Laboratory

Quantum System Architecture Laboratory
RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute
(Chief Scientist: Kae Nemoto)

Outline of Laboratory

Established in June this year at RIKEN's Wako Campus, the Quantum System Architecture Laboratory aims to pioneer new frontiers in quantum science and technology by exploring its fundamental principles through the lens of design and by developing novel quantum technologies together with practical approaches for their implementation. Our work is primarily theoretical and is supported by numerical simulations and close collaborations with experimental research groups both in Japan and internationally.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Research Scientist: 1 position

Note: We are seeking individuals at the level of full-time university Assistant Professor to Associate Professor or Full-Time Lecturer for this open position.

Job description

Our research group is seeking highly motivated researchers who are eager to help build and shape a new research program from the ground up. The group offers a broad range of theoretical research topics, including quantum machine learning, quantum complex systems, quantum computer architectures, and quantum hybrid science.

Successful candidates will be encouraged to define their own research direction based on their expertise and interests from among these broad research areas. Their work will focus primarily on modeling, numerical evaluation, and characterization of the proposed systems and methods. Depending on the research topic, candidates will also have opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary research and collaborative projects with experimental research groups and industrial partners. We encourage researchers to pursue their work proactively, extending beyond the traditional boundaries of physics.

In addition to conducting and advancing the research activities of the laboratory, the successful candidate is expected to conduct research and development on topics specified above and to contribute to the management of the laboratory.

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

Qualifications

Doctoral degree (or equivalent research ability and background) in the relevant research field

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, up to a maximum of 5 years of employment.
• 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 590,000 JPY or more. The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 5 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 640,000 JPY.

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.

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

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

• 1.Complete CV or CV
  • *Email address is required.
  • *Write the RIKEN job ad number “26-907”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
• 2.List of research achievement and publications (including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
• 3.Lists of external funds received, awards received, and other achievements including contribution to society through activities in scientific societies, joint research projects, technology transfers, and the like.
• 4.Outlines of your research and development projects to date (3 pages, A4 size)
• 5.Your future research and development plans and perspectives if you are accepted for the position (3 pages in A4 size in total)
• 6.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.:
  • *Hiring Privacy Policy
  • *The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  • *Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation)
• 7.One set of copies of your major papers (maximum number: 5)
• 8.Two letters of recommendation
  • -One letter must be from your current supervisor or academic adviser (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable).
  • -Another letter must be from a person who is not affiliated with RIKEN.

How to apply

The above documents (items 1 through 6), except the letters of recommendation, should be combined into a single PDF file and uploaded to the following link (Document 7 should be submitted as a separate PDF file):

RIKEN/PRI file upload box

PDF file name:

26-907_Applicant’s name.pdf

26-907_Major Publication_Appicant’s name.pdf

After you upload the file, please notify the file name to the email address at contact information below.

About letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the above link with file name, “26-907_[applicant’s name] (Letters of recommendation)". Please specify the applicant's name, and the referee's name and contact information in the letter of recommendation.
Please let us know the file name of the uploaded file after the referees upload the letter of recommendation. The contact information is below.
If none of your current supervisors or academic advisors can prepare a letter of recommendation, a letter from a third person will be accepted.

There is no set format for the letters of recommendation, but they must meet the following conditions:

• *Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address) and the date of issue.
• *They must be addressed to the President of RIKEN, Makoto Gonokami.

If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact to the same email address.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

August 31, 2026 (noon, Japan 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.

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

RIKEN expects that the successful candidate will be able to take up this position at the earliest opportunity after April 1, 2027.

Other conditions at the time of appointment will be negotiable.

Contact information

For inquiries concerning the research

RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute
Quantum System Architecture Laboratory
Dr. Kae Nemoto (Chief Scientist)
Email: kae.nemoto@riken.jp

For other inquiries

Pioneering Science Promotion Division
Email: pri_j1@ml.riken.jp

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