Directors and Chief Investigators

2026 Call for Applications:

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 Research Centers in mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, Earth science and interdisciplinary sciences.

In 2026 we are seeking candidates for Director positions of Research Centers (Centers) and the Chief Investigator (CI) positions of research groups. We look forward to receiving applications from many excellent scientists.

2 January 2026

KIM Yeongduk, Acting President of IBS

Scientists who are capable of conducting large-scale, long-term, group research will be selected as candidates for the Director position of Centers.

Organizational structure of a Center can take many forms including co-directorship model or single directorship with Associate Director(s).

Young researchers who are capable of exploring new territories of basic science will be selected as candidates for the position of CI. CIs will form their own research group at IBS HQ.

Centers in all areas of basic science and interdisciplinary sciences, giving priority to the field of IBS Research Areas including Quantum information basic science (Theory/Experiment), Aging biology and Neutrino physics.

Candidates for HQ Centers will be given first consideration but candidates can also apply for Campus Centers and Extramural (University) Centers.

* Should the applicant wish to apply for the Director position of a Campus or Extramural (University) Center, they must be a current or prospective employee of the host university or institution and written approval is required.

Center for Underground Physics (HQ) and Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials (UNIST Campus).

CI Research Groups in all areas of basic science and interdisciplinary sciences, giving priority to the field of IBS Research Areas including Nonlinear Analysis, Biomolecular design, Aging biology and Climatic geology.

CI Research Groups are operated within a Pioneer Research Center (PRC*) with around 5 CIs or as an individual CI group within the Institutes
** of IBS HQ.

* PRC for Mathematical and Computational Sciences, PRC for Biomolecular and Cellular Structure, and PRC for Climate and Earth Science.

** Particle and Nuclear Physics Institute, Life Science Institute, and Quantum Information Science Institute.

Each CI can operate an independent research group with an annual research funding of 1-1.5 billion KRW.

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 basic science research at IBS for a long term and must have demonstrated scientific excellence

Early career researchers that can demonstrate the capacity to lead their own research group and carry out challenging, creative and independent research in basic science

Early career researchers who possess the capability that is equivalent to that of a principal investigator at a world-renowned research institute or have great potential to reach the aforementioned level in the near future

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 Center/group organization and operation plan, proposed budget and cost allocation, plan to nurture and support early career scientists, and mid- to long-term development…