Laboratory

Soft X-Ray Spectroscopy Instrumentation Team
Physical and Chemical Research Infrastructure Group
Advanced Photon Technology Division
RIKEN SPring-8 Center
(Team Leader: Masaki Oura)

Research Field

Our team is primarily in charge of the development, improvement, and generalization of various spectroscopic tools as well as cutting-edge utilization technologies for soft X-ray spectroscopy, such as soft X-ray absorption, photoemission, and soft X-ray microspectroscopy. Our mission is to advance optical and materials science using the high-brilliant soft X-ray undulator radiation from BL17SU at SPring-8. Our team is also responsible for providing the infrastructure to improve user’s convenience at the beamline.

Job title and Job description

Job Title

Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher, Research Associate: a few positions

Job description

Applicants are asked to work mainly at BL17SU to improve the beamline capabilities. She/He is also asked to work with other members of the team to do the following tasks;

• maintenance, operation and advancement of the soft X-ray undulator beamlines,
• establishment of an automatic measurement system for the soft X-ray spectroscopy at BL17SU,
• advancement of various spectroscopic methods using soft X-ray radiation, and development of new spectroscopic techniques,
• collaborative research with beamline users, and user support, etc.

Qualification

• Job Qualifications: Applicants must have a doctoral degree or expect to complete a doctoral degree before the start of employment.
• We are seeking highly motivated individuals with good communication skills.
• Experience in the fields of soft x-ray spectroscopy and/or beamline technology is beneficial but not mandatory. We welcome applications from other fields.

Work location

Branch and address

RIKEN SPring-8 Center (1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148)

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, to a maximum of the end of the fiscal year (March 31) in which the employee completes 7 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 65 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. The monthly base salary is 239,500JPY for Research Associate and 295,100JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher and 350,300JPY for Research Scientist, as of April 1st, 2023. 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 monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be more than 269,000 JPY for Research Associate and 331,000 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher and 393,000 JPY for Research Scientist.
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.
Smoking is not permitted on site except in designated smoking areas. Smoking will be entirely prohibited on site from April 2024.
These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

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 fiscal year 2003, and eligible applying for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).

Application and required documents

Required documents

Please send the following documents to the email address given below:

• 1.Complete CV (with photo and email address)
• 2.List of research achievement and publications (reviewed papers, presentations, etc.)
• 3.Outline of previous research and aspiration for research after arrival (A4, two pages)
• 4.Letter of recommendation (including one from the current supervisor, If available)
  • *These letters of recommendation should be signed or sealed by the recommender.
  • *The letters should be addressed to "Tetsuya Ishikawa, Director of RIKEN SPring-8 Center".
  • *If the current supervisor’s recommendation is not available, a recommendation letter from a third party will be accepted
• 5.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

Deadline

Until the position is filled (The screening process will start as the applications are received.)

Handling Personal Data

All private data sent to RIKEN in application for employment is handled in strict confidentiality, and such data is not utilized for any other purpose or disclosed to any third party. Application documents will not be returned.

Selection process

Selection will be made based on application screening and interviews.

Start of Employment

negotiable

Contact Information / Send application to

Send application materials (PDF format) to Email: rscsc [at] spring8.or.jp
The Email title should be: (C22-1203) Application for Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher positions on the Soft X-Ray Spectroscopy Instrumentation Team
(Team Leader: Dr. Masaki Oura)

*If you have any research-related questions, please contact rscsc [at] spring8.or.jp

Note

Updated as of May. 24, 2023:　"Work location" and "Salary and benefits"