Call for applications for the position of Special Postdoctoral Researcher (SPDR) for FY 2026
RIKEN is currently accepting applications for the FY 2026 Special Postdoctoral Researcher (SPDR) Program, from young, creative, independent researchers who will be a powerful force in furthering RIKEN’s research activities.
Description
The involvement of creative young scientists is critical in pioneering new frontiers of science and technology. RIKEN’s Special Postdoctoral Researcher Program is a program to foster the development of researchers who will become internationally active in the future, and provides creative young scientists with the opportunity to be involved in autonomous and independent research on a topic of their own choosing that is in line with RIKEN objectives and research fields.
Research funds that can be used at one’s discretion will be granted to SPDRs. It is expected that as a corresponding author, outcomes accomplished independently on one’s own proposed research topic will be presented in academic journals and conferences.
With consideration to changes in the environment surrounding the SPDR program in recent years, the monthly salary for this program was revised in FY 2023.
Research fields
Mathematical Sciences (pure mathematics, applied mathematics, computer science, information science, artificial intelligence, etc.), Physics I (particle, nuclear, astrophysics, etc.), Physics II (condensed matter etc.), Chemistry, Biology (cell biology, developmental biology, plant biology, structural biology, microbiology, imaging, measuring, basic neuroscience, etc.), Medical Science (brain medical science, immunology, oncology, genome science, etc.) and Engineering that relate to research being conducted at RIKEN. As part of the screening process, the research category to which you applied may be changed to a different category.
Consult with the laboratory head regarding the choice of research field, before applying for the position.
Number of openings
Around 70
(subject to change with any change depending on budget)
Qualifications
Applicants must fulfill all five conditions given below:
- 1.Be prepared to independently and responsibly pursue a research topic.
- 2.Have a PhD awarded on or after January 1, 2020, or expect to be awarded a PhD by the date of hire.
Note: Those with PhDs acquired prior to December 31, 2019, may also apply if there was a lapse in their research activity after obtaining the PhD, and if subtracting this period of non-research activity will allow them an equivalency that meets the above requirement. If applicable, please fill the details (specific reasons and period) in the application form.
RIKEN’s screening committee will determine whether the period of lapse is justifiable after the deadline for submitting the application.
Examples of acceptable periods of lapse: maternity leave, childcare leave, and working in private industry in a non-research capacity.- 3.Able to start work in FY 2026 (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027)
- 4.Those who have previously participated in the SPDR and FPR programs are NOT eligible to apply.
Place of work
Location of RIKEN host laboratory
The address and work location written above may differ depending on the hosting laboratory. Please confirm the hosting laboratory's location on the website of its affiliated center.
RIKEN has implemented a work-from-home system. Employees can work from home in accordance with the prescribed procedures.
RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.
Duration of contract
- 1.Three years from date of hire (in principle, April 1, 2026) (Actual starting date to be decided upon consultation)
- 2.In principle, the first two months of employment is considered a trial period.
Salary and benefits
- 1. Annual salary paid in monthly installments of 550,000 yen (social insurance premiums and taxes included). Commuting allowance (actual cost up to maximum of 55,000 yen per month) and housing allowance (partial payment of rent) will also be paid.
- 2. Travel cost to take up the appointment at RIKEN will be compensated according to RIKEN’s rules and regulations.
- 3. Enrollment in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (Kyosaikai) is compulsory. A Kyosaikai membership fee will be automatically deducted from your salary each month.
- 4. This position falls under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes.
- 5. Days off from work include Saturdays and Sundays, national holidays, year-end/New Year holidays (Dec 29 to 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. - 6. Smoking is entirely prohibited on site.
- 7. Other provisions as per RIKEN regulations.
- 8. Research budget: 1,000,000 yen per year.
In addition, upon review, a maximum of 1,000,000 yen in total can be provided up to two times during the three-year SPDR term.
The amount for the first fiscal year and the last fiscal year is allotted on a pro-rata basis depending on the month in which the SPDR starts working at RIKEN.
Notes
- SPDRs will be exempt from repayment of category 1 scholarship loans from the Japan Student Services Organization that were made before fiscal year 2003.
- SPDRs are eligible to apply for external funding (kakenhi and the like).
- SPDRs who take maternity leave, childcare leave, or additional leave for childcare during the contracted period may have their contract duration extended for a duration up to the period for either one of the shorter terms stated below, starting the day after the leave end.
(1) The duration of time taken off for leave starting from the first day of the month in which each leave began and ending with the final day of the month in which each leave ends (however, for overlapping durations, only the shorter period will be applied).
(2) The duration starting from the first day of the month in which leave began, ending with the final day of the month in which the contract completes - 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.
