Seeking a Team Director (Principal Investigator, Indefinite-term) (25-3619)

Japanese Page

Laboratory

Nonequilibrium Open System Theory Research Team (tentative name)
Fundamental Quantum Science Program,
TRIP Headquarters

Research Field and Overview

RIKEN's research is based on comprehensiveness and interdisciplinarity, and with free thinking as its basic philosophy, RIKEN promotes research that goes beyond the boundaries of conventional research fields, while at the same time responding to the needs of society from a strategic perspective.

Fundamental Quantum Science Program focuses on four key areas — basic physics and chemistry, mathematics, quantum information, and nonequilibrium science — returning to the foundations of quantum science and advancing research from a mid- to long-term perspective.

Non-equilibrium phenomena encompass a broad range of scales and content, including quantum computational processes, quark and gluon systems governing the interior of nucleons and atomic nuclei, nuclear fission and fusion reactions within atomic nuclei, nonlinear responses and chemical reactions in diodes and transistors within solids, and element formation in space. The academic domain pursued by this program is global non-equilibrium science, which seeks to uncover the common principles underlying these diverse phenomena.

This call seeks a team director (principal investigator) to lead the interdisciplinary research on nonequilibrium systems over the mid- to long-term. This research will aim to create a universal academic framework, transcending existing fields such as materials science, particle physics, nuclear physics, cosmology, information science, and life science. The focus will be on research that explores the foundations of quantum theory, rather than applied research.

Job title

Team Director (Principal Investigator): 1 position

Qualification

Applicants must have an outstanding research record and the ability to lead the above research field internationally.

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 age for FY 2025 and FY 2026 is 62 years old.

Note: RIKEN has been increasing the mandatory retirement age by one year every two years from FY 2023.

There is a re-employment program to hire individuals as fixed-term employees from the mandatory retirement age to age 65.

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.

The approximate amount of salary at the time of employment:: Annual salary at the time of hiring will be paid monthly in the amount of 820,000 JPY or more.

The monthly salary at the time of employment for a candidate with 10 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be 937,400 JPY or more.; If the monthly salary amount offered by RIKEN at the time of hire is lower than that of the previous position, the annual salary amount may be adjusted based on a comprehensive assessment that includes consideration of the cost of living in the candidate’s previous location as well as the candidate’s knowledge, expertise, and accomplishments.

Commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied. Bonuses or retirement benefits will not be paid.

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

Work hours: 9:00 to 17:20 (lunch break 12:00 to 12:50) in principle. However, employee may change starting and ending times at their own discretion if it does not interfere with work performance.
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.

*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.

Rights and Responsibilities

Required to participate in RIKEN management activities in addition to conducting research in the area described above as a laboratory head.
Eligible to apply for competitive funding from within and outside RIKEN.
Eligible to host indefinite-term researchers, fixed-term researchers, Special Postdoctoral Researchers, JSPS Researchers and Junior Research Associates etc.
Eligible to apply for the purchase of commodities, and laboratory space.
Responsible for overseeing laboratory members, managing the laboratory budget and handling the maintenance and use of all laboratory equipment and instruments.

Application and required documents

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

1.CV or CV (include your contact email address)
2.List of your research record (lists of publications (divide into sections for original papers, reviews, and others), patents, invited talks, etc.), ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
3.List of competitive research funds received, awards received, and other achievements including, contributions to university/institution operations, contribution to society through activities in scientific societies, joint research projects, technology transfers, etc.
4.Outline of your research to date (2 pages, A4 size)
5.Your future research plan if you are accepted for the position (3 pages, A4 size)
6.Your ideas on how you expect to manage your laboratory and mentor young researchers if you are accepted for the position (1 page, A4 size)
7.Five principal original publications
8.Full names and contact information, including email addresses, of 5 researchers (including at least 3 researchers at non-Japanese institutes) who are able to evaluate your research and are not affiliated with RIKEN.
9.Agreement on handling of personal information (Handling of personal information based on the Hiring Privacy Policy, the General Data Protection Regulation, and the UK General Data Protection Regulation)
Please review the following web page before submitting the consent form.:

How to apply

The application documents (items 1 to 9) combined into a single PDF file should be uploaded to the following link:

Applications for Team Director (25-3619)

The file name of the PDF should contain your contact email address.
After you uploaded the PDF, 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

The application must arrive no later than noon, June 5, 2026 (Japan Standard Time)

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.
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 on or after October 1, 2026.
Other conditions at the time of appointment will be negotiable.

Contact Information

TRIP Promotion Division, RIKEN
Email: trip-jinji@ml.riken.jp

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