Seeking a Team Director (Principal Investigator, Indefinite-term) (26-686)

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Laboratory

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 Center for Advanced Photonics (RAP) is a research hub where scientists from diverse fields of quantum photonics come together to pioneer cutting-edge science driven by light. RAP conducts a wide field of ambitious research projects, including the exploration of matter through attosecond laser pulses, the development of novel spatiotemporal measurement techniques using ultra-precise optical lattice clocks, terahertz quantum electronics, foundational photonic technologies for the next generation of quantum metrology, and advanced space exploration.
Under Riken’s Fifth Mid- to Long-Term Plan, which began in FY2025, RAP aims to unlock new potential as an international research center by fostering close and flexible collaboration across its wide-ranging photonics research fields and accelerating interdisciplinary and integrative research initiatives.

We invite 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: Quantum Metrology

This call seeks a principal investigator to lead a laboratory in quantum metrology based on ultra-high-precision spectroscopy. The successful candidate is expected to identify, from an original perspective, quantum systems and physical quantities suitable for measurement; develop new measurement principles and applications; and contribute to the exploration of fundamental physics and the advancement of next-generation spatiotemporal measurement technologies.
Quantum metrology has continually pushed the boundaries of measurement precision by utilizing the principles of quantum mechanics and quantum states as measurement resources. In particular, ultra-precision spectroscopy targeting atoms, molecules, ions, and even nuclear transitions has been a core technology that has driven the development of high-precision atomic clocks. It is expanding the frontiers of research beyond future time and frequency standards to include relativistic geodesy utilizing gravitational redshift and the search for new physics beyond the Standard Model. Currently, optical atomic clocks have achieved a relative frequency uncertainty of 10^-18and beyond, and the focus of research is shifting not only toward achieving even higher precision but also toward applying this exceptional precision to the verification of fundamental physics, the advancement of spatiotemporal measurement technologies, and, ultimately, practical implementation in society.
We would like to invite a scientist to make full use of RIKEN’s research environment and resources to pioneer new research fields that will open up the next frontier in quantum metrology.

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-shi, 351-0198, 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 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 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.

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 (include your contact email address)
2.List of research achievement and publications (divide into sections for original papers, reviews, and others), patents, invited talks, etc.).
(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.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.Letters of recommendation from 2 persons who can evaluate the applicant.
- *At least 1 person of the 2 recommenders is not affiliated with RIKEN.
- *There is no specific format for the letters of recommendation, but they must meet the following requirements:
  - The letter must be submitted as a PDF file.
  - The letter must be dated and stamped or signed by recommender.
  - The name on the letter should be “To: Makoto Gonokami, President, RIKEN”.
10.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 8,10) combined into a single PDF file should be uploaded to the following link:
[Riken RAP] Applications for Team Director

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

Recommendation letters (item 9) must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link:

Recommendation letters (item 9) must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link:
[Riken RAP] Applications for Team Director
Please title the file name “RAP Team Director [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)”.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

The application documents and the recommendation letters must arrive no later than noon, August 26, 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 the morning of October 23, 2026 or the morning of October 30, 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.

Contact Information

RAP Selection Secretariat
Email: rap-jinji@ml.riken.jp

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