University of Cambridge
RESEARCH AND TEACHING ASSOCIATE IN JAPANESE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Salary: £25,134-£32,796 pa
Limit of Tenure applies*
Applications are invited for a 3-year Research and Teaching Associate  
in Japanese Science and Technology. The postholder will be attached  
to the Department of East Asian Studies and office space will be  
provided by the Needham Research Institute, reflecting the dual  
nature of this appointment. Candidates must already have a PhD, or  
equivalent, and an excellent command of written and spoken Japanese.  
Knowledge of Chinese or Korean would also be an advantage. There is  
no restriction as to field although preference will be given to  
someone working in the modern period (i.e. post Meiji). We welcome  
applications from historians and social scientists, from a broad  
range of disciplines. The successful candidate will be expected to  
participate in both undergraduate and graduate teaching.
Applications, including a completed PD18 form, a CV, a two-page  
description of research interests, and full contact details of two  
referees should be submitted to the Faculty Administrator, Faculty of  
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge CB3 9DA  
or email applications to [log in to unmask] Application  
forms (PD18) and further details of the position are found at http:// 
www.ames.cam.ac.uk
* Limit of tenure: 3 years
Quote Reference: GU02608,
Closing Date: 14 December 2007
Interview Date(s): February 2008


Further details


This is a three-year limited tenure research and teaching position  
funded by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation. The post will be  
held in the Department of East Asian Studies but the Needham Research  
Institute have offered an office for the successful candidate in the  
expectation that the postholder will work with colleagues in the  
Institute and promote the research on Japanese science and technology  
within an East Asian context. The Needham Research Institute is one  
of the world’s leading institutions for the study of East Asian  
science and technology. Until recently its primary focus has been on  
China but its remit is to cover the whole of East Asia and it is  
committed to widening its scope.

Japanese studies have been offered at Cambridge since 1949. It is a  
single honours 4-year course with a mandatory third-year in Japan.  
Proficiency in Japanese language is at the heart of a programme which  
allows students to extend their enquiry into a broad range of  
premodern and modern topics such as classical Japanese, history (both  
pre-modern and modern), society, politics and literature. The  
resources for PhD and postdoctoral work are among the best in Europe.

There are currently eight teaching officers in the Department:
Professor Richard Bowring, Japanese religion and thought.
Professor Peter Kornicki, Japanese history and the culture of the book.
Dr Barak Kushner, modern Japanese history and Sino-Japan relations.
Dr Mark Morris, Japanese culture, modern literature and film.
Dr Brigitte Steger, modern Japanese society
Dr John Swenson-Wright, Japanese politics and international relations
Mrs Haruko Laurie, Senior Language Teaching Officer
Mrs Toshimi Boulding, Lector in Japanese.

While the Research Associate will have an office in the Needham  
Institute, placing him or her in daily contact with fellow  
researchers in a wide range of fields connected to science and  
technology, his or her primary teaching responsibilities will be at  
the Department of East Asian Studies. He/she will be expected to  
contribute to graduate teaching in the form of an elective seminar in  
science and technology open to 4th year students and graduate  
students enrolled in the East Asian MPhil programme. One or two  
lectures to undergraduates may also be required, although the overall  
teaching load will not be onerous.

November 2007