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Opportunities

We are seeking highly motivated and intellectually independent researchers who wish to develop internationally competitive research:

Prospective postdoctoral fellows who are eligible to apply for competitive external fellowships (e.g., JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships in Japan).
Prospective PhD students with strong research potential and a clear fit with the lab's core research themes (forest ecology). Expected to develop original research questions, engage deeply with conceptual and theoretical frameworks, and contribute to shaping the intellectual direction of the lab.
Prospective MSc students with strong research potential and a clear fit with the lab's core research themes (bird ecology, community and landscape ecology). Expected to conduct independent research with a high degree of technical and field readiness.

Postdoc Opportunities

There are no funded positions available at this time; however, we are willing to nominate strong scholars for external fellowship opportunities such as:

JSPS: Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan (Standard Program)
4.34 million JPY per year (~2 yrs) + an independent research grant (~1,6-2.4 million JPY for 2 years) + settling-in allowance (200,000 JPY) + round-trip air ticket + overseas travel insurance
Read more:
- Application Guidelines
- Schedules (deadline generally August and April)
- Selection Process
- List of Successful Fellows
Application through an Overseas Nominating Authority
The JSPS–UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme is also available every winter (deadline generally in January)

We are especially interested in projects that advance one or more of the following areas (core flagship direction):

Climate change impacts on forest ecosystem functioning
Tree diversity and composition in shaping ecosystem functioning under environmental change
Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (B-EF)
Large-scale forest inventory data and long-term ecological research
Global syntheses related to the above topics

We also consider applicants working on (secondary direction):

Biodiversity responses to habitat fragmentation and other global change
Bird community ecology and landscape ecology in urban and agricultural landscapes, particularly where projects are conceptually linked to broader questions in theory, conservation, or global change

Projects centred primarily on advanced remote sensing/GIS or highly specialised ecological modelling are not current priorities in the lab. Applicants should ensure a strong fit with the lab’s empirical strengths.

A strong candidate is expected to have a internationally competitive publication record

To inquire about self-funded postdoctoral opportunities (supported by external fellowships), please send us:

CV with strong publications
Brief statement of research interests
Concise explanation of how your research fits the lab’s expertise and current directions

Prospective Students

Admission and General Information
(Hiroshima University)
PhD Opportunities

We are seeking PhD applicants with strong academic preparation and the potential to produce research of internationally competitive quality. Especially interested in those who wish to work on topics of:

Climate change impacts on forest ecosystem functioning using large-scale forest inventory data
Responses of plant diversity and composition to global change or environmental filters, in relation to functional traits
Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (B-EF)
How biodiversity buffers global change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems
Global syntheses related to these topics

What we look for in prospective students

We are looking for applicants who are motivated by conceptual and theoretical questions in ecology, rather than primarily by technical or applied interests. Successful applicants should be interested in developing research that addresses fundamental ecological questions related to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and global environmental change.

Projects primarily focused on methodological development (e.g., remote sensing techniques, GIS pipelines, or specialised modelling frameworks) are not currently a priority in the lab. Instead, we prioritise projects that combine strong ecological questions with empirical or quantitative approaches.

In particular, we encourage research that is question-driven rather than descriptive. Studies that simply document patterns in a local system without a clear conceptual framework are unlikely to be a good fit for the lab.

Applicants should demonstrate the ability to:

Formulate clear and testable ecological hypotheses that address significant scientific questions
Critically engage with the international ecological literature, particularly work that shapes conceptual thinking in the field (leading general journals)
Develop research that contributes to broader ecological theory, synthesis, or conceptual frameworks, rather than focusing only on local case studies

Students who are primarily interested in technical training without strong conceptual motivation may find other research groups more suitable.

Our lab places strong emphasis on intellectual development, theoretical thinking, and the formulation of ecological frameworks.

For initial contact
Prospective applicants are welcome to contact us informally to discuss potential opportunities in the lab.

We typically expect applicants to have:

Strong academic background in Ecology or a closely related field (e.g., Forestry, Biology, Geography)
Solid experience in quantitative data analysis and programming, particularly in R (or Python)
Ability to critically engage with the international literature, recognise influential papers in leading journals, and develop research questions independently

If you are interested in joining the lab, please send the following materials:

Academic transcripts
CV including academic background, research experience, and publications
Research proposal or a concise statement of research interests and motivation
Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS)
Copies of publications, if available

Minimum English Requirements

TOEFL iBT: 80 or higher
IELTS: 6.5 or higher

Scholarship opportunities
There are no funded positions available at this time; however, we are willing to nominate strong applicants for internal or external scholarship opportunities such as:

Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for Graduate and Research Students
Benefits: 1,716,000 JPY per year (up to 2-4 years, including preliminary training as a Research Student) + Tuition fee exemption + round-trip travel expenses from/to your home country. Two types of application:
1-1. University Recommendation
1-2. Embassy Recommendation need to pass the initial screening with the embassy first. Afterward, the university can connect you with your desired supervisor. Please carefully review the university-provided instructions.
Hiroshima University Global Doctoral Fellowship (or see program website) offers 144,000 JPY per month (up to 1,728,000 JPY/year) for living expenses + 400,000 JPY per year for an independent research grant, for three years.
Chinese nationality sponsored by the Chinese Government through the China Scholarship Council（国家建設高水平大学公派研究生項目） fully covers tuition fees, etc.
Research Scholarship for Doctoral Students fully covers tuition fees of 540,000 JPY per year for three years, guaranteed for every “non-funded” student (check out details in the link).
Hiroshima University Postgraduate Advancement Project includes further extensive opportunities:

Research Fellowship offers 150,000 JPY per month for living expenses + 300,000 JPY per year for an independent research grant, for three years.
STEM Female Research Fellowship offers 19,000 JPY per month for living expenses + 400,000 JPY per year for an independent research grant, for three years.
Other financial opportunities and information

MSc Opportunities

Masters students (please read carefully)

We may consider a very limited number of MSc applicants whose interests align with the following areas:

Community ecology of birds
Landscape ecology in urban, agricultural, and forested systems
Human perceptions of nature and wildlife

Important note:
Our lab is not designed for introductory training in field skills or species identification. We expect MSc students to begin their projects with a high level of independence and technical readiness.

Requirements for initial contact

Prospective applicants are welcome to contact us only if they meet all of the following criteria:

Strong academic background in Ecology or a closely related field (e.g., Forestry, Biology, Geography)
Outstanding bird identification skills (visual and auditory), at a level sufficient for independent field surveys
Substantial fieldwork experience (not limited to coursework)
Working knowledge of statistics and data analysis (e.g., R)
Ability to critically engage with international literature, identify influential papers in leading journals, and formulate research questions proactively

Required materials

If you meet the above criteria, please send:

Academic transcripts
CV (including research and field experience)
Evidence of bird identification skills is required (at least one of the following):
- Documented field survey records (e.g., research projects, monitoring programmes, or NGO activities)
- Observation records with substantial and verifiable entries (e.g., eBird or similar)
- Field notebooks, species lists, or audio/photo records demonstrating consistent identification practice
Research proposal or a concise statement of research interests and motivation
Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS)
A copy of your undergraduate thesis or an equivalent research report