Laboratory

High Energy Nuclear Physics Laboratory
RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute
(Chief Scientist: Takehiko Saito)

Outline of Laboratory

Comprehensive understanding of the interactions among microscopic particles that is essential to understand the building block of the matter. We investigate the hadronic interactions via studying sub-atomic nuclei with strange quark(s), the so called hypernuclei. We are leading the projects for studying hypernuclei with heavy ion beams at the accelerator facilities in Germany and China. We also initiated and lead the project to study hypernuclei by analyzing the nuclear emulsion data with machine learning techniques. We also lead the development of precise neutron imaging techniques at the world best precision by using particle tracking detectors.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Postdoctoral Researcher: 1 position

Job description

Applicants will work on the KAKENHI (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research), Scientific Research (S) project entitled “Studies of quantum-interactions including multi-body forces by precise measurements of hypernuclear binding energies” with a particular focus on hypernuclear studies using machine learning and image analysis. They will also be involved in the development of particle detectors and the implementation of analysis tools necessary for the project. Participation in and contributions to other projects pursued by the laboratory are also encouraged.

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

Qualification

The applicant must hold a Ph.D. in physics or a related field, or be expected to obtain the degree by the time of appointment. Research experience in nuclear experiments, hadron experiments, high-energy physics experiments, or related fields is desirable. Experience in Monte Carlo simulations and machine-learning development is preferred but not required. The applicant should be highly motivated to take on new research challenges and be capable of communicating effectively in English.

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, up to March 31, 2030 from 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.

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 annual salary at the time of employment:
The total amount of monthly discretionary work allowance and monthly salary at the time of hiring　will be 367,925JPY 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.

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
  • *(RIKEN CV) Write the RIKEN job ad number “25-2321”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
  • *(Original CV) Write down in the notes section of your CV the number written next to the title of the job position (25-2321).
• 2.List of research achievement and publications (including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
• 3.Brief description of previous research and future research plans (within two pages/A4-size)
• 4.Contact information for 2 referees who can evaluate your research
  • *Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
• 5.Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR/UK GDPR
  If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the UK, you are required to sign and submit the document, “Consent form for handling personal information based on Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) and the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation.”
  • *For residents of the EEA, you will find detailed information about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
    Data protection | European Commission
  • *For residents of the UK, you will find detailed information about Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation) on the following website:
    The UK GDPR | Information Commissioner’s Office

How to apply

The above documents should be combined into a single ZIP file and uploaded to the following link:

RIKEN/PRI file upload box

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

If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact to the same email address.
Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

Open until the position is filled

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

After application documents are screened, only the successful candidates will be asked to have an interview.

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

As early as possible

Contact Information

RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute
High Energy Nuclear Physics Laboratory
Takehiko Saito
Email: takehiko.saito@riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.