[Female only] Seeking a few Senior Research Scientists, Research Scientists, Postdoctoral Researchers (26-7) Part-time

[Female Only] Seeking a Few Senior Research Scientists, Research Scientists, Postdoctoral Researchers

RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS) is an international research center at RIKEN. It facilitates close collaborations among researchers from different disciplines in theoretical, mathematical and computational sciences. The ultimate goal of iTHEMS is to unravel the mystery of the Universe, matter, and life, as well as to solve key problems in modern society through interdisciplinary approaches.

Job title: Senior Research Scientist, Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher, a few positions (Female only)

Senior Research Scientist: While independently conducting research, they will contribute to the development of interdisciplinary activities in line with iTHEMS' philosophy and play a central role in planning and coordinating research projects. Also expected to actively mentor and support early-career researchers.

Research Scientist: While independently conducting research, they will contribute to the development of interdisciplinary activities in line with iTHEMS' philosophy.

Postdoctoral Researcher: While conducting their independent research program, they will also engage in collaborative research projects with other iTHEMS researchers, and participate in iTHEMS' activities outside their discipline.

Specifics of the job description and work location will depend on the laboratory to which the Applicant will be assigned. Applicants should mention in their cover letter which iTHEMS laboratories they would like to join based on their expertise and research proposal, and are encouraged to list more than one laboratory.

Applicants' research projects will be one of:

• Basic interdisciplinary theoretical or computational research in disciplines including physics, biology and life sciences, computer science, information science, as well as theoretical and applied mathematics.
• Developing new mathematical and statistical approaches to uncover the evolutionary forces acting on our genomes
• Scientific research on the mechanisms behind AI, and applications of AI to basic science
• Applications of Mathematics to other research fields
• Promoting research in fundamental sciences (such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, medical science, and information science) as well as applied sciences utilizing quantum computers.
• Integration of information theory, mathematical modeling and machine learning and their application to medical science problems
• Deep Learning in Biomedical Sciences
• Theory and methods on prediction, control and estimation
• Mathematical analysis and modeling of social behaviors

Applicants will be considered for their chosen laboratory whenever possible, but might be offered a position in a different laboratory as part of the screening process.

The candidate should possess or is expected to obtain a doctoral degree by the starting date.

Work locations:

• RIKEN Wako Campus (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama)
• RIKEN Yokohama Campus (1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa)
• RIKEN Tokyo Campus (Nihonbashi 1-chome Mitsui Building, 15th floor, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
• RIKEN Kobe Campus, South area (7-1-26 Minatojima-minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo)

RIKEN may require the employee to change work locations, if necessary.

Salary and benefits:

• A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, to a maximum of the 7 years (Senior Research Scientist) or 5 years (Research Scientist) or 3 years (Postdoctoral Researcher) from the date of hire.
• Salary will be an annual salary based on experience, ability, and performance, and will consist of a base salary and a variable salary. The variable salary will be determined each fiscal year based on experience, ability, and performance. Discretionary work, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.
• The total amount of monthly discretionary work allowance and monthly salary at the time of hiring will be 600,000JPY or more for Senior Research Scientist, 550,000JPY or more for Research Scientist, 480,000 or more for Postdoctoral Researcher.

RIKEN has implemented a telecommuting system that allows employees to work from home or other locations permitted by RIKEN.

This position falls under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes. Days off include public holidays, New Year's holidays (Dec. 29 – Jan. 3), and RIKEN Foundation Day. Paid leave includes annual paid leave (up to 20 days depending on the month of employment), special paid leave (caring for a sick child, family nursing care, etc.), and work-life balance holidays (up to 7 days depending on the month of employment). There are also additional leave systems such as maternity leave, childcare leave, and family nursing care leave. Smoking is entirely prohibited on site. These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).

* Eligible to apply for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).

RIKEN is actively undertaking initiatives to promote gender equality and diversity, and moving forward with the establishment of a diverse and vibrant research environment. In compliance with Article 8 of the Equal Employment Opportunity Law (Special Provisions of Measures Pertaining to Women Workers), this type of recruitment is carried out as a measure to attain adequate levels of female representation.

* The Wako Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Wako. For details, please send an email to kids@riken.jp.

* The Yokohama Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Yokohama. For details, please send an email to kids-yk-hr@ml.riken.jp.

* The Kobe Campus has an on-site daycare, Po-I Kids Kobe. For details, please send an email to the General Administrative Section at kobe-kosei@ml.riken.jp.

Application and required documents:

Required documents:

• A cover letter explaining your motivations to apply for this position. If there are special circumstances you would like the committee to consider, you may include them here.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)*
  • * In the notes section of your CV, include the job position number (26-7) next to the title of the job position. You may also include your research IDs (ORCID, Google Scholar, etc.).
• List of publications (including preprints)
• Research statement (summary of current and past research relevant to this position; 2 pages max)
• Research proposal (describe your research objectives over the time scale of the position [3-5 years]; 3 pages max)
• Interdisciplinary statement (discuss your views and interest on interdisciplinarity, and how you see yourself interacting with iTHEMS members from other fields; 1 page max)
• Two or more letters of recommendation, including one from your current supervisor, if applicable.
• Agreement on handling of personal information (Handling of personal information based on the Hiring Privacy Policy, the General Data Protection Regulation, and the UK General Data Protection Regulation) Please review the following web page before submitting the consent form.:
  • * Hiring Privacy Policy
  • * The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  • * Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation)

How to apply:

Application documents should be uploaded through Academic Jobs Online.

Note: None of the submitted documents will be returned.

Deadline: Open until the position is filled. We will first select the application documents that have arrived by June 30, 2026 (JST).

Handling Personal Data: Submitted documents are strictly protected under the RIKEN Privacy Policy and will be used only for the purpose of applicant screening at RIKEN. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred, or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process: Application screening and interview for selected applicants.

Notification of hiring decision: The notification of hiring decision (conditional offer of employment) regarding this selection shall be carried out through the presentation of an Employment Contract or a Conditional Offer of Employment issued by RIKEN.