Seeking Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher (26-1512)
Laboratory / Division
Neural Circuits and Computations Unit
RIKEN Center for Brain Science
(Unit Leader: Louis Kang)
Outline of Laboratory / Division
Our Unit studies how computations performed by circuits in the brain produce neural phenomena and cognitive functions. We are particularly interested in the hippocampal region and its involvement in memory, spatial cognition, and neurological diseases. We employ a broad range of theoretical techniques, including mathematical analysis, network simulations, and machine learning. To test our theories and broaden their impact, we work with experimental data and collaborate with experimentalists. Visit the Kang Unit group website for more information.
Job title and Job description
Job title
Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist: 1 position
Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or less.
Research Scientist is defined as those with a doctoral degree more than 5 years.
Job description
The successful candidate will investigate the computational principles of dreaming using biological neural network models, machine learning, and neural data analysis. This position is partly funded by a JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A) on the topic of Scientific Dream Interpretation, which brings together 9 principal investigators across Japan. Its goal is to establish the core features of dreams across neural systems, including their mechanisms, functions, and connections to disease. Visit the Scientific Dream Interpretation grant project website for more information.
As part of this broader initiative, the successful candidate will advance the goal of our group to explore the computational contributions of dreams to both biological and artificial systems. The position will involve one or more of these overarching research directions: (1) using neural network models to explain how dreams are produced by brain circuits, (2) investigating the role of dream computations in biological systems, possibly through comparisons with artificial systems, and (3) seeking inspiration from the biological process of dreaming to improve machine learning models. These directions will be pursued in close collaboration with other grant members, whose experiments across many different animal species will inform our simulations and test our predictions.
The job description may be changed during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extent described above.
Qualification
We seek outstanding researchers with strong quantitative expertise and deep interest in understanding the brain, including a willingness to work with complex and messy neural datasets. The candidate must possess a doctoral degree in computer science, physics, engineering, mathematics, statistics, neuroscience, psychology, or a related field. The candidate should have experience designing, implementing, and analyzing neural networks for neural circuit modeling and/or machine learning. Fluency with mathematical expressions is necessary, and familiarity with neural data is ideal.
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, to a maximum of the end of July 31, 2030.
- 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 382,610 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher, and 448,990 JPY or more for Research Scientist.
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 “26-1512”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
- *Write down in the notes section of your CV the number written next to the title of the job position (e.g. 26-1512).
- 2.List of research achievement and publications
(including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available) - 3.Awards and External Funding, etc
- 4.Summary of research experience to date
- 5.Reason for applying for the post (personal strengths, motivation, future research plans, career aspirations, etc.)
- 6.One or two letters of recommendation from individual 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 for the letters of recommendation, should be combined into a single PDF and uploaded to the following link:
For Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist position, Neural Circuits and Computations Unit, RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Please use the following filename format: ApplicantFamilyName_ApplicantGivenName.pdf.
Letters of recommendation should be directly uploaded from referees also to
For Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist position, Neural Circuits and Computations Unit, RIKEN Center for Brain Science.
Please use the following filename format: ApplicantFamilyName_ApplicantGivenName_Letter.pdf.
Please specify the applicant's name, and referee's name and contact information in the letter of recommendation.
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
As soon as possible after the candidate is selected (Negotiable)
Contact Information
RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Neural Circuits and Computations Unit
Email: louis.kang@riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.