The IBS is to recruit research directors for designated research areas

Press Release: October 31, 2012

Public Relations Division, MEST

Public Relations & Global Coordination Team, the IBS

(October 30, 2012) The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MEST) and the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has announced a plan to select research directors in designated research areas via open invitation starting October 31, 2012. Designated research areas have been selected with the goal of helping the IBS to become a comprehensive research institute in the basic sciences.

In parallel with the previous method of selecting research directors (in which a candidate chooses a research area and applies for a directorship), directors for each designated research area will be selected if their area of research serves the national interest.

This announcement complements the planned establishment of research centers laid down in the “Basic Plan for Science Belt" (December 2011), and in the “Basic Plan for IBS Establishment and Operations" (September 2011).

A designated research area is divided into two categories; descriptions of research areas are listed in order of priority, as follows:

 1. Designated Research Area: Current research capabilities are weak but further research is needed to tackle global issues, and to help the IBS grow into a comprehensive basic-science institute.

2. Specialized research area (on campus): An area that fosters basic-science research capabilities and a regional basic-research hub through collaborative research.

* KAIST and POSTECH were excluded because the institutes already possess comprehensive basic-science research capabilities.

The IBS recognized the need for a research portfolio when taking the purpose of establishment and medium-to-long-term development strategies into consideration. Those research areas deemed important were selected after consulting various domestic and overseas scholars.

The designated research areas were selected by forming research groups composed of experts from respective fields; research areas have been listed in order of priority via meetings and workshops over the past four months. Designated research areas were reviewed and finalized by the Selection and Evaluation Committee (SEC) alongside the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) at the IBS.

In order to select specialized research areas on campus, a detailed analysis of the capabilities and direction of development for campus research communities was conducted. During this process, candidate research areas and fields for regional basic research-hub promotion were identified and finalized after consulting with specialized campus personnel and experts.

The selection of directors for positions in designated research areas is different from previous selection methods, only to the extent that the research area is predetermined. The same selection standard and procedure of selection will be applied in parallel with the previous method of director selection.  Applications are accepted online on a rolling basis.

Applications for the first evaluation of directors applying for positions in designated research areas will be accepted until January 31, 2013. The selection process will begin in February 2013 and the final results will be announced in June 2013.

Directors may not be selected if the criteria for scientific excellence are not satisfied. In such cases, the research areas will be re-evaluated and modified if a director is not selected in a specific area within two years.

The IBS plans to prepare a research portfolio for all research centers by the end of this year, and aims to select and announce additional designated research areas.