Environmental Monitoring and Data Technician
The Marine and Terrestrial Sciences (MTS) Section provides technical and operational support for marine and terrestrial research at OIST and for the broader research community. MTS operates the Marine Science Station and sea neXus facilities, supports experimental planning and implementation, and delivers fieldwork logistics across Okinawa. The section also provides environmental monitoring, equipment and dataset management, permitting and stakeholder coordination, and data support (including GIS and sensor workflows), alongside biological collections support and safety training.
沖縄科学技術大学院大学は、世界の科学技術の発展に貢献し、沖縄でのイノベーションの拠点となるために2011年に設立されました。5年一貫制の博士課程教育を提供し、国を超えて、分野を超えて、優れた研究者が共同で、最先端の科学研究を行っています。
85 ヘクタールの敷地に広がる大自然の中に設立され、美しい海岸とサンゴ礁を見下ろす場所に位置します。キャンパスは建築学的観点から見ても印象的なこだわりが施され、その自然の中にある大学施設を際立たせています。学部の壁を作らないことで、学際的な研究成果を生み出せる環境を提供し、また学内の誰もが、最高水準のリソースへのアクセスと研究機器の利用が可能で、共同研究に生かせるような仕組みを整えています。
学内では英語を公用語とし、50 ヵ国以上から集まる研究者コミュニティは真の国際性を保持しています。OISTは科学技術の革新、そして沖縄の経済発展の原動力となるイノベーション創出に取り組んでいます。
- Participate in field surveys across Okinawa (terrestrial, coastal, and marine adjacent sites as needed), including setup, operation, and retrieval of monitoring equipment.
- Manage research datasets from multiple sources (field logs, sensors, cameras, sound recorders, weather stations), including file organization, metadata, QC, and backups.
- Conduct routine data processing and analysis, and produce clear summaries/figures for internal reporting and project decision making.
- Work with acoustic and sound recording data (e.g., data handling, spectrogram review, annotation, and assisting with automated detection workflows where applicable).
- Support development and improvement of analysis workflows (e.g., scripting, templates, SOPs) and learn new methods as project needs evolve.
- Communicate regularly with the team and collaborators via email and Microsoft Teams.
(Required)
- Ability and willingness to participate in fieldwork across Okinawa, including physically demanding work outdoors in variable weather and terrain.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and analyse research datasets, including file organization, metadata, and quality control.
- Experience with basic data processing and statistical analysis (e.g., R or Python) and willingness to learn new analytical methods as project needs evolve.
- Strong English communication skills and ability to coordinate work digitally
- Comfortable working in a multicultural, multinational environment.
- Provide operational support for broader MTS field and facility activities.
(Preferred)
- Experience handling acoustic/sound recording datasets
- Experience with GIS or spatial analyses
- Experience deploying and maintaining field monitoring equipment
- Experience with reproducible workflows and collaboration tools (e.g., Git, scripted pipelines)
- Communication skills in Japanese
- Japanese driver’s license
In accordance with the OIST Employee Compensation Regulations
Benefits:
- Relocation, housing and commuting allowances
- Annual paid leave and summer holidays
- Health insurance (Private School Mutual Aid)
- Welfare pension insurance (kousei-nenkin)
- Worker's accident compensation insurance (roudousha-saigai-hoshou-hoken)
- Access to Child Development Center
- Access to Schooling Options
- Language Education
- Resource Center (Daily Life Support in Okinawa)
- Remote Work System
- Cover Letter ideally in both English and Japanese
- Curriculum vitae in ideally both English and Japanese
- Names and contact information of 2 referees, one of which should be a previous employer
* Applicants whose native language is Japanese are required to submit both documents in English and Japanese.
* Please be sure to indicate where you first saw the job advertisement.
* Up to 2 references may be requested during the final interview stage.
* Prior to the start of employment all new hires are required to successfully complete a background check. Personal information including employment history and academic background should be submitted to third-party administrators after a conditional offer of employment.
- OIST Graduate University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator and employer and is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty, students and staff.
- Information provided by applicants or references will be kept confidential in accordance to the OIST Privacy Policy; documents will not be returned.
- Recruiting Organization: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology School Corporation
- Prevention of Passive Smoking: No smoking indoors
- Please view our policy for rules on external professional activities: Rules for Concurrent Appointment.
- Further details about the University can be viewed on our website.
Full-time, fixed term appointment for 2 years. Contract initially with 6-month probationary period (inclusive). This contract may be renewed.
Scheduled Working hours: 9:00 – 17:30
Rest period: 12:00 – 13:00
Flextime (core time 10:00-15:00) 7.5hrs per day (Multiplied by prescribed working days per month)
Holidays
Saturday, Sunday, National holidays, and Year-end and New Year holidays (Dec. 29 – Jan. 3)
Leave
Annual Paid Holidays, Summer Leave, Sick Leave, and Special Leave
Thank you for your application. Please note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.