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Seeking Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist (25-2703)

Laboratory

Processor Design Platform Team,
Advanced Semiconductor Science Program,
TRIP Headquarters
(Team Director: Makoto Taiji)

Outline of Laboratory

The Advanced Semiconductor Science Program promotes R&D utilizing cutting-edge semiconductor technologies, including 3D integrated techniques. Our team is engaged in developing the application-specific processors and the domain-specific processors to accelerate scientific computing and AI.

Job title and job description

Job title

Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist 1-2 position(s)

Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or less.
Research Scientist is defined as those with a doctoral degree more than 5 years.

The applicant will be assigned to an appropriate position based on your ability, aptitude, etc.
The difference in positions is as follows:

Research Scientist
Carries out research and other work in accordance with laboratory research themes.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Carries out research and other work in accordance with laboratory research themes under the mentorship and training of supervisors.

Job description

The candidates will join the sub-group “R&D of Processors for Edge AI” (Co-PI: Keigo Nishida) under the research project “Acceleration of Edge Intelligence for AI for Science” of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) R&D Program for Next-generation Edge AI Semiconductors project, and engage in research and development on hardware–algorithm co-design for low-precision Bayesian deep learning.

In carrying out this project, they will actively leverage AI technologies to accelerate hardware development, and also work on developing new AI methods. They will promote the research while closely coordinating and collaborating with researchers affiliated with other research groups. In addition, they will be involved in various duties related to the operation and management of the assigned research team.

The project is scheduled to end on December 15, 2030.

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

Qualifications

  • Must have a Ph.D. or be expected to receive a Ph.D. by the start date of employment.
  • Must have expertise in machine learning and/or domain expertise essential for accelerating AI for Science, and possess the ability and motivation to conduct research that will lead to conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications related to integrated circuit (IC) design.
  • Alternatively, must have expertise in integrated circuit (IC) design.
  • Must have strong communication skills and be able to work effectively and flexibly with colleagues and collaborators both within and outside the laboratory, adapting to circumstances as needed.
  • Nice to have ability to communicate fluently in English on R&D.

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 term ending on November 30, 2030.
  • 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 salary at the time of employment:
The total amount of monthly discretionary work allowance and monthly salary at the time of hiring will be 432,000 JPY or more for Research Scientist, and 368,090 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher.

RIKEN has implemented a telecommuting system that allows employees to work from home or other locations permitted by RIKEN.

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

How to apply

The above documents, except the letter of recommendation, should be combined into a single PDF file and uploaded to the following link:

For Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist position, Processor Design Platform Team, TRIP-ASSP, RIKEN

The file name of the PDF file should contain your contact email address.
After you upload the PDF file, please let us (trip-jinji@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Letter of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referee to the following link with the file name "TRIP-ASSP [postdoctoral researcher or research scientist] [applicant’s name] (Letter of recommendation)". Please specify the applicant's name, and referee's name and contact information in the letter of recommendation.

For Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist position, Processor Design Platform Team, TRIP-ASSP, RIKEN

After the referee upload the letter of recommendation, please let us (trip-jinji@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: trip-jinji@ml.riken.jp.

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

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 or later (Negotiable)

Contact Information

For research-related inquiries:
RIKEN TRIP Headquarters Advanced Semiconductor Science Program (ASSP)
Processor Design Platform Team
Email: taiji＠riken.jp

For other inquiries:
TRIP Promotion Divion
Email: trip-jinji@ml.riken.jp

For inquiries, please send an email.

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