Seeking a Senior Research Scientist, Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher (26-750) Part-time

Senior Research Scientist, Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher

The RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) is seeking a Senior Research Scientist, Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher. The Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) views the functions of molecules, cells, and organs that support all life stages of organisms as a dynamic system, and aims to elucidate developmental, growth and aging phenomena as well as apply their findings to develop regenerative medicine and diagnostics, thereby contributing to the extension of healthy life expectancies.

BDR is launching the “BDR–RISE Program,” which provides early-career researchers with diverse research experience through collaborative research projects spanning multiple laboratories within BDR, and supports their autonomous career development. Under this program, applicants are invited to propose a collaborative research project that involves two or more BDR laboratories. After being selected, the successful candidate will hold a joint appointment across the relevant laboratories and conduct the proposed project as a “BDR–RISE Program Fellow”. Selected projects will receive research funding support. By conducting research in multiple laboratories with different fields and expertise, fellows can acquire a broad perspective and skills beyond a single discipline.

Research funding of 3,000,000 JPY per year per project will be provided. The funding will be allocated to the host and partner laboratories as part of their research budgets and executed under the approval of the laboratory heads.

The successful candidate will conduct the collaborative research project proposed at the time of application. The proposed project must involve research themes across at least two laboratories listed below. Upon appointment, the candidate will hold a joint appointment across the laboratories and carry out the collaborative project. Among the participating laboratories, one will serve as the host laboratory (primary affiliation), and the other(s) will serve as partner laboratory/laboratories (joint affiliation).

Participating laboratories in the BDR–RISE Program include:

• Laboratory for Developmental Dynamics
• Laboratory for Cell Polarity Regulation
• Laboratory for Brain Organoid
• Chrono-Developmental Biology RIKEN ECL Research Team
• Laboratory for AI Biology
• Laboratory for Nutritional Biology
• Laboratory for Neural Stem Cell Research
• Laboratory for Ultrastructural Research
• Sexual Reproduction System RIKEN ECL Research Unit
• Laboratory for Chromosome Segregation
• Laboratory for Heart Regeneration
• Laboratory for Genetic Engineering Technology
• Laboratory for Multimodal AI Framework
• Laboratory for Quantitative Biology of Cell Fate Decision
• Laboratory for Developmental Genome System
• Metabolic and Behavioral Physiology RIKEN ECL Research Team
• Laboratory for Physical Biology
• Laboratory for Gametogenesis
• Laboratory for Cell-Free Protein Synthesis
• Laboratory for Prediction of Cell Systems Dynamics
• Laboratory for Hibernation Biology
• Laboratory for Computational Molecular Design
• Laboratory for Human Organogenesis
• Laboratory for Biologically Inspired Computing
• Laboratory for Human Biomimetic System
• Laboratory for Brain Connectomics Imaging
• Laboratory for Developmental Epigenetics
• Laboratory for Tissue Microenvironment
• Laboratory for Multiscale Biosystem Dynamics
• Laboratory for Comparative Connectomics
• Laboratory for Developmental Morphogeometry
• Laboratory for Lung Development and Regeneration
• Laboratory for Homeodynamics
• Laboratory for Comprehensive Bioimaging
• Laboratory for Epithelial Morphogenesis

Applicants must contact the heads/PIs of the prospective host and partner laboratories to confirm their willingness to participate under this call and to discuss the research proposal.

• Pre-application consultation: Contact the heads/PIs of the laboratories you wish to collaborate with (prospective host and partner laboratories) and confirm whether they can accept you under this call. Contact information is available on the BDR laboratory pages.
• Define the collaborative project: After confirming acceptance, share and discuss your proposed project with the PIs of the host and partner laboratories, and finalize the collaborative project plan. Please also coordinate which laboratory will serve as the host laboratory (primary affiliation).

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

Depending on the period of operation of each laboratory, some laboratories may not be designated as the host laboratory (primary affiliation) under this program. Even in such cases, they may participate in the collaborative research project as a partner laboratory (joint affiliation). Applicants should consult fully with the relevant heads/PIs during the pre-application consultation regarding the designation of the host and partner laboratories.

The work location will vary depending on the location of the laboratory to which the successful candidate is assigned. RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary, in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

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.

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 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. 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 Administration Section at kobe-kosei@ml.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.

* Eligible to apply for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).

Required documents include a complete CV, list of research achievements and publications, summary of past research and the result, research plan (collaborative research proposal), two letters of recommendation, certificate of degree awarded or PhD diploma (copy), and agreement on handling of personal information.

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

(26-750) Application for a Senior Research Scientist/Research Scientist/Postdoctoral Researcher of the Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research

The uploaded file name should contain the job ad number “26-750” 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.

The letters of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link with the file name “Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research [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 uploaded the letter of recommendation, 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.

Application deadline: November 30, 2026. Notification of document screening results: early-December 2026. Interviews: December 15, 2026, January 15, 2027, or January 19, 2027.

The