FY 2026 call for applications for RIKEN ECL Team/Unit Leaders

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Overview

In FY 2023, RIKEN launched the RIKEN Early Career Leaders (ECL) Program with the goal of developing and supporting the next generation of talented researchers. The RIKEN ECL Program offers highly talented junior researchers with no prior PI experience or limited PI experience the chance to pursue an original research plan. To accommodate researchers at different career stages and with varying research plans, two position types are available: ECL Unit Leader and ECL Team Leader. The mission of the RIKEN ECL Program is to develop the next generation of international scientific leaders who will pioneer new fields of research. We greatly look forward to receiving your applications.

The program actively encourages the research activities of female researchers. Successful female candidates are eligible for additional research funding of up to 10 million yen each fiscal year through the Sechi Kato* Program.

*Sechi Kato (1893-1989) was a female scientist in Japan and a pioneer in the field of spectrometric analysis of organic materials. A strong advocate for support for female researchers, she was also the first female Chief Scientist of RIKEN.

Position types

RIKEN ECL Unit Leader (analogous to an associate professor/assistant professor at a university)
ECL Unit Leaders are early career researchers who enthusiastically pursue scientifically and socially significant research topics based on original ideas, and who have the potential to become leaders in their respective fields.
RIKEN ECL Team Leader (analogous to an early-career professor at a university)
ECL Team Leaders are early-career researchers who can aspire to take on ambitious research with significant scientific and societal impact, and who can pioneer new fields of research.

Note: You may only apply for one of the above position types in your application. During the selection process, if it is suggested that the other position type may be more suitable, with your consent, your application may be considered for that position.

Qualifications

Applicants should be junior researchers who have the appropriate knowledge, experience, and ability to supervise and promote research.

A doctoral degree or equivalent is required for this position.
There is no age limit.
In principle, this position entails a full-time appointment at RIKEN. Please contact us if you wish for a cross-appointment.

Research fields

Mathematical Sciences (pure mathematics, applied mathematics, computer science, information science, artificial intelligence, etc.)
Physics I (particle, nuclear, astrophysics, etc.)
Physics II (condensed matter, etc.)
Chemistry
Life Sciences
Engineering
Humanities and Social Sciences (those which border/blend elements of the above fields)

Research environment

Annual research budget
ECL Team Leader: average of 30 million yen per year (approximately 210 million yen over seven years)
ECL Unit Leader: average of 10 million yen per year (approximately 70 million yen over seven years)
Notes:
The annual research budget may be adjusted on a sliding scale, for instance, to allow researchers to receive a larger or smaller portion of the total research budget at different stages of the project to enable the flexible and timely use of funds.
In addition to an annual budget, RIKEN will also provide financial support for lab setup costs.
The program will also cover the ECL Team/Unit Leader's personnel costs (salary) separately from the annual research budget.
Female researchers in the program are eligible for the Sechi Kato Program and can receive up to 10 million yen in additional research funding per year.
Research space
In general, ECL Team Leaders are assigned a lab space of up to 150 square meters in total. ECL Unit Leaders are assigned a suitable space in their host center at RIKEN.
Research location
ECL Team/Unit Leaders are assigned to one of RIKEN’s research centers (“Host center candidates for RIKEN ECL Team/Unit Leaders”). Their research takes place at the RIKEN campus where the relevant center is based (campuses are located in Wako, Saitama; Tsukuba, Ibaraki; Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Yokohama, Kanagawa; Kobe, Hyogo; Sayo-gun, Hyogo; and Sendai, Miyagi).
Various forms of support
Two mentors are assigned to each ECL Team/Unit Leader. Mentors offer guidance and advice on lab setup and day-to-day lab management.
At their labs, ECL Team/Unit Leaders can host Special Postdoctoral Researchers, JSPS Postdoctoral Researchers, Junior Research Associates, International Program Associates, and RIKEN Student Researchers. Personnel costs for hiring these researchers are covered by each program.
It is possible to telework while employed at RIKEN; to do so, employees must carry out the required internal procedures and must also be located within Japan.
RIKEN is actively working to promote gender equality and diversity and moving to create a more diverse and vibrant research environment. For all RIKEN employees, a variety of programs are available for balancing work and personal life, including on-campus childcare facilities (in Wako, Yokohama, and Kobe), support for returning to work after a break, and subsidies for hiring support staff for researchers with family commitments (i.e., pregnancy, childcare, and family nursing care).
Please consult with us if you are interested in spousal hiring.

Employment start date

Between July 1, 2027, and December 1, 2027

Note: In principle, the employment start date is negotiable within the above timeframe. If you wish to start your research earlier than July 1, 2027, or if you need special support before starting your research at RIKEN, please share this information in the “Notes” section of your application.

Term of employment

The maximum term of appointment is seven years. (Multiple-year contracts under five years in duration, or single-year contracts will be signed.)
Note: For ECL Team/Unit Leaders who take childbirth or childcare leave during their employment, the employment period may be extended by the length of time equal to the duration of leave.

