Seeking a Team Director (Principal Investigator, Indefinite-term) (26-344)

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Laboratory

RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science

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.

RIKEN invites applications for the position of Team Director (Principal Investigator) to serve in a leadership position in the following research area. The successful candidate will be responsible for directing research projects from a medium-to-long-term perspective.

Field: Bioactive molecule-driven life sciences
Chemical biology is an interdisciplinary field at the interface of chemistry and biology that aims to elucidate biological phenomena at the molecular level using chemical approaches, enabling the discovery of fundamental principles of life that are difficult to address through biological methods alone. The field has also contributed to society through applications in medicine and agriculture, including the development of pharmaceuticals and plant growth regulators. Bioactive molecules, including physiologically active compounds produced by living organisms as well as unnatural bioactive molecules and chemical probes designed and synthesized by humans, form a central foundation of chemical biology research. Studies based on these molecules are expected to advance our fundamental understanding of life processes and to drive broad developments across diverse scientific disciplines. The RIKEN CSRS seeks to recruit a principal investigator who will promote biology-oriented chemical biology research and contribute to strengthening and advancing the research foundation in this field. Anticipated research areas include the development of assay systems and advanced technologies for the discovery of novel bioactive molecules; elucidation of mechanisms of action through chemoproteomics and related approaches; identification and validation of target molecules and pathways via chemical genomics; and molecular studies of chemical communication between cells and across species. In addition, research is expected to translate fundamental discoveries into applications in medicine, agriculture, and material production, as well as to clarify molecular mechanisms underlying life phenomena such as epigenetic and metabolic regulation. We also welcome proactive applications from motivated researchers who are not limited to the above fields and who are eager to pioneer new areas through integration with AI, data science, and related disciplines.

Research funds including personnel expenses will be allocated to operate the laboratory. Upon appointment, start-up expenses for establishing the laboratory will be allocated.

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)

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 2027 is 63 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, family 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.

1.CV or CV (include your contact email address)
2.List of research achievement and publications (including 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 and technical development to date (2 pages, A4 size)
5.Your future research plan for research and technical development 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.One set of copies of your main papers (maximum number: 5)
8.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.:
9.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.

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 (26-344)

The file name of the PDF should contain your contact email address.
After you uploaded the PDF, please let us (csrs-hr@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: csrs-hr@ml.riken.jp.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

The application must arrive no later than noon, August 7, 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. The interview will be held on October 19 or November 9, 2026.
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 April 1, 2027.
Other conditions at the time of appointment will be negotiable.

Contact Information

RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
Email: csrs-hr@ml.riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.

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