Seeking a Research Scientist (Indefinite-term) (26-831) Full-time

Research Scientist Position

Molecule Creation Laboratory RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (Chief Scientist: Kenichiro Itami)

Molecule Creation Laboratory was established in April 2024. With a primary focus on molecular nanocarbons, the laboratory aims to advance molecule-creation chemistry through three main pillars: the development of groundbreaking molecular editing and manipulation methods, namely nanocarbon click chemistry; the creation of extraordinary materials functions through molecular nanocarbon materials science; and applications in biology and drug discovery through molecular nanocarbon biology.

Job title

Research Scientist: 1 position

Note: We are seeking individuals at the level of full-time university Assistant Professor to Associate Professor or Full-Time Lecturer for this open position.

Job description

The laboratory will pursue research centered on new families of nanocarbon hybrid molecules, actively exploring frontier areas that bridge molecular nanocarbon materials science and molecular nanocarbon biology. This research requires expertise not only in the synthesis of various functional small molecules, supramolecules, and polymers, including π-conjugated molecules, but also in structural analysis, evaluation of physical properties, and biological experiments using living systems.

The successful candidate is also expected to be involved in laboratory management in collaboration with the laboratory head, and to actively engage in interdisciplinary research through research planning, manuscript preparation, supervision of student trainees, postdoctoral researchers, and technical staff in the laboratory, and collaboration with researchers and stakeholders both inside and outside RIKEN.

Specific research topics will be determined through discussion, with full consideration of the candidate's own research and development plans and future vision.

Qualifications

Doctoral degree (or equivalent research ability and background) in the relevant research field.

Work location

RIKEN Wako Campus (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198) RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary. Potential sites of relocation: Any campus, branch, or office as ordered by RIKEN.

Salary and benefits

This post is an indefinite-term employment position. Mandatory retirement age for FY 2025 and FY 2026 is 62 years old.

Note: RIKEN has been increasing the mandatory retirement age by one year every two years from FY 2023.

There is a Special Temporary Employment Program that allows employees to be rehired and continue working until age 65. As an exception, depending on screening results, the successful candidate may be initially employed on a fixed-term employment contract up to a maximum of 5 years with the possibility of being promoted to indefinite-term employment after a separate review process that will take place, as a general rule, at the end of the first 3 years of employment. Remuneration and work conditions for fixed-term employment are based on the same conditions as those for indefinite-term employment.

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 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 more than 640,000 JPY. If you have approximately 5 years of experience, skills, and achievements following completion of a doctoral program, your monthly salary at the time of hire, including the discretionary work allowance will be approximately 680,000 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 Saturdays and Sundays, 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 etc.

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).

RIKEN may require changes of responsibilities, job category, and work place based on RIKEN regulations due to management decisions, budgetary situation, and organizational restructuring.

• * 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.

Application and required documents

Required documents

All the application documents should be prepared in English. (Only letters of recommendation may be either in English or in Japanese)

• 1. Complete CV or CV (Please include your contact email address.)
• 2. List of research achievement and publications (including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
• 3. Lists of external funds received, awards received, and other achievements including contribution to society through activities in scientific societies, joint research projects, technology transfers, and the like.
• 4. Outlines of your research and development projects to date (3 pages, A4 size)
• 5. Your future research and development plans and perspectives if you are accepted for the position (3pages in A4 size in total)
• 6. 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)
• 7. One set of copies of your major papers (maximum number: 5)
• 8. 2 letters of recommendation
• – One letter must be from your current supervisor or academic adviser(If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable).
• – Another letter must be from a person who is not affiliated with RIKEN.

How to apply

The above documents (items 1 through 6), except the letters of recommendation, should be combined into a single PDF file and uploaded to the following link (Document 7 should be submitted as a separate PDF file):

RIKEN/PRI file upload box

PDF file name:

• 26-831_Applicant's name.pdf
• 26-831_Major Publication_Appicant's name.pdf

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

About letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the above link with file name, “26-831_[applicant's name] (Letters of recommendation)”. Please specify the applicant's name, and the referee's name and contact information in the letter of recommendation. Please let us know the file name of the uploaded file after the referees uploaded the letter of recommendation. The contact information is below. If none of your current supervisors or academic advisors can prepare a letter of recommendation, a letter from a third person will be accepted.

There is no set format for the letters of recommendation, but they must