Kwansei Gakuin University

As a University of Applied Learning, SIT works closely with industry in our research pursuits. Our research staff will have the opportunity to be equipped with applied research skill sets that are relevant to industry demands while working on research projects in SIT. The primary responsibility of this role is to deliver an industry innovation research project as part of a research team developing molecular and sequencing workflows for microbial characterization. The work supports the rapid detection of microbial bioburden in biopharmaceutical cleaning validation using a Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) biosensor platform. Responsibilities include next-generation sequencing (NGS), qPCR-based molecular assays for microbial quantification and aptamer validation, and experimental support for aptamer discovery targeting environmental microorganisms listed in the US Pharmacopeia. Key Responsibilities Technical Responsibilities Perform microbial community characterization using next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms such as Illumina sequencing or Oxford Nanopore sequencing.  Design and perform qPCR-based molecular assays for microbial quantification and aptamer validation. Prepare DNA sequencing libraries, including nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and library preparation.  Conduct basic bioinformatics processing of sequencing data, including sequence quality control and taxonomic profiling where required. Support aptamer discovery and validation experiments, including nucleic acid preparation, amplification, and molecular characterization. Perform routine molecular biology techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA purification, and nucleic acid quantification. Maintain accurate laboratory records and experimental documentation. Research & Project Responsibilities Plan and execute experimental workflows to support project milestones related to microbial detection and biosensor development. Contribute to sequencing-based microbial profiling of environmental and cleaning validation samples. Work collaboratively with project investigators and interdisciplinary teams to integrate sequencing and molecular biology results with biosensor development. Prepare technical reports and contribute to scientific publications, presentations, and project documentation. Support generation of experimental data required for project validation and milestone reporting. Operational Responsibilities Ensure laboratory compliance with Work Safety and Health (WSH) regulations and institutional safety guidelines. Manage procurement and inventory of molecular biology and sequencing consumables. Maintain laboratory equipment used for molecular biology and sequencing workflows. Mentorship Support training of junior researchers, research assistants, and students where required.  Contribute to knowledge sharing within the research group. To communicate in any relevant internal or external stakeholders to ensure project deliverables are met. Any ad-hoc duties assigned by Supervisor. Job Requirements Essential Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, or a related field. Possessing a Master’s or PhD degree will be advantageous Hands-on experience with next-generation sequencing technologies, such as Illumina or Oxford Nanopore sequencing platforms including sequencing library preparation Demonstrated experience working with environmental or low-biomass microbial samples. Demonstrated experience with DNA extraction and PCR amplification Demonstrated experience performing qPCR assays for nucleic acid quantification and molecular analysis, including troubleshooting Demonstrated experience with aptamer technologies or nucleic acid-based molecular recognition systems. Strong laboratory skills in molecular biology techniques. Preferred  Familiarity with microbial community sequencing workflows such as 16S rRNA sequencing or metagenomic analysis. Demonstrated experience with bioinformatics tools for sequencing data processing (e.g., quality control, taxonomic classification, microbial community analysis).  Demonstrated experience working in interdisciplinary or industry-linked research projects. Key Competencies Strong experimental design and troubleshooting skills in molecular biology.  Ability to independently conduct laboratory experiments and manage datasets. Strong scientific communication skills, including technical reporting and presentations. Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary research teams. Good organizational and project management skills.

The Department of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design (GSD) invites applications for a faculty position at the rank of Professor of Urban Design with tenure from distinguished scholars and practitioners. We seek candidates whose record of research, scholarship, and/or professional practice is recognized by peers as constituting exemplary, innovative approaches that critically engage with key challenges facing cities, including sustainable spatial patterns, conflicts facing the public realm, transformations of work and living environments, and growing economic and social inequalities while integrating these challenges within an epistemology of urban-architectural design. In addressing these challenges, we are interested in candidates who are committed to interdisciplinary engagement in a school that hosts the fields of urban planning, landscape architecture, architecture, and real estate, as well as with schools within Harvard University at large. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to engage with a full range of urban design methods such as the deployment of digital platforms, new technologies including AI, and the latest innovations in spatial analysis and representation. Applicants should have a forward-looking agenda combining design research with studio and/or classroom pedagogy. Applicants must have an advanced terminal degree in urban design, architecture, or a related design field focused on cities. The school aims to attract and retain individuals who possess a quality of mind demonstrating high levels of intelligence, clarity of expression, analytical ability, critical judgment, creativity, and initiative. We also value individuals who support free inquiry and expression by others and constructive, collegial collaborations with faculty, staff, and students. In the school’s evaluation of candidates, desirable individual qualities and high potential are not substitutes for a record of academic and creative achievement. Accomplished contributions to the field through scholarship and/or design are essential to effective teaching over time. Continued study and investigation with public exposition of research and professional accomplishments are normal obligations for Harvard faculty members. The position of tenured professor is intended for individuals pursuing full-time academic careers who are highly effective teachers and whose creative work in scholarship, design research/work, professional practice, or a combination thereof, is recognized by peers as a preeminent and enduring intellectual contribution to their field. Individuals in this position will employ their time teaching, conducting creative work in scholarship or design research/work, and fulfilling their responsibilities for academic service. Appointments are made with tenure on a full-time basis. The appointment for a full-time position requires residency in Cambridge/Boston, MA. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in August 2026. Applicants should submit: A cover letter A Curriculum Vitae Design and research work samples – selected material from your portfolio, including publications, research statement, design work (up to 15 mb). Subsequent Submission: Candidates advancing in the selection process will be asked to provide additional material later. For more information and to apply, please visit the website below: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/16372

