Seeking a few Postdoctoral Researcher (25-1769) Full-time

Postdoctoral Researcher

We are working on the ultrafast shaping of free-electron beams and the application to the ultrafast imaging of chemical dynamics and collisional events. Details of our laboratory can be found at Ultrashort Electron Beam Science RIKEN Hakubi Research Team website. If you are considering applying, please feel free to contact us by email (akemi.ishikawa.wh@riken.jp).

The successful candidate will work on one or more of the following projects:

• Experimental research on ultrafast optical modulation of electron beams through the development of multiple light sources covering a broad spectral range (from ultraviolet to terahertz).
• Experimental research on the attosecond and femtosecond structural dynamics of gas-phase atoms and molecules, as well as solid crystals, through laser-pump—electron-probe measurements.
• Development of novel electron microscopes through numerical simulation-based device design.

The job description may be changed during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extent described above.

Candidates should be able to communicate effectively with colleagues and collaborators. Candidates should have obtained a doctoral degree through experimental research primarily involving ultrafast laser experiments, electron microscopy observations, or particle accelerator experiments by the date of employment.

RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198) RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.

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 approximate amount of salary at the time of employment: The total amount of monthly discretionary work allowance and monthly salary at the time of hiring will be 382,610 JPY or more.

RIKEN has a telecommuting system, but this position requires attendance at the work location. Therefore, the telecommuting system is not available for this position, in principle.

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. If multiple candidates are found to have the same aptitude following a fair assessment, active efforts will be made to recruit female candidates.

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

Complete CV or CV. (RIKEN CV) Write the RIKEN job ad number “25-1769”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.

List of conference presentations and publications (including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)

A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.)

Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR/UK GDPR If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the UK, you are required to sign and submit the document, “Consent form for handling personal information based on 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, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) and the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation.” For residents of the EEA, you will find detailed information about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website: Data protection | European Commission. For residents of the UK, you will find detailed information about 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) on the following website: The UK GDPR | Information Commissioner's Office.

The above documents except the letter of recommendation combined into a single ZIP file or PDF file should be uploaded to the following link:

Postdoctoral Researcher position, Ultrashort Electron Beam Science RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics

The file name of the ZIP or PDF should contain your name. When you upload the file, your contact email address is required. After you uploaded the ZIP file, please let us (akemi.ishikawa.wh@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

The letter of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link with the file name of “[applicant's name]_Recommendation_letter.pdf”. Please specify the applicant's name, and recommender's name, affiliation, and contact information (email address and tel. number) in the letter.

When the referees upload the file, the contact email address is required.

If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact the email address at contact information below.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Open until the position is filled

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.

Document screening and interview for selected applicants

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.

On or after April 1, 2026

Updated as of Feb 10, 2026: “Job title” and “Salary and benefits”

Ultrashort Electron Beam Science RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics Email: akemi.ishikawa.wh@riken.jp For inquiries, please send an email.