Seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associate (25-2549）
Laboratory
Laboratory for Advanced Biomolecular Engineering
RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences
(Team Director: Shunsuke Tagami)
Outline of Laboratory
The Laboratory for Advanced Biomolecular Engineering is recruiting research employees to carry out a new theme. The research overview of the laboratory is shown below.
In our laboratory, we aim to engineer functional bio-macromolecules applicable to medical and basic biological researches, by integrating technologies in synthetic and structural biology including in vitro reconstruction of target protein complexes, in vitro evolution of protein/RNA, X-ray crystallography, and structure based protein engineering.
For more details, please refer to the following webpage.
Laboratory for Advanced Biomolecular Engineering
Job title and Job description
Job title
Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associate: 1 position
Job description
The successful candidate will be engaged in research into enzymatic and chemical synthesis of unique peptides. Specifically, he/she will elucidate the synthesis mechanism of peptides containing unique modifications by analyzing the structure and function of biosynthetic enzymes. In addition, as part of the research into primitive peptide synthesis in the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research's "Exploring the Possibility of the Birth of Non-living Primitive Proteins" project, he/she will use prebiotic chemical reactions to synthesize simple yet structured peptides and examine the early evolutionary process of proteins.
The job description may be changed during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extent described above.
The difference in positions is as follows
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Carries out research and other work in accordance with laboratory research themes under the mentorship and training of supervisors.
- Research Associate
- Carries out research and other work in accordance with laboratory research themes under the direction of supervisors.
Qualification
Common to all positions
A person who is able to dedicate themselves to the job by communicating, coordinating and collaborating smoothly with people in and out of the laboratory.
Postdoctoral Researcher
A doctoral degree awarded less than 3 years ago in a field related to the [Job Description].
Research Associate
A master’s degree in a field related to [Job Description] or abilities recognized as equivalent to a master’s degree. Also willing to proactively pursue a doctoral degree in the future.
Work location
RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (Yokohama Campus)
1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 230-0045 Japan
RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.
Salary and benefits
A one-year fixed-term employment contract to March 31, 2027.
Persons who wish to work at RIKEN beyond this date may apply for available positions.
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 monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment:
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 367,000 JPY or more.
For a candidate who joins RIKEN immediately after finishing their PhD, the monthly pay at hire (including the Discretionary Work Allowance) will be approximately 400,000 JPY. - Research Associate
- The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 301,000 JPY or more.
For a candidate who joins RIKEN immediately after finishing their Master’s degree, the monthly pay at hire (including the Discretionary Work Allowance) will be approximately 310,000 JPY.
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. For more information, please get in touch with the hiring staff at mncfd-recruit@ml.riken.jp.
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 for an exemption from repayment for category 1 scholarship loans provided by the Japan Student Services Organization before fiscal year 2003
- *Eligible to apply for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).
The Yokohama Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Yokohama. For details, please send an email to the HR at kids-yk-hr@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.
Application and required documents
Required documents
Prepare the documents below as PDF files and follow the instructions in [How to Apply] to submit them. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- 1.CV or CV indicating the desired position (e.g., Research Associate) and the open call ID [25-2549] in the upper right corner of the CV.)
- *Using the RIKEN format above is appreciated.
- 2.List of research achievement and publications (articles, reviews and books), presentations, etc. in the past 5 years (including Researcher ID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
- 3.Brief description of previous research and achievements, and future research plans (maximum of two A4-size pages).
- 4.One letter of recommendation from the current supervisor, if available.
- Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address).
- The signature (or seal) of the person providing the recommendation is required.
- The letter of recommendation should be addressed to the “Director of the Center for Integrative Medical Sciences.”
(If it is not possible to provide a letter from the current supervisor, please have a third party write one regarding your current position)
- 5.PhD/Master’s degree
- 6.List of competitive external funds obtained (e.g., Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [Kakenhi]; indicate whether you are the representative researcher or the collaborator)
- 7.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
- *For residents of the EEA, you will find detailed information about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
How to apply
The above documents except the recommendation letters should be converted to PDF and uploaded to the following link after these files are combined into a single ZIP file:
- Zip file name: 25-2549_desired position_Name
- The file name of each PDF file: 25-2549_desired position_Name_submitted document No.
- When uploading the application documents by a ZIP file via BOX, please make sure to input your contact email address.
- After uploading the ZIP file, please let us (mncfd-recruit@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
*Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Recommendation letter(s) by PDF must be directly submitted from the referee(s) to the following link.
- The file name of the recommendation letter: 25-2549_applicant’s name_recommendation letter
- Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.
- The recommendation letter should be addressed to “Director of the Center for Integrative Medical Sciences”.
- When uploading the PDF letter, please make sure to input your contact email address.
- After uploading the letter, please contact at mncfd-recruit@ml.riken.jp to inform the file name of the uploaded file.
If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: mncfd-recruit@ml.riken.jp.
Note: None of the submitted documents will be returned.
Deadline
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
Selection will be made based on application screening and interview. (face-to-face or remote interview)
After documents screening, only successful applicants will be invited for interview.
*We do not answer to questions regarding contents of the examination.
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 on this open position, please send an email.
Laboratory for Advanced Biomolecular Engineering
RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (Yokohama Campus)
mncfd-recruit@ml.riken.jp
*If you have any research-related questions, please send an email.
Laboratory for Advanced Biomolecular Engineering
Team Director: Shunsuke Tagami
Email: shunsuke.tagami@riken.jp