to Promote International Collaborative Research

Job description

• Background of the recruitment and description of the project

  The International Grants Section plays a vital role in supporting the acquisition and management of international external research funding at OIST. The section provides assistance throughout both pre-award and post-award processes, ensuring appropriate use and compliance in the management of public research funds. While the focus is on international funding, the scope may also include other sources. Team members proactively collect and share information on funding opportunities with faculty, researchers, students, and the leadership team, enabling timely and strategic decision making across the institution. Under the leadership of the Dean of Research, a dedicated support team coordinates institution-wide project planning for large-scale grant applications by identifying strategic research themes and recommending appropriate principal investigators. These efforts aim to strengthen OIST’s research competitiveness and contribute to a healthy and proportional increase in third-party research income. Progress is evaluated based on key performance indicators, including the number and total value of awarded grants.

• Work content and job description

  1. Provide support for pre-award processes related to international external grant applications
  2. Provide support for post-award processes including grant implementation and compliance
  3. Ensure proper operation and management of public research funds, with a primary focus on international grants
  4. Collect, analyze, and share information on international funding opportunities
  5. Disseminate grant information to faculty, researchers, students, and the leadership team to support timely and strategic decision-making
  6. Contribute to institution-wide project planning for large-scale grant applications
  7. Identify suitable funding opportunities and propose strategic research themes
  8. Recommend appropriate principal investigators for specific funding calls
  9. Support the university’s goal of increasing third-party research income through coordinated and strategic efforts
  10. Track and report key performance indicators such as the number and total value of awarded Grants

Job description

• Background of the recruitment and description of the project

  Our research unit focuses on functional nucleic acids and is composed of researchers and students with diverse backgrounds, including organic synthetic chemistry, chemical biology, synthetic biology, and molecular cell biology. One of our ongoing projects, "mammalian RNA synthetic biology" aims to advance fundamental research while exploring applications in fields such as gene and cell therapies. This project is conducted in collaboration with industry partners and other university laboratories. To further develop this area of research, we are seeking to hire one postdoctoral researcher who will contribute to advancing cutting-edge studies in mammalian RNA synthetic biology.

• Work content and job description

  Research in RNA synthetic biology targeting mammalian cells (human and animals).
  
  Examples include but are not limited to, the development of new aptamers for mammalian riboswitches, viral vectors for gene/cell therapy, regulation of stem cell differentiation, and regulation of noncoding RNA functions, biological/industrial/biomedical applications of synthetic RNA devices such as riboswitches. Possibility of participating in the ongoing collaborations with other universities and industry.