Japan has consistently attracted many people who consider it as the prime model for success in acquiring the discipline, diligence, and genuineness of doing research work. Expats who desire to engage in doing fulfilling research work in Japan can avail themselves of such job opportunities online.
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Types of research jobs in Japan
Japan offers many various types of research jobs for foreigners who wish to experience how it is to live in one of the most highly-developed countries of the world whose technological progress has been achieved and maintained through intensive and dedicated focus on research and development. Many websites provide online search engines for people who seek research jobs offered by Japanese companies and institutions.
Many of these research jobs are offered to multifarious post-graduate or post-doctorate degrees, such as those involving Stem Cell research for purposes from basic science to clinical applications. Universities, where some of these jobs are offered and located, provide conducive environments for focused and intense collaborative research work with other scientists. For this particular position, a Ph.D. or equivalent professional experience in a related area is required, as well as a background in actual academic research and participation in published works or any pertinent field of specialization, such as in "bioethics" or "science and technology studies (STS)."
Other relevant qualifications include adaptability to work collaboratively and the capacity to address real-life issues on bioethics or other pertinent concerns in stem cell biology. Good organizational skills and strong ability to work independently is also a must for a candidate. Fluency in written and oral English is expected of the applicant.
Another research job example is that of Safety Senior Clinical Research Specialist required by a large medical-device manufacturer. The job entails drafting reports based on research evaluations for submission to the supervisor in-charge, prepare regular safety reports and quality checks with other safety member evaluations and supervise evaluations performed by junior safety members and other related tasks.
Those who wish to apply must be have a science or nursing degree and must possess knowledge of relevant drug and medical regulatory stipulations. The applicant must also have a minimum of 2 years of job experience in clinical safety or the pharmaceutical or medical device industry. Moreover, good working knowledge of English is required, as well as the natural ability to be a team player and being a safety-conscious person at work.
Lastly, there is a Postdoctoral Fellow or Project Researcher position for a major laboratory company that is engaged in brain networks that underlie predictive coding and creativity. The work involves the utilization of EEG in humans and ECoG in marmoset to investigate how the brain networks store information and predict statistical structures in multisensory sequences. Likewise, EEG is used to evaluate how brain networks produce creative thinking and its incubation.
Applicant must have a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree in a related field and must be willing to work a 3-year contract, with a 6-month probationary period from the date of arrival in Japan. A good facility of communicating in English is also required. Experience in the performance of human EEG or monkey ECoG experiments is necessary.
Comparing these three distinctive research positions, we can see a few main differences offhand. One is that some involve academic-based researches directed toward the theoretical formulation of ethical behavior of research scientists as well as practitioners of science. While the research itself may involve what is considered experiments in pure science, applications in medicine and other fields can either be investigated as to their purely social or psychological consequences, in their purely scientific uses or value, or in their ultimate economic or practical worth.
Another distinction between these 3 cases is the environment where the research is conducted. One is a university; another is the Research & Development workroom of a private company while the other is a laboratory engaged in research for the benefit of others in the general scientific community engaged in developing economically-viable applications.
Although these examples involve highly-specialized scientific fields, research using purely statistical or mathematical analysis of data from various fields of scientific interest, such as economics, finance, social science, biology, climate change or political governance, require equally-engaging and challenging research practices. It must be said that there is no limit to the application of academic and scientific tools and methods in determining any and all aspects of humans, whether physical or not, that affect their pursuits, activities, issues, and overall environment.
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What are the minimum qualifications required?
As seen from the examples above, pure and applied scientific research usually requires a Post-Graduate Degree. However, research work in such areas as marketing research or financial research, an undergraduate degree is often sufficient. Nevertheless, experience in actual research work on a specific field is required by the company.
Proficiency in the use of specialized equipment or software required for the job, as exemplified by our previous examples above is expected. High English ability is widely considered a must in research for foreigners working in Japan. However, an appropriate level of Japanese language proficiency is also required, especially when collaborating with Japanese research workers on a daily basis.
Other specific information for interested applicants
The appropriate institution usually determines expected salary ranges for desired research positions according to Japanese income standards. However, the average entry-level can range from 5 to 6 Million Yen annually, and some companies offer transportation, living allowance and other benefits as part of the package.
Working as a research worker can include opportunities for training on the job based on the requirements of the employer, as well as opportunities for overseas travel if the company requires.
Note also that many of the research jobs offered are mainly engaged in pure scientific research. However, there are also many involving designs, creative and collaborative projects for manufacturing companies as well as other related or correspondingly applicable endeavors, such as in telecommunications, broadcasting, and advertising.
Summary
The level of investment made by any country in R & D (Research and Development) inevitably determines the readiness of that country to compete with confidence, if not with guaranteed success, in most of its endeavors, whether domestically or globally. Japan, as a nation, has shown the world the way to that economic and industrial viability founded on solid research and innovative use of science and technology. With that enviable tradition, Japan seeks to maintain its global reputation as the world community faces many challenges in the present.
