Overview

The purpose of the Researcher Fellowship for Young Scientists is to develop the talents of outstanding young researchers by providing them with opportunities to select their own research themes and devote themselves to research.
Until recently RIKEN had accepted those young researchers as visiting personnel but from 2023, RIKEN is allowed to employ those with the status of the Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (PD, RPD and CPD) due to the establishment of the Young Researcher Employment Support Program for Improvement of Research Environment (研究環境向上のための若手研究者雇用支援事業).

RIKEN has proactively developed its own programs for junior scientists and will further promote diversity in those programs and continue to contribute to development of young researchers in Japan by participating in the JSPS Young Researcher Employment Support Program for Improvement of Research Environment.

研究機関で雇用する特別研究員-PD等の育成方針 (Japanese only)

Acceptance of JSPS Postdoctoral (PD, RPD) Research Fellows

JSPS Postdoctoral (PD, RPD) Research Fellows whose host research institution is RIKEN will be employed by RIKEN under the JSPS program "Young Researcher Employment Support Program for Improvement of Research Environment." Therefore, young researchers who will apply to JSPS PD Research Fellows through RIKEN or change their host research institution to RIKEN should follow the procedures below.

Applications for FY 2026 JSPS PD, RPD Research Fellows

In order to apply to JSPS through RIKEN, young researchers must have (1) the consent of the host researcher, and (2) the approval of the center director of the center to which they intend to be affiliated.

For (1), please contact your host researcher as soon as possible, as an interview will be carried out.
For (2), this is a necessary procedure within RIKEN, but interviews may be carried out as necessary.
After completing procedures (1) and (2), the young researcher may apply through RIKEN. Please ensure that the procedures are completed well in advance so that application documents can be submitted by the deadline.

• 1.

  Coordination with host researchers

  Please make your own arrangements for acceptance to a lab and obtain the consent of the host researcher.
  For contact information for each laboratory, please refer to the relevant webpages and the “Laboratories List (as of February 26, 2025)."
  *Note that this list includes information of laboratories newly set up after April 2025 and may not completely match the contents currently shown on the web pages. If you have any questions or if you need information about the laboratories newly set up after April 2025, please contact us at “riken_jspspd@ml.riken.jp“.
  Note: This list is updated regularly. Please take note of the date on which the list was last updated. The laboratories and other listed organizations may change even after April 10, 2025.
  Please contact the host researcher you wish to accept you by the following dates.
  

  Deadline for contacting the host researcher:

  • JSPS RPD Research Fellows: March 17, 2025 (Japan time)
  • JSPS PD Research Fellows: March 28, 2025 (Japan time)
• 2.

  Submission of internal review form

  Please ask your host researcher to prepare an internal review form. The host researcher must prepare an internal review form and obtain the approval of the director of the research center for the acceptance of the prospective applicant. Forms and submission instructions are available on the internal website.

• 3.

  Obtaining an ID and password for the JSPS Electronic Application System

  After completing procedures (1) and (2), we will issue you with an ID and password by email.
  If you already have an ID and password for the system in the past two years, please use them.
  IDs and passwords obtained over two years prior will be deleted.

• 4.

  Submission of application

  Please submit an application through the JSPS Electronic Application System.
  The internal deadline for submission at RIKEN is as follows. Submissions after the deadline will not be accepted for any reason.

  Deadline for submission

  • JSPS RPD Research Fellows: April 21, 2025, noon (Japan time)
  • JSPS PD Research Fellows: May 7, 2025, noon (Japan time)

Changing the host research institution to RIKEN

Young researchers who wish to change the host research institution to RIKEN must have (1) the consent of the host researcher, and (2) the approval of the center director of the center to which they intend to be affiliated.

For (1), please contact your host researcher as soon as possible, as an interview will be carried out.
For (2), this is a necessary procedure within RIKEN, but interviews may be carried out as necessary.
Once JSPSPD Desk has confirmed (1) and (2), the young researcher may change their host research institution to RIKEN. Please ensure that the procedures are completed well in advance so that we can accept you from the desired date.

• 1.

  Coordination with host researchers

  Please make your own arrangements for acceptance to a lab and obtain the consent of the host researcher.
  For contact information for each laboratory, please refer to the relevant webpages.
  Please contact the host researcher you wish to accept you by 4 months before the beginning of the month you want to change.

• 2.

  Procedures for changing host research institution

  The Host Researcher must prepare a internal review form and obtain the approval of the Director of the Research Centre for the acceptance of the applicant for a change of Host Research Organization. Forms and submission instructions are available on the internal website.
  Deadline for submission:　3 months before the beginning of the month you want to change.
  After confirming (1) and (2), JSPSPD Desk will inform the young researcher who wishes to change their host research institution of the necessary procedures.

Salary and benefits

RIKEN will conclude a fixed-term employment contract during the period of appointment as a JSPS Postdoctoral (PD) Research Fellow, JSPS Restart Postdoctoral (RPD) Research Fellow, or JSPS Cross-border Postdoctoral (CPD) Fellow. If a JSPS Postdoctoral Researcher has an interruption in their appointment period as stipulated by JSPS, RIKEN may extend the employment contract period up to the extended period approved by JSPS to compensate for that interruption period.
In principle, the first two months of employment are considered a trial period.

The job titles at RIKEN are as follows.

The employee will be applied with an annual salary system, and salaries for JSPS PD Researchers and JSPS RPD Researchers will be 447,000 JPY per month, and for JSPS CPD Researchers, 541,000 JPY per month.
Commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.
JSPS Postdoctoral Researchers are eligible to apply for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).
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 the start of employment), special paid leave (childcare, family nursing care, etc.), and work life balance holidays (up to 7 days depending on the month of the start 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 from April 2024.
These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

Contact

JSPSPD Desk
Research Personnel Affairs Section
Human Resources Division, RIKEN
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198
Email: riken_jspspd@ml.riken.jp