Salary and benefits

The annual salary for ECL Team Leaders is 10.92 million yen, and the annual salary for ECL Unit Leaders is 8.52 million yen (before social insurance premiums and tax are deducted). However, if the salary and benefits for ECL Team/Unit Leaders is lower than what they received in their previous position, they may be adjusted as appropriate based on a holistic consideration of the difference in the cost of goods and services between the employee’s host location and their previous location, as well as the employee’s expertise, knowledge, and accomplishments.
Social insurance coverage and various allowances (including a housing allowance, commuting allowance, etc.) are provided. Bonuses and retirement benefits are not paid.

ECL Team/Unit Leaders are automatically enrolled in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai), which arranges special employee perks and events.

In principle, working hours are from 9:00 to 17:20 (with a lunch break from 12:00 to 12:50). However, employees may adjust their work starting and ending times at their discretion as long as this change does not interfere with their duties.
Holidays include Saturdays, Sundays, Japanese public holidays, the New Year's holidays (Dec. 29 – Jan. 3), and RIKEN Foundation Day.
Paid leave includes annual paid leave (up to 20 days per year depending on the month employment begins), special paid leave (childcare, family nursing care, etc.), and work life balance holidays (up to 7 days per year depending on the month employment begins).

There are also additional systems for taking long-term leave, such as childbirth leave, childcare leave, and family nursing care leave.
RIKEN is a member of the Science and Technology Health Insurance Society. RIKEN employees are responsible for paying 30% of their medical expenses.

Smoking is prohibited on RIKEN campuses.

These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

Career support

RIKEN provides a variety of career development support for ECL Team/Unit Leaders.

ECL Unit Leaders are eligible to apply for a review for promotion to become an ECL Team Leader once during either the fourth or fifth year of their appointment.
In principle, ECL Team/Unit Leaders have the opportunity to apply for screening for indefinite-term PI positions in the fifth year of their appointment.
RIKEN provides support for researchers transferring out of RIKEN as part of the “Brains without Borders” concept. ECL Team/Unit Leaders who are hired by universities or other institutes following their appointment at RIKEN receive the maximum support (including a research budget) to continue and further develop their research without interruption while maintaining their collaborative relationship with RIKEN.

Application procedures and deadlines

Procedures

Pre-registration
To register, open the link below and enter the required basic information, including preferred position.

RIKEN Early Career Leaders Program

Note:

When applying, please select one research center where you wish to apply. During the selection process, if it is suggested that another center may be more appropriate for your research based on the content of your proposal, with your consent, your application may be considered for that research center (including its location).
Once registration has been completed, an email will be sent automatically from ecl-program@spdr-fpr.com. Follow the instructions in the email to access the website and upload your application documents.

Deadlines

For pre-registration:
July 9, 2026 (noon, Japan time)

For uploading or revising application documents and letters of recommendation:
July 16, 2026 (noon, Japan time)

Application documents

All application documents should be prepared in English and submitted in PDF format.

1. Research proposal for preferred position (up to 6 pages, A4 size)
The research proposal should include a budget plan, the equipment and facilities required for research, plans for lab staff, projected lab setup costs, and the required space (m2).
2. Reasons for your center preference (up to 1 page, A4 size)
3. List of achievements (including publications, presentations, grants/competitive funding, patents, awards, etc.)
4. Outline of your research to date (up to 1 page, A4 size)
5. Representative papers (maximum of 5 papers)
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 links before submitting the consent form:
7. Letters of recommendation from three individuals who can evaluate your work
References must submit their letters of recommendation directly to RIKEN. A request for a letter of recommendation will be automatically sent from ecl-program@spdr-fpr.com to the email addresses of references that you list in the application. Please ensure the email addresses are entered correctly.

Other matters

1. No information will be released concerning application status or evaluation details. Please note that no responses will be given to individual enquiries about the status of applications or the details of the review process.
2. Submitted documents will be handled in accordance with RIKEN’s Personal Information Protection Regulations and only used for screening applications for this position. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred, or lent to any third party without a justifiable reason. However, the application documents of candidates who proceed to the final interview may be provided to the personnel committees of relevant research centers at RIKEN. These centers may offer certain candidates a non-ECL fixed-term position. Such offers will be made before July 2027.
3. Personal data related to gender, nationality, and age may be used for anonymous statistical analysis to monitor staff diversity. Such information will have no bearing in the selection process.
4. Please note that a notification of acceptance does not constitute an offer of employment. A formal offer of employment will be made upon presentation of a fixed-term employment contract, or upon notification of an offer of employment.
5. The provisions for this position are predicated on RIKEN’s current budget and are subject to change.

For more information, please refer to the RIKEN Early Career Leaders (ECL) Program FAQs.

Contact information

RIKEN ECL Program Desk
Research Personnel Development Section, Human Resources Strategy Division, Human Resources Group, RIKEN
ecl-program@ml.riken.jp