Laboratory

Laboratory for Tissue Microenvironment
RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research
(Laboratory head: Hironobu Fujiwara)

Research Field

The Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) views the functions of molecules, cells, and organs that support all life stages of organisms as a dynamic system, and aims to elucidate developmental, growth and aging phenomena as well as apply their findings to develop regenerative medicine and diagnostics, thereby contributing to the extension of healthy life expectancies.

The Laboratory for Tissue Microenvironment is recruiting research employees to carry out a new theme. The research overview of the laboratory is shown below.

Our laboratory studies the mechanisms underlying organ development and regeneration, using mammalian skin, or the body surface, as a model. In particular, the team aims to elucidate the principles of the interactions between tissue stem cells and their microenvironment (e.g. extracellular matrix) that regulate these processes. We are also interested in the mechanisms by which stem cells of the body surface give rise to diverse three-dimensional morphologies (e.g. hair follicles, mammary glands, feathers) from simple two-dimensional cell sheets during development, regeneration and evolution. This body surface diversity is essential for the adaptation of life to diverse environment, and the elucidation of this problem is considered as the next frontier in our research field. To address these questions, we use a variety of approaches, including developmental genetics, in vivo and ex vivo 4D imaging, single-cell transcriptomics, in vitro reconstitution systems such as organoids, and biochemistry. The details of our lab activities can be found in our lab homepage (Fujiwara Lab).

Our Center is an international and interdisciplinary research institute with state-of-the-art research core facilities, including light microscopy, genomics, proteomics and transgenic animal facilities. These research environments allow us to work together on challenging scientific problems.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Resesarcher : a few positions

Position-specific tasks are as follows:

Research Scientist

Carry out research and other work in accordance with research themes of the laboratory.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Carry out research and other work in accordance with laboratory research themes under the mentorship and training of supervisors.

Job description

We are looking for a person who will work on the research related to the project "Morphogenesis driven by basement membrane dynamics", which is a part of the five-year external grant Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Area (A) "Multimodal ECM" (2023-2027). Specifically, researches related to the following themes will be carried out.

• 1.Development of new tools for visualizing and manipulating the extracellular matrix in vivo and in vitro.
• 2.Understanding the mechanisms by which the basement membrane dynamics regulates organ development, regeneration and cancer development and metastasis.
• 3.Defining the molecular and cellular basis of stem cells-microenvironment interactions on the body surface.

etc. We welcome applicants who are willing to utilise the strengths of our Team and introduce new perspectives and methodologies into our research programme. Please feel free to contact Hironobu Fujiwara, at hironobu.fujiwara [at] riken.jp.

Qualification

Common to all positions

A person who is able to dedicate themselves to the job by communicating, coordinating and collaborating smoothly with people in and out of the laboratory.

Research Scientist

A PhD holder in the area related to the Job description.

Postdoctoral Researcher

A PhD holder who earned a doctorate within the past 5 years in the area related to the Job description.

Work location

RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (Kobe Campus-East-West)
2-2-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047 (Developmental Biology Buildings)

RIKEN has implemented a work-from-home system. Employees can work from home in accordance with the prescribed procedures.

Salary and benefits

• 1.A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, up to a maximum of 31st March 2028, which is the end date of the external grant Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Area.
• 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 65 years.

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. As of April 1, 2023, the monthly base salary of Research Scientist is 350,300 JPY, and that of Postdoctoral Researcher is 295,100 JPY. The monthly base salary and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations. Discretionary work, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.

The approximate amount of annual salary at the time of employment:
Research Scientists: The monthly salary including base salary, variable salary, and discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 5 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completing their doctoral course will be approximately 424,000 JPY.

Postdoctoral Researchers: The monthly salary including base salary, variable salary, and discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 1 year of experience, ability, and achievement after completing their doctoral course will be approximately 334,000 JPY.

Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).

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 (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.

No smoking on site.

These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

The Kobe Branch has an on-site daycare, Po-I Kids Kobe. For details, please send an email to the HR at kobe-kosei [at] riken.jp

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.

Also, eligible for an exemption from repayment for category 1 scholarship loans provided by the Japan Student Services Organization before the fiscal year 2003, and eligible for applying for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).

Application and required documents

Required documents

• 1.Cover letter
• 2. Complete CV or CV
  • *Email address is required.
  • *Application Number [BDR-23-057] and position to apply (e.g. : Research Scientist) should be clearly written at top-right in the margin.
  • *Format is free. Or the format attached is available.
• 3.Summary of research achievement and publications (Please categorize : Original article, Review article, Book, Conference presentation, Others)
• 4.Summary of past research and the result (about 2 pages of A4 paper)
• 5.Proposal for the future research once appointed (about 1 page of A4 paper)
• 6.Two reference letters (including one from the current supervisor)
  • *The reference letters should be addressed to "Center Director, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research".
  • *Please specify the referee's contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number and email address)
  • *If it is difficult to obtain the reference letters from immediate manager or current supervisor, please obtain two letters from a third party.
  • *The referee should not be a person who belongs to the laboratory you apply for.
• 7.Certificate of degree awarded, Certificate of graduation from the last school, diploma(copy) or graduation certificate from the last school (copy)
• 8.Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR
  If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you are required to submit the document, "Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR" with your signature.

  *You will find detailed information about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
  Data protection | European Commission

How to apply

The above documents except the recommendation letters combined into a single PDF or ZIP file should be uploaded to the following website:
(BDR-23-057) Application for Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher of laboratory for Tissue Microenvironment

• The uploaded file name should contain the job ad number "BDR-23-057" and the applicant's name.
• When you upload the file, your contact email address is required.
• After you uploaded the file, please let us (kobe-jobs [at] riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Recommendation letters must be directly submitted from the referees to the following website with the file name "Laboratory for Tissue Microenvironment [applicant's name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

(BDR-23-057) Application for Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher of laboratory for Tissue Microenvironment

• After the referees uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (kobe-jobs [at] riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
• If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: kobe-jobs [at] riken.jp.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

We will examine application documents as they are accepted. Application will be closed as soon as 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. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process

Selection will be made based on application screening and interview. After documents screening, only successful applicants will be invited for interview. No inquiries on the selection process and results will be answered.

Start of Employment

As soon as possible (Negotiable)

Contact information

For inquiries on this open position, please contact below by email:
Human Resources Section, Kobe Administrative Division, Kobe Branch, RIKEN
kobe-jobs [at] riken.jp

*If you have any research-related questions, please contact hironobu.fujiwara [at] riken.jp (Laboratory for Tissue Microenvironment, Dr. Hironobu Fujiwara)