Seeking a few Research Scientists or Postdoctoral Researchers (26-740) Part-time

Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher Positions

Nonequilibrium Physics of Living Matter Laboratory RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (Chief Scientist: Kyogo Kawaguchi)

Our research group investigates a wide range of biological problems—from cell differentiation and multicellular dynamics to evolution and phase transitions in non‑equilibrium many‑body systems—using both theoretical and experimental approaches. We have recently been focusing on reconstituting chromatin and characterizing its physical properties, conducting studies that model intracellular functions through reconstitution experiments and numerical simulations.

We are a biophysics group that combines theoretical physics and experimental biology to study a diverse range of biological problems, including phase transitions, nonlinear dynamics, morphogenesis, evolution, and chromatin physics. We tackle these questions from fresh angles, using everything from physics and machine learning to long-term time-lapse and single-molecule imaging.

We are establishing a new laboratory at RIKEN's Wako campus, and we are seeking motivated researchers to help launch new research together.

One of our central themes is uncovering how the structural colors seen in bird feathers arise through the phase separation and self-assembly of proteins. Depending on their own expertise and interests, successful applicants will take a leading role in a wide range of research tasks, centered on in vitro reconstitution of proteins and biochemical analysis, and extending to structural and optical characterization, molecular simulation, live imaging, and genomics. The work is carried out in collaboration with our international research team (CNRS, USC).

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

RIKEN Wako Campus (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)

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

In principle, the first two months of employment are considered a trial period. 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 448,990 JPY or more for Research Scientist and 382,610 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher. For a Research Scientist, the monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 5 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 550,000 JPY.

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.

Required documents:

• Complete CV or CV
• List of research achievement and publications (including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
• Brief description of previous research and future research plans (within two pages/ A4-size)
• A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.)
• 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)

How to apply:

The above documents, except the letters of recommendation, should be combined into a single ZIP file and uploaded to the following link:

RIKEN/PRI file upload box

After you upload the file, please notify the file name to the email address at contact information below.

Letters of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the link above with the file name “26-740_applicant's name (Letter of recommendation)”. Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the letter of recommendation. After the referees upload the letter of recommendation, please notify the file name to the email address at contact information below. If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact to the same email address.

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.

After application documents are screened, only the successful candidates will be asked to have an interview.

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.

As early as possible

Contact Information:

RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute Nonequilibrium Physics of Living Matter Laboratory Kyogo Kawaguchi Email: kyogo.kawaguchi@riken.jp For inquiries, please send an email.