2021 Call for Applications: IBS Directors, Chief Investigators and Managing Director

The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) is a government-funded research institute founded in November 2011 with the purpose of driving forward the development of basic science in South Korea through large-scale, long-term, group research. IBS is currently operating 31 research centres in mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, Earth science, and interdisciplinary sciences.  

In 2021, we are seeking candidates for two new research centres, two chief investigators (CI) who will lead their research groups within the existing pioneer research centres (PRC), and one managing director for the newly opening (tentatively named) Basic Virus Research Institute. We look forward to receiving applications from many excellent scientists.

Research centres 

Selection type

Centre category Ⅰ:

• Scientists who are capable of conducting large-scale, long-term, group research will be selected as candidates for the position of director at a new HQ centre.
• Candidates for HQ centres will be given first consideration, but candidates for campus centres* may be considered in light of the candidate’s scientific excellence and specialized research areas.
• Should the applicant wish to apply for the director position for a campus centre, they must be a current or prospective employee of a science and technology research university or government-funded research institution in Daedeok Innopolis and written approval from the university or institution is required.  
• Organizational structure of the centre can take many forms including co-directorship model or single directorship with associate director(s).
• Centre category Ⅱ (PRC)
• PRC is a type of HQ centre created to explore new territories of basic science and each is organized by gradually selecting and appointing chief investigators (CIs).
• PRC consists of up to five CIs and each CI will be given KRW 1 to 1.5 billion annual research funding, including personnel, equipment and other costs for research activities.

Note: a separate consultation will take place for research equipment and facilities that cost more than an individual CI group’s budget.

Applicants may apply for the CI position in a new PRC, existing PRC* or the PRC planned to be launched**.

*Interdisciplinary: PRC for Biomolecular and Cellular Structure (www.ibs.re.kr/protein).

**Physics: (tentatively named) PRC for Quantum Information Science.

Research areas

Centre category Ⅰ:

• All areas of basic science and interdisciplinary sciences.
• For HQ centres, applications from those in IBS designated research areas* will receive priority in review. * For more information, see www.ibs.re.kr/eng/designated. For campus centres, only applications from those in specialized research areas by campus* (research clusters) will be considered.
  * Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST): biology and chemistry
  Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH): physics and materials chemistry
  Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST): materials chemistry
  Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST): optical science
  Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST): bio-nano interface

Centre category Ⅱ (PRC):

• All areas of basic science and interdisciplinary sciences
• Applications from those in the designated research areas* will receive priority in review. * For more information, see www.ibs.re.kr/eng/designated.

Qualifications

Director:

• Must be capable of conducting large-scale, long-term, group research in basic science.
• Must possess the capability that is equivalent to that of a chair/endowed professor at a world-renowned university or a director at a Max Planck Institute in a relevant area of expertise, or have the potential to reach the aforementioned level in the near future.
• Must be able to commit to research and centre operation for at least 10 years.

CI:

• Must demonstrate the capacity to lead their own research group and carry out challenging, creative, and independent research in basic science.
• Must possess the capability that is equivalent to that of a PI at a world-renowned research institute or have great potential to reach the aforementioned level in the near future.

Selection criteria

Director and CI:

• The applicant’s scientific excellence and adequacy of research plan will be reviewed by domestic and international scholars based on qualitative assessment.
• Scientific excellence: quality and significance of the applicant’s research achievements, research capabilities and potential, and other relevant aspects.
• Adequacy of research plan: adequacy, reasonability and feasibility of the centre organization and operation plan, proposed budget and cost allocation, plan to nurture and support early career scientists, and mid- to long-term development plan and visions.

Selection procedure

Please note that the dates are subject to change.

Director and CI:

• Candidate search until March 2021: candidates will be shortlisted through an open call for applications and by a search committee*.
• Two or more search committees will be formed among the areas listed in the designated research areas to seek out and recommend qualified candidates.
• April 2021: selection of candidates for in-depth evaluation.
• 2021: in-depth evaluation.
• 2021: comprehensive evaluation and consultation by the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).
• 2021: negotiation and appointment.

Note: successful candidates are expected to start by the end of December 2021, in principle. The actual start date is negotiable under special circumstances.   

Budget

Research centre:

• The reasonability of the budget and cost allocation proposed in the application will be carefully reviewed during the selection and evaluation process for directors. The proposed budget will be finalized after deliberation and approval by the IBS Research Review Committee.

Note: the budget amount is subject to change based on availability of institutional budget.

• The research proposal in the application must include a detailed description regarding initial startup requirements: list of required research facilities and equipment, timeline, costs and other relevant information.
• If the applicant has plans to have co-director(s) or associate director(s) within the proposed research period, relevant plans and required budgets must be specified in the application.

CI group:

• The reasonability of the budget and cost allocation proposed in the application will be carefully reviewed during the selection and evaluation process for CIs. The proposed budget will be finalized after deliberation and approval by the IBS Research Review Committee.

Note: the budget amount is subject to change based on availability of institutional budget.

