Seeking a Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher (25-860) Full-time

Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Scientist or postdoctoral researcher: 1 position.

Position-specific tasks are as follows:

Research Scientist: Carry out research and other work in accordance with research themes of the laboratory.

Postdoctoral Researcher: Carry out research and other work in accordance with laboratory research themes under the mentorship and training of supervisors.

Research related to the organoid development such as lung, spinal chord, and kidney and control organoid architecture by providing spatial information to the cells. It is essential to design the suitable culture conditions based on development in vivo, reconstitute environment with engineering technologies to give orientation, and analyze the cellular composition and functions of developed organoids.

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

A person who is able to dedicate themselves to the job by communicating, coordinating and collaborating smoothly with people in and out of the laboratory.

A PhD holder in the area related to the job description.

A PhD holder who earned a doctorate within the past 5 years in the area related to the job description. Including those who expect to obtain a doctoral degree before starting the position.

RIKEN Kobe Campus-East-West 6-7-1 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047 (Integrated Innovation Building). RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.

A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, to a maximum of March 31, 2029. Salary will be an annual salary based on experience, ability, and performance, and will consist of a base salary and a variable salary. The monthly base salary is 384,000 JPY for Research Scientist, 327,200 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher. The monthly base salary and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations. Discretionary work, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.

The approximate amount of annual salary at the time of employment: The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be more than 432,000 JPY for Research Scientist, and 368,000 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher.

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. For more information, please get in touch with the hiring staff at kobe-jobs@riken.jp.

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).

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@riken.jp.

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.

Also, eligible for an exemption from repayment for category 1 scholarship loans provided by the Japan Student Services Organization before the fiscal year 2003, and eligible for applying for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).

Required documents:

1. Complete CV or CV Email address is required. Application Number [25-860] and position to apply (e.g. : Research Scientist) should be clearly written at top-right in the margin. Format is free. Or the format attached is available.

2. List of research achievement and publications (Please categorize: Original article, Review article, Book, Conference presentation, Others) (including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)

3. Summary of past research and the result (about 2 pages of A4 paper)

4. Plans for the future research once appointed (about 1 page of A4 paper)

5. Acquisition of competitive external funds (e.g. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research) (Please write: Representative, Contribution)

6. Two letters of recommendation (including one from the current supervisor, If available) The recommendation letters should be addressed to “Center Director, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research”. Please specify the referee's contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number and email address). If it is difficult to obtain the recommendation letters from immediate manager or current supervisor, please obtain a letter from a third party. The referee should not be a person who belongs to the laboratory you apply for.

7. Certificate of degree awarded or PhD diploma (copy), Certificate of graduation from the last school or graduation certificate from the last school (copy)

8. Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or UK, you are required to submit the document, “Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR and Regulation of the European Parliament and of the council of on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (UK General Data Protection Regulation)” with your signature.

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

(25-860) Application for Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher of Human Biomimetic System RIKEN Hakubi Research Team

The uploaded file name should contain the job ad number “25-860” and the applicant's name. When you upload the file, your contact email address is required. After you uploaded the file, please let us (kobe-jobs@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Recommendation letters must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link with the file name “Human Biomimetic System RIKEN Hakubi Research Team [applicant's name] (Recommendation letter)”. Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

After the referees uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (kobe-jobs@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file. If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: kobe-jobs@riken.jp.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Selection will be made based on application screening and interview. After documents screening, only successful applicants will be invited for interview. No inquiries on the selection process and results will be answered.

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.

October 1, 2025 or later.

For inquiries on this open position, please contact below by email: Research Personnel Affairs Section, Human Resources Strategy Division, Human Resources Group, RIKEN kobe-jobs@riken.jp. If you have any research-related questions, please contact masaya.hagiwara@riken.jp (Human Biomimetic System RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, Dr. Hagiwara).