Research Specialists, Water-related Disaster Research Group(3)

Public Works Research Institute (PWRI)

Ibaraki, Japan 🇯🇵

Job description

  • Background of the recruitment and description of the projectOur team currently includes one senior research scientist who is responsible for the development of hydrological models, the development of optimal dam operation methodologies, and their integrated application. In Japan, under the basin-wide flood management policy, it has been recognized through revisions to river development master plans that it is necessary to dramatically increase storage capacity in upstream and tributary basins. To promote collaboration among all stakeholders within a river basin, there is an urgent need to develop quantitative evaluation techniques to assess the impacts of climate change on each stakeholder, as well as visualization techniques to demonstrate the effectiveness of different response and adaptation options. Studies based on hydrological models developed by ICHARM are currently underway to address these needs.

    In addition, requests for the application of ICHARM’s hydrological models and related systems from countries around the world have been rapidly increasing (FY2025: Kenya, Ghana, Iran [through a UNESCO trust fund financed by a supplementary budget of the Government of Japan], South Sudan, and India [World Bank projects]). However, at present, all of these tasks are being handled by the single senior research scientist mentioned above, resulting in a severely overloaded workload.

    To address this situation, it is necessary to employ a specialized research scientist who will work under the supervision of the senior research scientist and be responsible for the development and implementation of hydrological models, as well as their application in overseas projects. The specific qualifications and capabilities required of this specialized research scientist are as follows:

    The ability to develop integrated hydrological models capable of representing the functions of various flood control facilities and to conduct simulations for the evaluation of basin-wide flood management policies in Japan.

    The ability

    http://intra:82/jpn/employ/saiyou/pdf/3_icharm.pdf
  • Work content and job description(1) Development of an integrated hydrological model as part of the main research project
    “Development of Support Technologies for Planning Flood Control in Watersheds”.
    Additionally, support for assessing the impact of water-related disasters and
    designing countermeasures through the numerical simulation by applying the
    developed model.
    (2) Providing training, lectures, and supervisions in specialized fields for overseas
    trainees and students in ICHARM.
    (3) Participating in international projects and information network activities for waterrelated disaster risk reduction. Supporting the formation and implementation of
    projects related to specialized fields.
    (4) Support for implementing research activities conducted by ICHARM.
  • Assigned departmentExisting departmentsWater-related Disaster Research Group

Job type

  • Researcher/Postdoc level

Research field

  • Social Infrastructure – Hydroengineering
  • Natural Science – Atmospheric and hydrospheric sciences

Wages

  • Annual Salary : 7 million yen ~ 8 million yenThe salary will be provided within the following range, depending on work experience and other considerations (as of February 2024).
    JPY 19,330 to 21,120 per day
    (When permanent staff salaries are revised, the salaries of research specialists may also be subject to revision accordingly.)

Working hours

  • Working hours :08:30-17:15Break time :12:00-13:00Holidays : Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and New Year holidays (29 December to 3 January)

Application requirements

Qualifications

  • Education and Degree RequirementsPh.D. / Doctor
  • Work experienceAttached documents
  • Official qualification in specific field, etc.(1) A doctoral degree in hydro-engineering or disaster prevention engineering.
    (2) Work experience or Research achievement in the field of hydro-engineering or disaster
    prevention engineering. Experience in research on modeling, numerical simulation,
    remote sensing, etc. is an advantage.
    (3) Publishing minimum of two research papers on hydro-engineering or disaster
    prevention engineering (preferably peer-reviewed papers)
    (4) Proficiency in English (speaking, reading, and writing) necessary for
    communication.
    (5) Experience in providing research supervision in English to students.

Employment Type

  • Contract employee

Contract period

  • Nontenured – Non-tenure trackStarting as soon as possible after 1st April 2026 until 31st March 2028
    (The contract is subject to renewal every fiscal year, and may be extended beyond the initial
    employment period, depending on the progress of research/education projects.)

    Probationary period presentone month after employment

Work location

  • 305-8516 Ibaraki 1-6 Minamihara, Tsukuba,

Compensation

  • Various systemsOthers : Attached documents
  • InsuranceOthers : Attached documents

Application Considerations

Number of hired

Application period

  • 2026/01/09~2026/02/06 Deadline for receipt

Application method

  • Attached documentsApplication Form : MailingOther Mailing Documents
    Attached documents
  • Return of application documentsWe will dispose of all application documents responsibly.
  • Application document submission method (physically mailed documents)305-8516 Ibaraki 1-6 Minamihara, Tsukuba,
    Mr. Yoshito KIKUMORI International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM), Public Works Research Institute

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Recruiting Institution’s Web application system

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URL of this job posting

Selection / Notification of result

  • SelectionApplicants who pass the initial document screening will be invited for an interview. The most qualified applicant will be selected for the position based on their expertise, work experience, previous work achievements, enthusiasm for research, English language skills, and other factors.
  • Notification of resultWe will notify you by email or phone.

Contact details

Public Works Research Institute

International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM)

Mr. Yoshito KIKUMORI

0298696778

kikumori-y143co(at)pwri.go.jp

* Please change (at) to @ and send it.


POSITION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

IHE Delft - MSc in Water and Sustainable Development