Seeking a Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher (25-1803) Part-time

Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher

Brain Intelligence Theory Unit RIKEN Center for Brain Science (Unit leader: Takuya Isomura)

The intelligence of biological organisms is explained by optimization. Biological organisms recognize the surrounding environment by optimizing their internal representations or hypotheses about how the hidden dynamics and causes generate sensory inputs—and they optimize their behavior to adapt to the environment by sampling preferred inputs, thereby increasing the probability of survival and reproduction. Our research aims to mathematically express universal characterization of their intelligence in terms of biologically plausible neuronal circuits and synaptic plasticity rules. In particular, we are interested in mathematical understanding of the superiority of biological intelligence over existing artificial intelligence.

Our recent research:

• We mathematically showed that canonical neural networks whose activity and plasticity minimize the Helmholtz energy implicitly follow the free-energy principle (Commun Biol, 2022) and extended this to the triple equivalence between neural dynamics, Bayesian inference, and algorithmic computation (Commun Phys, 2025).
• We validated it within in vitro neural networks (Nature Commun, 2023) and zebrafish (bioRxiv, 2025).
• We developed an unsupervised learning scheme (PredPCA) that extracts the most informative components for predicting future inputs (Nature Mach Intell, 2021).

Informal enquiries and (virtual) lab visits prior to application are welcome.

• Our lab website: Brain Intelligence Theory Unit, Isomura Lab
• Our project website: Development and validation of a unified theory of prediction and action

Our project “Development and validation of a unified theory of prediction and action” is funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A), FY2023-FY2027.

Job title

Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher, 1 position

Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or less. Research Scientist is defined as those with a doctoral degree more than 5 years.

Job description

You will be expected to perform one (or more) of the following theoretical neuroscience research:

• Develop theories to elucidate the computational principle of the brain with extending the free-energy principle, active inference, triple equivalence, and related theories
• Develop neuromorphic (biomimetic) learning algorithms for next-generation artificial intelligence
• Develop a universal generative model based on empirical data using reverse engineering technique that we recently developed: for details, please see the link below.

Project website: A01 Takuya Isomura

The expected completion date of this JSPS KAKENHI project is 31 March 2028.

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

Qualification

We seek outstanding researchers with a strong theoretical/computational background and an avid interest in neuroscience. The candidate should possess a doctoral degree in neuroscience, physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, or a related area, or be expected to obtain one by the start date of employment. Candidates who want to bridge theory and experiment are also encouraged to apply.

Work location

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

Salary and benefits

• A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, and up until FY 2027 (March 31, 2028)
• RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee's abilities, work load at the time of contract completion, performance and work attitude and b) the continuation of the employee's center, laboratory or project and RIKEN's management situation and budget at the time. In principle, employment contracts will not be renewed for individuals older than 70 years.

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 367,925 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher, and 431,790 JPY or more for Research Scientist. The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 1 year of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 550,000 JPY.

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. 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

• 1. Complete CV or CV
• 2. List of publications: Circle titles of two major papers in the list (including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
• 3. Photocopies of two major research papers
• 4. External funding awarded
• 5. Research in the past and research plan (3 pages in A4 size) Your research plan must include outcome expected within a few years from your appointment.
• 6. Reason for applying for the post
• 7. A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.)
• 8. 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.”

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:

For Research Scientist position, Brain Intelligence Theory Unit, RIKEN Center for Brain Science

After you upload the ZIP file, please let us (takuya.isomura@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file. Letters of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link with the file name “RIKEN Center for Brain Science research scientist [applicant's name] (Letter of recommendation)”. Please specify the applicant's name, and referee's name and contact information in the letter of recommendation.

After the referees upload the letter of recommendation, please let us (takuya.iso