Seeking a Division Director (Principal Investigator, Indefinite-term) (26-566)

Japanese Page

Laboratory

Experimental Animal Division
RIKEN BioResource Research Center

Research Field and Overview

RIKEN is responsible for the development, operation, and advancement of large-scale research infrastructures that serve as flagship scientific platforms for the nation. As part of this mission, the RIKEN BioResource Research Center (BRC) conducts the collection, preservation, quality control, and distribution of bioresources that are indispensable for life science research, while also promoting research and development to facilitate the effective utilization of these bioresources. RIKEN BRC now has an open call for a Division Director for the Experimental Animal Division, which is responsible for the mouse resource infrastructure program and related research and development.

In FY 2002, the Experimental Animal Division was selected as a core center of MEXT National BioResource Project: Resource center program for experimental mice. Since its selection, the Division has collected mouse strains, primarily from the domestic research community, that contribute to the understanding of higher-order biological phenomena, the promotion of human health, and the treatment of diseases. The division provided these mice domestically and internationally as a research infrastructure that ensures the reproducibility of experiments through strict quality control. The Division currently preserves more than 10,000 mouse strains, accepts over 200 newly deposited strains annually, and has distributed high-quality mouse resources to more than 1,800 research institutions worldwide, making it one of the largest mouse resource hub institutions in Japan.

As a platform for the operation and management of large-scale mouse facilities, the Division conducts integrated activities including mouse strain acquisition from depositors, breeding and colony management, cryopreservation, microbiological and genetic quality control, and resource distribution. The Division will also play a central role in responding to upcoming large-scale facility renovations. In addition, to further promote the utilization of experimental mice by the research community, the Division is also working on the development of new mouse resources to respond to social and research needs by advancing genome editing, cryopreservation, microbiological and genetic quality control, and advancing research and development related to genome sequencing and phenotyping while collaborating within and outside of RIKEN.

The most important mission of RIKEN BRC is the sustained and stable operation of its resource infrastructure program. Accordingly, the successful candidate will be expected to reliably inherit, sustain, and further develop the operational foundation of the mouse resource program. At the same time, we seek an individual who can proactively incorporate the latest and advanced knowledge and technology and take the lead in development of the Division as a next-generation mouse resource institute.

Job title

Division Director (Principal Investigator): 1 position

Qualification

The successful candidate must have an outstanding research record developing and utilizing mouse resources and possess the capability to lead, as Division Director of the Experimental Animal Division, both the above-mentioned mouse resource infrastructure program and its associated research and development activities. The candidate is expected to effectively direct and further develop the Division while maintaining the existing operational framework consisting of more than 30 personnel engaged in the mouse resource program of the Experimental Animal Division. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience in distributing mouse resources developed by themselves to other researchers, depositing such resources to public repositories, and leading research teams or large-scale scientific projects.

Work location

RIKEN Tsukuba Campus (3-1-1 Koyadai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, 305-0074, Japan)

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 and FY 2028 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 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.

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.

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 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 brc-jinji@ml.riken.jp.

Work hours: 9:00 to 17:20 (lunch break 12:00 to 12:50) in principle. However, the 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 workplace 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.

Rights and Responsibilities

Required to participate in RIKEN management activities in addition to conducting the mouse resource program above as a laboratory head.
Eligible to apply for competitive funding from within and outside RIKEN.
Eligible to host 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 Japanese or English.

1.CV (include your contact email address)
- *Please enter "26-566" (as listed in the job posting title) in the "Job Posting Number" field in the upper-right corner of your CV.
2.List of research achievements and publications
(List of publications (divided into original research papers, review articles, and others), list of patents, list of invited lectures, etc.)
- *including Researcher ID 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 (Including research support, outreach activities, etc. If you have any examples of bioresource development, please be sure to include it.)
(About 2 pages, A4 size, 11-point Times New Roman)
5.Your future research plan for the Bioresource Infrastructure Project and Research Activities (including related R&D) if you are accepted for the position (At least one A4 page for each of the 11 fonts, totaling approximately three A4 pages, 11-point Times New Roman)
6.Your ideas on how you expect to manage your laboratory and mentor talent if you are accepted for the position (Approximately one A4 page, 11-point Times New Roman)
7.One set of copies of your main papers (maximum number: 5)
8.Full names and contact information, including email addresses, of 2 researchers who are able to evaluate your research.
- *Please note that the researchers should not be affiliated with RIKEN. (Previous RIKEN employment is allowed)
- *Depending on the circumstances, we may contact the person who provided the reference.
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.:
10.Letter of recommendation (2 or more, PDF format)
- Note 1: The recommendation letters should be from individuals with no RIKEN affiliation. Previous RIKEN employment is allowed.
- Note 2: Letters of recommendation should be addressed to: “Gonokami Makoto, President, RIKEN”. The person writing must sign (or stamp) the letter and date it. They must also include their contact information, including full name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address.
- Note 3: Letters of recommendation must be submitted by the person writing the recommendation. See “How to apply” for details.

▸If you pass a document screening, you are expected to submit English versions of your CV and lists of your achievements within 4 days of receiving a notification of document screening results in order to conduct an email review which includes overseas screeners. Lists of achievements include: Lists of thesis/dissertations (divided into original papers, reviews, and others); lists of patents; and lists of invited lectures). If these have already been submitted in English, it is not necessary to resubmit them.

How to apply

Excluding the letters of recommendation, save documents 1 to 8 as one PDF and the Agreement in 9 as another PDF. Upload the two PDFs to the following link:

For PI position (26-566),RIKEN BRC

Be sure to include your name and the application number (26-566) in the PDF file name.

Example: Document_Your Name (26-566)
Example: Agreement _Your Name (26-566)

After you upload the PDF, please email us at (brc-jinji@ml.riken.jp) with the uploaded file name.
If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: brc-jinji@ml.riken.jp.

The person who writes a letter of recommendation (item 10) should submit it directly to RIKEN.
The letter file should be saved as: Experimental Animal Division Director (26-566) Rec for (full name). Please tell the person who wrote the letter to upload the file to the Box link below.

For PI position (26-566),RIKEN BRC

*The email address of the person who writes the recommendation must be input when uploading the file.
*An email must be sent to brc-jinji@ml.riken.jp with the name of the uploaded file after the upload is completed.

Note 1: If there is no email of receipt within 7 days after submission, it is possible that the documents were not uploaded. Please contact us.
Note 2: Please contact us if you have trouble uploading the files.
Note 3: Application may not be accepted if there are incomplete documents.
Note 4: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

The application must arrive no later than noon, August 24, 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 the document screening, only successful candidates will be given an interview screening on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The interview will consist of a 40-minute presentation using slides. The presentation materials should cover items including a self-introduction, research achievements, research support achievements, project plans, research plans, laboratory administration, and approach to mentoring talent. A separate interview with executives will be held at the time of employment.

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 April 1, 2027.
Other conditions at the time of appointment will be negotiable.

Contact Information

For research-related inquiries:

Experimental Animal Division
Email: atsushi.yoshiki@riken.jp

For other inquiries:

HR representative
RIKEN Tsukuba Campus
Email: brc-jinji@ml.riken.jp

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