• Each CI group will receive KRW 1 to 1.5 billion annual research funding, including personnel, equipment and other costs for research activities.
• The research proposal in the application must include a detailed description regarding initial startup requirements: list of required research facilities and equipment, timeline, costs and other relevant information.

Position details

Director and CI:

• Must work full time and salary will be negotiated with the IBS president.
• Have the authority to organize their centre/group, including personnel, detailed research plan, and budget allocation.
• Not allowed to apply for other Korean government-funded research projects.

Note: candidates who are participating in projects awarded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Basic Science Research Programs may commence their research at IBS only after closeout or completion of the projects.

• The centre/CI group will undergo a consultation-based interim review after two years from the start date and additional reviews follow every three years thereafter.

Application submission

Director:

• Fill in the application form (Attachment 1-1) in English, save it as a PDF file with the title “applicant name_Director_submission date”, and send it to apply@ibs.re.kr.
• Applicants who qualify for in-depth evaluation will be notified in May 2021.

CI:

• Fill in the application form (Attachment 1-2) in English, save it as a PDF file with the title “applicant name_CI_submission date”, and send it to apply@ibs.re.kr.
• Applicants who qualify for in-depth evaluation will be notified in May 2021.

Inquiries

• Applications, selection and evaluation procedure for Directors/CIs.
• JEONG Naeyang, Head of the Research Evaluation Team at +82-42-878-8190 or nyjeong@ibs.re.kr.

Attachments: refer to IBS website.

(Director/CI) https://www.ibs.re.kr/eng/director2021.

(Managing director) https://www.ibs.re.kr/eng/virus2021.

Managing director of the Basic Virus Research Institute

 Overview

We are seeking a managing director who will oversee operations for the newly opening (tentatively named) Basic Virus Research Institute while at the same time conducting basic virus research as a head of a (tentatively named) Research Centre within the Institute.

Please note that in future years, directors of research centres will take turns serving as the managing director of the Institute for predetermined lengths of time. 

Research areas

All areas of basic research in virology.

Qualifications

• Must be capable of conducting large-scale, long-term, group research in basic science.
• Must possess the capability that is equivalent to that of a chair/endowed professor at a world-renowned university or a director at a Max Planck Institute in a relevant area of expertise, or have the potential to reach the aforementioned level in the near future.
• Have a strong drive and self-motivation to contribute to strengthening the virus research capabilities of South Korea through collaboration and cooperation with basic virus research communities at home and abroad.
• Must be able to commit to IBS research for at least 10 years. 

Selection criteria

The criteria that will be used in the evaluation phase to quantitatively assess applicants are:

• Scientific excellence: quality and significance of the applicant’s research achievements, research capabilities and potential, and other relevant aspects.
• Adequacy of research plan: adequacy, reasonability and feasibility of the institute/research centre organization and operation plan, proposed budget and cost allocation, plan to nurture and support early career scientists, and mid- to long-term development plan and visions.
• Contribution: experience, expertise and leadership to drive the development of basic virus research in South Korea.

Selection procedure

Please note that the dates are subject to change.

• Candidates will be shortlisted through an open call for applications and by a search committee*.
• Several search committees will be formed by fields and composed of domestic and international scholars to seek out and recommend qualified candidates.
• 2021: selection of candidates for in-depth evaluation.
• 2021: in-depth evaluation.
• May 2021: comprehensive evaluation and consultation by the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).
• May 2021: negotiation and appointment.
• July 2021: opening of the institute.

Budget

The reasonability of the budget and cost allocation proposed in the application will be carefully reviewed during the selection and evaluation process for directors. The proposed budget will be finalized after deliberation and approval by the IBS Research Review Committee.

Note: the budget amount is subject to change based on availability of institutional budget.

Position details

• Oversees the institute’s overall operations.
• Must work full time and salary will be negotiated with the IBS president.
• Have the authority to organize their research centre, including personnel, detailed research plan, and budget allocation.
• Not allowed to apply for other Korean government-funded research projects.

Note: candidates who are participating in projects awarded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Basic Science Research Programs may commence their research at IBS only after closeout or completion of the projects.

The research centre will undergo a consultation-based interim review after two years from the start date and additional reviews follow every three years thereafter.

Application submission

• Fill in the application form (Attachment 2-1) in English, save it as PDF file with the title “applicant name_Managing Director_submission date”, and send it to apply@ibs.re.kr.
• Applicants who qualify for in-depth evaluation will be notified in March 2021.

Inquiries

• Establishment and operation of the institute: KANG Dong Woo, Head of the Strategy and Policy Office at +82-42-878-8191 or dwkang@ibs.re.kr.
• Applications, selection and evaluation procedure for the managing director: JEONG Naeyang, Head of the Research Evaluation Team at +82-42-878-8190 or nyjeong@ibs.re.kr.

Attachments: refer to IBS website.

(Director/CI) https://www.ibs.re.kr/eng/director2021.

(Managing director) https://www.ibs.re.kr/eng/virus2021.

Expired