Seeking a Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher (26-1435)
Laboratory / Division
Brain-Body Interaction RIKEN ECL Research Team, RIKEN Center for Brain Science (To be established: Dec. 1, 2026)
(RIKEN ECL Team Leader: Tomoe Ishikawa)
Outline of Laboratory / Division
Our laboratory aims to understand how the brain controls other organs and, through these interactions, regulates physiological functions. In particular, we seek to elucidate how interactions between the nervous and immune systems influence the host response to pathogen infection. Ultimately, we aim to determine whether immune responses can be regulated by manipulating neural activity.
Job title and Job description
Job title
Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher 1-2 position(s)
- Research Scientist is defined as those with a doctoral degree more than 5 years.
- Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or less.
Job description
The candidate will conduct research aimed at understanding the brain–body and neuroimmune interactions that regulate physiological functions. Specifically, the candidate will combine mouse models with approaches in biology, neurophysiology, and immunology to investigate how social behavior influences subsequent responses to pathogen infection. The candidate will also seek to identify the neural circuits and brain–body interactions underlying these observed phenomena. In addition to conducting experiments using established experimental paradigms in the laboratory, the candidate will develop and test hypotheses based on experimental findings.
The job description may be changed during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extent described above.
Qualification
We are interested in understanding how interactions between the brain and peripheral organs regulate physiological functions and are seeking highly motivated researchers with experience in neuroscience techniques, such as behavioral analysis, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and in vivo or in vitro electrophysiological recordings, as well as in molecular biology and/or immunology. Experience with stereotaxic surgery in rodents, tissue sectioning, and/or staining is also preferred.
Applicants are expected to hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field, such as neuroscience, biology, veterinary medicine, or medicine. Candidates should also be comfortable working in an international research environment in which English is the primary language of communication.
Work location
RIKEN Wako Campus (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)
RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary, in accordance with RIKEN regulations.
Salary and benefits
- 1.A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, for a Research Scientist, to a maximum of November 30, 2033. For a Postdoctoral Researcher, the contract is renewable up to the end of the fiscal year (March 31) in which the employee completes 5 years of employment.
- 2.RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee’s abilities, workload 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 448,990 JPY or more for Research Scientist, and 382,610 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher.
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 Saturdays and Sundays, 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 CV or CV
- *(RIKEN CV) Write the RIKEN job ad number “26-1435”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
- *(Original CV) Write down in the notes section of your CV the number written next to the title of the job position (e.g. 26-1435).
- 2.List of research achievement and publications
(including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available) - 3.External funding awarded
- 4. Summary of research experience to date
- 5.Reason for applying for the post (Personal strengths, motivation, future research plans, career aspirations, etc.)
- 6. 2 letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant's qualifications (this usually includes the current supervisor)
- *Please specify the referee’s contact information (name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
- 7.Agreement on handling of personal information (Handling of personal information based on the Hiring Privacy Policy and the Privacy Policy)
Please review the following web page before submitting the consent form.:
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:
The file name of the ZIP should contain your contact email address.
After you upload the ZIP file, please let us (cbs-jinji@ml.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 " Brain-Body Interaction RIKEN ECL Research Team 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. After the referees upload the letter of recommendation, please let us (cbs-jinji@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
For Research Scientist & Postdoctoral Researcher Position, Brain-Body Interaction RIKEN ECL Research Team, RIKEN Center for Brain Science
If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: cbs-jinji@ml.riken.jp
Note: None of the submitted documents will 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
April 1, 2027 or later (Negotiable)
Contact Information
RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Brain-Body Interaction RIKEN ECL Research Team
Email: cbs-jinji@ml.riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.