Application procedures and deadline
Procedures
Note:
- 1.Contact the RIKEN laboratory where you would like to work
Select a RIKEN laboratory where you would like to work from among the listed laboratories and contact the laboratory to confirm that it is ready to host from FY 2026. Refer to the “Laboratories with SPDR Openings for FY2026 (as of February 13, 2025)” list to find out which laboratories have openings, check the name of the laboratory and/or the laboratory head, and contact the addresses shown on their web pages. 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 wakate@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. - 2.Research topic
After you find a laboratory that is willing to be your host, you should explain the research topic you propose to carry out at RIKEN. Discuss the topic thoroughly with the laboratory head to make sure that your final research topic proposal takes into account the work being conducted within the host laboratory.
- 3.Applicant registration
To register, visit the website noted below, and enter the required basic information.
Registration: February 12 to April 3, 2025
URL:RIKEN Application System
*You cannot access to the link above until February 12. After you have registered online, download and prepare the following application documents. Basic information registration deadline: April 3, 2025
- 4.Language
Either Japanese or English is acceptable for SPDR application documents and interviews.
Application forms & documents
- 1.ID photo (JPG format)
4 cm x 3 cm - 2.Curriculum Vitae / Curriculum Vitae
- 3.Research Achievements / Research Achievements
This document is intended to present your major achievement to the members of the screening committee. The summary should be clear and concise and should be no more than one A4-size page. For papers of which you are a co-author, the summary should explain your specific contribution. If you have several major research achievements and related papers, they should be numbered on the list of research achievements and referred to by that number in your summary. - 4.Publication and Presentation List / Publication and Presentation List
- 5.Research Proposal / Research Proposal
Research topic, objective, description, and annual plan; no more than five A4 pages (including a reference list) - 6. Reprints of no more than three representative papers, if applicable
- 7. Reference from 1 or 2 individuals who are qualified to evaluate your research achievements
Letters of reference should be sent directly by the referee. An e-mail requesting a letter of reference will be automatically sent from wakate@spdr-fpr.com, both in English and Japanese, to the email addresses for references that you list when you register to apply. In previous years, some email requests failed to reach referees due to their email server settings. Please check if your referees receive email request automatically sent from RIKEN.(IMPORTANT: The email requesting the letters of reference from wakate@spdr-fpr.com will go out at the same time as your registration. The deadline for the letters of reference is the same as the application deadline (April 10). Please register promptly so that your referees have time to prepare and send in their letters of reference. Your application cannot be accepted if the letters of reference do not arrive by the deadline. Contact your referees early and register as early as possible. It will help to register your basic information early, as you will be able to revise it later and also upload any other revised documents a second time. You can check on the status of your letters of reference through the online application system.)
There is no set format for the letters of reference, they must meet the following conditions: they must be uploaded as PDF files and must be addressed to the President of RIKEN and include the date of issue. You may scan the signature or upload a graphic version of the signature.
- 8. Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR
If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (the EU zone), 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) in the European Commission's website
Submission procedure
After you have registered online, you will receive your user ID, registration number, and password via an e-mail automatically sent from wakate@spdr-fpr.com. Go to the website indicated in the email and upload your application documents. Later you may revise your basic information and upload revised documents, if necessary. Please double check by the deadline that you successfully completed uploading the documents by downloading them on your own.
IMPORTANT: All files must first be converted to PDF format before you can upload them. Word files cannot be uploaded.
Deadline
For registering basic information:
5 pm April 3, 2025 (Japan Time)
For revising or uploading application documents and letters of reference:
5 pm April 10, 2025 (Japan Time)
Selection procedures and schedule
Stage I (document-based selection)
When you register, be sure to give a contact email address.
Notification: Late June or early July, 2025 (screening results and interview notice)
Stage II (interview)
Fields and interview dates (between late July and Early August)
Dates will be posted as soon as they are fixed.
Mathematical Sciences, TBD
Physics I, TBD
Physics II, TBD
Chemistry, TBD
Biology, TBD
Medical Sciences, TBD
Engineering, TBD
Location:
RIKEN (either of the following locations designated by RIKEN: Wako or Kobe) or Online
Notification:
Midle or late September, 2025 (final results)
RIKEN will not cover travel costs for the interview.
Inquiries
SPDR Desk
Research Personnel Affairs Section
Human Resources Division, RIKEN
Email: wakate@riken.jp
Note: Please send queries by email. Telephone inquiries cannot be accepted.
Information cannot be provided on the details of the screening process.
Additional information
- 1. Incomplete or incorrect applications may be rejected.
- 2. Submitted application documents cannot be returned or changed.
- 3. All the submitted documents will not be returned.
- 4. Submitted documents will be handled in accordance with the RIKEN rules concerning personal information, and only used for screening applications for this position. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred, or lent to any third party without a justifiable reason.
- 5. Intellectual property issues will be handled in accordance with RIKEN regulations.
- 6. Only one research topic per applicant allowed.
- 7. The provisions for this position are premised on RIKEN’s current budget and are subject to change with any change in the budget.
- 8. SPDRs are expected to work under the direction of the head of their host laboratory.