Description
Local Subject Matter Experts for Minerva University’s Japanese Society and Culture Course (Fall 2026)
Minerva University seeks three Local Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to collaborate on the development and delivery of our immersive course, “Special Topics in Japanese Society and Culture.” These roles are designed for experts who can provide the "connective tissue" between academic theory and the lived reality of contemporary Japan. We are looking for practitioners and scholars who can move beyond delivering information to providing expert interpretation and local nuance. Note that the Fall 2026 semester runs from Sept 1- Dec 11, 2026 but work will begin in early August, 2026.
About Minerva University
Minerva University, based in San Francisco, California, offers a unique undergraduate experience for the brightest, most motivated students in the world. Minerva has been deliberately designed to teach the capabilities needed to solve complex challenges. Combining a reinvented curriculum, rigorous academic standards, cutting-edge technology, and an immersive global experience, Minerva provides an exceptional and accessible education to prepare future leaders and innovators across all disciplines.
Minerva undergraduate students come from all over the world to spend their second year in residence in Tokyo. Students live and study in a different major world city every year thereafter. These rich international experiences provide students with deep global understanding and skills.
The Course Vision
The goal of this course is to create a country-specific immersive academic experience. With the guidance of Minerva Faculty and local SMEs, students investigate topics such as how Tokyo was shaped into an emergent city and research current Japanese societal issues—such as population decline, disaster response & resilience, and food sustainability. Students do not just study Japan; they engage with it by researching and designing solutions to real-world challenges. This involves field research in locations such as Tanabe (Wakayama), Himeji (Hyōgo), and Kamaishi (Iwate).
The Role & Responsibilities
We are seeking three Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to support our upcoming Fall semester. SMEs will work in close collaboration with our current course designers and the Minerva Faculty in Residence. This partnership ensures that SMEs gain a deep understanding of the course content while fully immersing themselves in our university’s mission and unique pedagogical methods. By aligning closely with our internal teams, SMEs will be better positioned to integrate their specialized knowledge effectively into our curriculum. We are seeking candidates with a background in one or more of the following:
- Urban Tokyo Geography & Japanese Culture
- Japanese Religion/Philosophy
- Population Decline/Aging Population
- Disaster Prevention and Resilience
- Food Sustainability/Heritage/Production
Timeline: SMEs begin consultation and planning in August. These roles involve active co-facilitating educational experiences during Weeks 7–13.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaboration with FiR: Partner with the Faculty-in-Residence(s) to ensure academic content is balanced with practical, local insights.
- City Team Synergy: Coordinate with the Student Life/City Team to maximize the impact of experiential activities in Tokyo and regional site visits and regional site visits.
- Expert Interpretation: Provide local nuance and lived expertise that cannot be found in a textbook, helping students navigate the complexities of Japan-centered worldviews and social structures.
- Applied Feedback: Review student research and solutions, offering critiques that reflect real-world feasibility in the Japanese context.
- Excursion Support: Join students on regional excursions to provide on-site context and facilitate connections with local communities and experts (if applicable).
- Symposium Judging: Potentially serve as a judge during the final full-cohort Presentation Competition (‘Symposium’), evaluating the "groundedness" of student solutions (if applicable).
Time Commitment
This is a semester-long engagement with an expected total of approximately 40 hours of work. The commitment, based on SME background and availability, may include the following:
- Consultation: Participation in curriculum planning and class consultation starting in August 2026
- Instructional Support: Co-teaching/facilitating during your assigned weeks (Weeks 1–6 or Weeks 7–13). This may be in person, in a live zoom session, or at a specific location.
- Office Hours: Holding weekly office hours dedicated to your specific topic leading up to research presentations in December. Specific availability is requested for:
- Week 7 (Oct 18)
- Week 9 (Nov 01)
- Week 10 (Nov 08)
- Week 11 (Nov 15)
- Week 13 (Nov 29)
- Excursions: Attending regional excursion experiences during Week 8 (Oct 25–31), if available, with additional compensation provided.
Compensation
- Total Stipend: $5,000 USD per SME
- Excursion Bonus: +$1,000 USD for participation in regional site visits (Oct 25 – 31, 2026).
- The SME will lead 1–3 learning/research sessions during the excursion.
- The SME will assist with student supervision and participate in various site activities.
Timeline: Engagements begin in August and conclude following the final semester event in December.
Requirements
Qualifications
- Masters Degree; PhD preferred
- Deep subject matter expertise in Japanese society, culture, or the specific technical topics listed above.
- Strong connections to local Japanese communities, government bodies, or civic organizations.
- Can work in Japan and/or have work authorization to work in Japan,
- Experience in providing mentorship or professional feedback to students/researchers.
- Fluency in English/Japanese (classroom instruction will need to be in English.)
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a current CV and a brief statement of interest detailing your relevant experience, specifically highlighting how your expertise aligns with the SME focus areas, roles, and responsibilities, and how it integrates with the course vision.
Please send your application materials in PDF format to our team no later than June 5, 2026.
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