Laboratory

Superconducting Quantum Electronics Research Team
RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing
(Laboratory head: Team Director, Yasunobu Nakamura)

Outline of Laboratory

The missions of the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing (RQC) are to deepen our understanding of quantum mechanics and quantum information, develop techniques for quantum control and measurement, build quantum computing hardware and software, and explore novel applications. We promote basic research on quantum information science and contribute to society through quantum technology.

Our team is involved in Quantum Leap Flagship Program in which we develop superconducting quantum circuits for quantum information processing. Through larger-scale integration of qubits, higher-fidelity control and readout, and longer coherence of qubits, we aim at the realization of a quantum computer. Therefore, we are hiring a postdoctoral researcher or a research scientist who has experience and expertise in experimental research on quantum electronics, quantum information science, condensed matter physics, etc. Applicants with backgrounds in theoretical research, engineering and software development are also encouraged to apply.

For more information, please refer to the following webpage:
Superconducting Quantum Electronics Research Team

Job title and Job description

Job title

Senior Research Scientist, Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher: a few positions available

In general, those who earned a doctoral degree more than 5 years ago and have excellent achievements and abilities will be appointed as Senior Research Scientist, those who earned a doctoral degree more than 5 years ago will be appointed as Research Scientist, or those who earned a doctoral degree within the past 5 years will be appointed as Postdoctoral Researcher.

Senior Research Scientist

Assists the team director, provides guidance to the team members and others, and implements the team's research agenda.

Research Scientist

Conducts the team's research projects.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Under the training and guidance of senior staff, conducts the team's research project, etc.

Job description

Development of superconducting quantum computing systems.

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

Qualification

Candidates should possess or are expected to obtain a doctoral degree by the date of hire.

Work location

RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing, Superconducting Quantum Electronics Research Team (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)

RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.

Salary and benefits

• 1.For Senior Research Scientists and Research Scientists, a one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, up to March 31, 2033 from the date of hire.
  For Postdoctoral Researchers, a one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, up to 5 years from the date of hire, with an absolute end date of March 31, 2033.
• 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.
• 3.For Senior Research Scientists and Research Scientists, when the Employee's research is scheduled to be reviewed in employee's 4 year at RIKEN, and when it is concluded that there is reason* to believe it will be difficult for the research (or technology development) to be continued, the employment contract will not be renewed for 6 year. (*The reason may relate to the Employee's abilities, performance and/or work attitude.)

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 600,000 JPY or more for Senior Research Scientists, 500,000JPY for Research Scientists, 400,000JPY for Postdoctoral Researchers.

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

• 1.Complete RQC-CV (with photo and email address)
  • *Write the RIKEN job ad number “26-932”, 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 achievements and publications
  (including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
• 3.A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.)
  • *Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
• 4.Major papers (not more than 3 for Postdoctoral Researcher, 5 for Senior Research Scientist and Research Scientist)
• 5.Summary of past research and future research plans (not more than 3 pages for Postdoctoral Researcher, 5 pages for Senior Research Scientist and Research Scientist)
• 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)

How to apply

The above documents, except the letters of recommendation, should be combined into a single ZIP file and uploaded to the following link:

For Senior Research Scientist / Research Scientist / Postdoctoral Researcher position, Superconducting Quantum Electronics Research Team, RQC, RIKEN

The file name of the ZIP should contain your contact email address.
After you upload the ZIP file, please let us (yasunobu.nakamura@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Letters of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link with the file name "RQC Senior Research Scientist / Research Scientist / Postdoctoral Researcher [applicant’s name] (Letter of recommendation)". Please specify the applicant's name, and referee's name and contact information in the letter of recommendation.

For Senior Research Scientist / Research Scientist / Postdoctoral Researcher position, Superconducting Quantum Electronics Research Team, RQC, RIKEN

After the referees upload the letter of recommendation, please let us (yasunobu.nakamura@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: yasunobu.nakamura@riken.jp.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

Open until the position is filled

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

Application screening and interview for selected applicants

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

As early as possible (Negotiable)

Contact Information

Center for Quantum Computing
Superconducting Quantum Electronics Research Team
Email: yasunobu.nakamura@riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.