The Faculty of Science of University of Helsinki invites applications for POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHER OR UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER in atmospheric sciences starting latest in January 2027 in a fixed-term initial contract of two years Background The post-doctoral researcher/university researcher will be working on the EU’s Destination Earth Climate Change Adaptation Digital Twin Project, Phase 3 (https://destine.ecmwf.int/), where INAR is a contributing member. The Climate DT project is setting up an operational simulation framework that enables to produce bespoke climate and impact-sector information, combining global kilometer-scale climate models (IFS-NEMO, IFS-FESOM, and ICON) in a unified operational workflow producing both multi-decadal climate projections and storyline simulations. Within Climate DT, the present research task focuses on evaluation of Climate DT simulation quality via direct use of raw Earth observations. The UH team has developed an approach, where simulation data is projected into observation-space quantities while the workflow is active, enabling both run-time reality check and rigorous posterior evaluation of the operational simulations. This novelty is implemented into the integrated workflow and the UH team has therefore access to evaluation material that is very informative about the fine-scale details of modelled versus observed km-scale processes. The post-doctoral researcher will explore into this virgin evaluation material with hands-on and contribute to creating new insights into the systematic errors of the Climate DT models and how they affect the adaptation information, developing new methods to utilize the unique material, and also maintain and further develop the observation projection workflow system within Climate DT. Tasks may also include integration of new observation types into the system, in addition to the present synoptic surface observations, radiosoundings, and AMSU-A space-based radiance data. The post-doctoral researcher will work in the dynamic meteorology research group at INAR, led by Professor Heikki Järvinen. The group is active in topics such as atmospheric convection, extra-tropical cyclones, and ensemble prediction including algorithmic parameter estimation. The group’s main modelling tool in research and teaching is OpenIFS of ECMWF. Research within the Climate DT involves participation in and traveling to meetings in Europe, such as at ECMWF, BSC, and AWI. University of Helsinki is seeking for a motivated candidate with a doctoral degree in relevant field regarding the background description of the position and with demonstrated skills in weather and climate modelling, model evaluation, global observing systems, and high-performance computing – the better your profile overlaps with these domains, the higher you rank at the evaluation step. What are we looking for The candidate is expected to be eager to pursue hands-on research using simulation data from the top-tier climate models  develop observation-based evaluation methods for exposing model biases related to local-scale physical process representations  think “out-of-the-box”, since there is no precedence for observation-projection in climate modelling  ideally bring complementary expertise and/or networks that the group may be presently missing The candidate must have excellent skills in written and spoken English, Python-language and scripting as well as Linux and HPC environments. Previous experience in model evaluation, statistical data analysis, and machine learning are seen as advantages. The position involves attending international conferences and presenting scientific or technical work in local and international meetings.  A postdoctoral researcher should have a doctoral degree in atmospheric sciences or another relevant field. A university researcher should a doctoral degree in atmospheric sciences or another relevant field, evidence of active publication in recent years and demonstration of other scholarly activity, such as evidence of independent research. The post-doctoral researcher/university researcher position starts the latest in January 2027, or, as soon as the position is filled. The position is initially for two years with a possibility of renewal. The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months. Research environment  Finland is a member of the EU and has high quality free schooling in Finnish/Swedish/English, generous family benefits and healthcare, and was recently ranked as the best country in the world for arriving families. Helsinki is continuously ranked in the world’s top ten most livable cities. Finland and the Helsinki region possess top expertise in sciences in terms of a vibrant talent pool, leading research, strong support services and functioning collaboration networks. For more information about working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland, please see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/university/working-at-the-university. The University of Helsinki is a multi-disciplinary Nordic research university that ranks among the top100 universities in the world, with some 36,000 degree-students. The Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) at the Faculty of Science is a large research unit based on physics, chemistry, meteorology as well as forest, environmental, and social sciences. INAR aims to strengthen the internationally leading, integrated multi-disciplinary research and education environment for atmospheric and Earth system science and to feed in scientific results for the national and international climate and environment policy from molecular to global scales, focusing on changing weather and climate, air quality, biogeochemical cycles, and ecosystem processes. The starting salary of a post-doctoral researcher with previous work experience will be ca. 4000 - 4400 euros/month, depending on the appointees’ qualifications and experience. The starting salary of the university researcher will be ca 4600-5000 euros/monthThe University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care, health insurance, sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development, such as pedagogical and leadership training for higher education. The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of gender identities, linguistic and cultural backgrounds. How to apply Please prepare the following documents: one-page motivation letter “why me”, fact-based on your earlier accomplishments in research, max. two-page “relevance” of your skills and competencies in relation to the position, max. four-page curriculum vitae tabulating and explaining your relevant earlier experience, and copy of your degree certificate (or document certifying successful defense or defense schedule) a list of publications Please submit the documents as a single pdf-file using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System by clicking the “Apply now” button. Applicants, who are employees of the University of Helsinki, are requested to leave their application via SAP Fiori. The position is filled as soon as a well-merited applicant is found. The deadline for applications is 10 August 2026. It can be extended, however, until a qualified candidate is found and contracted. The top-ranking candidates will be contacted personally and will be invited for an interview.  For further information, please contact Professor Heikki Järvinen, heikki.j.jarvinen@helsinki.fi