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Seeking a Research Scientist (Indefinite-term) (25-1757)

Laboratory

Geobiology and Astrobiology Laboratory
RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute
(Chief Scientist: Shino Suzuki)

Research Field and Overview

The laboratory will study microorganisms that inhabit deep subterranean environments. The main objectives of this laboratory are to gain insight into the unknown ecology and metabolic capabilities of these organisms, to advance our understanding of the biological functions and the adaptive evolution, to identify and utilize novel genetic resources within extreme environment microorganisms, and to expand our understanding of the field of astrobiology.

Job title and job description

Job title

Research Scientist: 1 position

Note: We are seeking individuals at the level of full-time university Assistant Professor to Associate Professor or Full-Time Lecturer for this open position.

Job description

The successful candidate will promote research on physiological and ecological aspects of microorganisms in the environment, microbial adaptive evolution and physiological functions, microbial metabolic regulation, and the discovery and utilization of novel genetic resources from microbial communities in the extreme environments. This will be achieved by a variety of methodologies, including but not limited to microbial physiology, biochemistry, environmental metagenomics, bioinformatics, microbial cultivation, field works, microbial ecology and physiology, molecular biology, and synthetic biology techniques.
The successful candidate is expected to collaborate with technical staff, researchers, and graduate students, engaging in various laboratory activities, and supporting laboratory management to contribute to the overall skill enhancement of the laboratory.

Qualifications

Doctoral degree (or equivalent research ability and background) in the relevant research field

Work location

RIKEN Wako Campus (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)

RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.
Potential sites of relocation: Any campus, branch, or office as ordered by RIKEN.

Salary and Benefits

This post is an indefinite-term employment position. Mandatory retirement ages for FY 2025 and FY 2026 are 62 years old.
Note: RIKEN has been increasing the mandatory retirement age by one year every two years from FY 2023.
There is a Special Temporary Employment Program that allows employees to be rehired and continue working until age 65.
As an exception, depending on screening results, the successful candidate may be initially employed on a fixed-term employment contract up to a maximum of 5 years with the possibility of being promoted to indefinite-term employment after a separate review process that will take place, as a general rule, at the end of the first 3 years of employment. Remuneration and work conditions for fixed-term employment are based on the same conditions as those for indefinite-term employment.

Full time. This position falls under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes.

In principle, the first two months of employment is 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. Bonuses or retirement benefits will not be paid.

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 510,000 JPY or more
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 5 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 580,000JPY.

RIKEN has implemented a telecommuting system that allows employees to work from home etc.

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 (childcare, 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).

RIKEN may require changes of responsibilities, job category, and work place based on RIKEN regulations due to management decisions, budgetary situation, and organizational restructuring.

Other

  • *Eligible to apply for 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

Application documents

All the application documents should be prepared in English. (Only letters of recommendation may be either in English or in Japanese)

How to apply

Upload the application documents (items 1 through 6) combined into a single PDF file to the following link (Document 7 should be submitted as a separate PDF):

RIKEN/PRI file upload box

PDF file name:
25-1757_Applicant’s name.pdf
25-1757_Major Publication_Appicant’s name.pdf

After you upload the file, please notify the file name to the email address at contact information below.

About letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the above link with file name, “25-1757_[applicant’s name] (Letters of recommendation)". Please specify the applicant's name, and the referee's name and contact information in the letter of recommendation.
Please let us know the file name of the uploaded file after the referees upload the letter of recommendation. The contact information is below.
If none of your current supervisors or academic advisors can prepare a letter of recommendation, a letter from a third person will be accepted.

There is no set format for the letters of recommendation, but they must meet the following conditions: They must be addressed to the President of RIKEN, Makoto Gonokami, and include the date of issue. Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address).

If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact the contact information below.

Note: None of the submitted documents will be returned.

Deadline

Noon, December 12, 2025 (Japan time).

Handling of personal information

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

Selection process

After application documents are screened, only the successful candidates will be asked to have an interview. There will be the final interview with RIKEN executives as part of the hiring process.

Notification of hiring decision

The notification of hiring decision (conditional offer of employment) regarding this selection shall be carried out through the presentation of Statement of Working Conditions or a Conditional Offer of Employment issued by RIKEN.

Start of Employment

RIKEN expects that the successful candidate will be able to take up this position at the earliest opportunity after July 1, 2026.
Other conditions at the time of appointment will be negotiable.

Contact Information

For inquiries concerning the research

Dr. Shino Suzuki (Chief Scientist)
Email: shino.suzuki@riken.jp

For other inquiries

Pioneering Science Promotion Division
Email: pri_j1@ml.riken.jp

Note: No inquiries on the selection process and results will be answered.

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