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[Female only] Seeking a few Postdoctoral Researchers (25-1439)

Laboratory

RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science
(Director: Hiroyoshi Sakurai)

Outline of Laboratory

Promoting science and technology related to "element transmutation" founded by Dr. Yoshio Nishina more than 80 years ago, RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science challenges two ultimate questions: "How are elements created in the universe?" and "Can human beings freely transmute elements?" By returning the research results obtained to society, we are trying to solve the environmental, energy and resource problems faced by humankind.
The Nishina Center operates the RI Beam Factory (RIBF), the world's highest performing heavy ion accelerator facility where radioisotopes that do not exist in nature are artificially created. The Nishina Center promotes researches on the synthesis of superheavy elements with one prime example being nihonium, researches in the fields of magic numbers, nucleosynthesis in the universe, and reducing radioactive waste, as well as theoretical research linking these fields.

For more information, please refer to the following webpage:
About The Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science

Job title and Job description

Job title

Postdoctoral Researcher a few positions (Female only)

In principle, Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those who obtained a doctoral degree no more than 5 years ago.

Job description

Postdoctoral Researchers who are hired will be asked to set and promote their own research projects related to any of the following research fields A to J below:

  • A.Upgrade of the RIBF research infrastructure including BigRIPS in-flight separator, SAMURAI spectrometer, the beamline detectors and the data acquisition system.
  • B.Development and upgrading of large-scale experimental equipment at RIBF
  • C.Studies on nuclear reactions and dynamical phenomena in nuclear systems
  • D.R&D on stopped and slowed-down RI beams and interdisciplinary research using particle beams
  • E.Studies on production, nuclear and chemical properties of superheavy elements
  • F.Research on Astro-Glaciology using ice-core analysis with “RIKEN-LMS” or Simulation studies in Astro-Earth Sciences using Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model
  • G.Experimental study of multi-nucleon forces explored through few-nucleon scattering
  • H.Studies on hadron and nuclear systems utilizing mesons or muons.
  • I.Beam simulation of high-intensity accelerators contributing to nuclear fusion research and high-level radioactive waste reduction
  • J.Production and application studies of radioisotopes at RIBF

They will be assigned to one of the following Groups and Laboratories at the Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science according to the research topics they have chosen:

If there are any changes in job description during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extension described above, it will be made within the scope of each job description A through J determined at the time of hiring. During the term of the contract or at the time of contract renewal, for example, the work of a person engaged in research project A can not be changed to B (i.e., a change in the Letter I.D. of the research project will not be made).

Qualification

The candidate should possess a doctoral degree in relevant fields, or be a prospective PhD candidate who is scheduled to obtain a doctoral degree before the first day of work.
Applicants are not required to have any experience in research and development related to the research topics listed in the [Job Description] section.
Able to start work in FY 2026 (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027)

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

  • 1.A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, to a maximum of 5 years from the initial date of hire.
  • 2.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.
  • 3.There will be an interim review around the third year.

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 monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 367,925 JPY or more.

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 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.
In compliance with Article 8 of the Equal Employment Opportunity Law (Special Provisions of Measures Pertaining to Women Workers), this type of recruitment is carried out as a measure to attain adequate levels of female representation.

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 (with email address)
    • *Write the RIKEN job ad number “25-1439”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
  • 2.List of research achievement and publications
    (including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
  • 3.3 set of copies of your major papers
  • 4.Summary of major achievements to date (two pages A4 sized paper)
  • 5.Name of the Group or Laboratory you wish to be affiliated with
  • 6.Research subject you wish to pursue if hired and its outline (about two pages on A4 paper)
  • 7.A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor
    • A letter of recommendation must be addressed to Dr. Hiroyoshi Sakurai, the Director of RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science.
    • Please write the recommender’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address) and date of entry in the letter of recommendation.
    • If none of your current supervisors is available to prepare a letter of recommendation, a letter from a third person will be accepted.
  • 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.
    • *You will find detailed information about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
      Data protection | European Commission
    • *You will find detailed information about 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 GDPR) on the following website:
      The UK GDPR | Information Commissioner’s Office

How to apply

1. Contacting the Group or Laboratory you wish to be affiliated with:
Please contact the Group or Laboratory you wish to be affiliated with from among the following list of Groups and Laboratory of the Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science, and inquire about your research subject before submitting your application.
List of Groups and Laboratories to choose from:
2. Submission of application documents
The above documents except the recommendation letters combined into a single ZIP file should be uploaded to the following link:

Application Documents for Postdoctoral Researchers RNC

  • *The file name of the ZIP should contain your name.
  • *After you uploaded the ZIP file, please let us (rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Recommendation letters must be directly submitted from the recommenders to the following link with the file name "RNC PD [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, recommender's name and contact information, and the date of entry in the recommendation letter.
After the recommenders uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Application Documents for Postdoctoral Researchers RNC

If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

Application must arrive by November 4, 2025

Handling Personal Data

Submitted documents are strictly protected under the RIKEN Privacy Policy and will be used only for the purpose of applicant screening at RIKEN. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process

Application screening and interview for selected applicants

Notification of hiring decision

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.

Start of Employment

April 1, 2026 (Negotiable)

Contact Information

For inquiries concerning the research

  • Research Instruments Group
    Group Director: Nobuhisa Fukunishi (fukunisi@ribf.riken.jp)
  • Instrumentation Development Group
    Group Director: Tetsuya Oonishi (oonishi@ribf.riken.jp)
  • Nuclear Dynamics Research Group
    Group Director: Tomohiro Uesaka (uesaka@riken.jp)
  • Nuclear Structure Research Group
    Group Director: Hideki Ueno (ueno@riken.jp)
  • Superheavy Element Research Group
    Group Director: Hiromitsu Haba (haba@riken.jp)
  • Astro-Glaciology Laboratory
    Laboratory Director: Yuko Motizuki (motizuki@riken.jp)
  • Three-Body Nuclear Force Laboratory
    Laboratory Director: Kimiko Sekiguchi (kimiko@ribf.riken.jp)
  • Meson RIKEN ECL Research Team
    RIKEN ECL Team Leader: Tadashi Hashimoto (tadashi.hashimoto@riken.jp)
  • Nuclear Transmutation Technology Group
    Group Director :Hiroki Okuno (okuno@riken.jp)
  • Nuclear Chemistry Group
    Group Director: Hiromitsu Haba (haba@riken.jp)

For other inquiries

Nishina Center Screening Working Group
Email: rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.

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