Laboratory

RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program
(Program Director: Tetsuo Hatsuda)

Research Field

Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS) at RIKEN (Director, Tetsuo Hatsuda) and Network for Neutrinos, Nuclear Astrophysics, and Symmetries (N3AS), NSF Physics Frontier Center, University of California, Berkeley (Director, Wick Haxton) are jointly seeking postdoctoral researcher(s) to pursue top-level research on theory issues in neutrino physics, nucleosynthesis, dense matter and neutron stars, dark matter, astrophysical simulations, and lattice QCD simulations.

More details on iTHEMS and N3AS can be found at RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS) and N3AS - Network for Neutrinos, Nuclear Astrophysics, and Symmetries, respectively.

Job title and Job description

Job title, available positions

Postdoctoral Researcher (RIKEN-Berkeley Fellow associated with N3AS), a few positions
Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or less.

Job description

Theoretical works associated with neutrino physics, nucleosynthesis, dense matter and neutron stars, dark matter, astrophysical simulations, lattice QCD simulations and related fields.

Qualification

The candidate should possess or is expected to obtain a doctoral degree by the starting date.

Work location

Branch and address

RIKEN Wako (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)

Successful applicants will work and spend the first three months at the RIKEN Wako campus, and the remainder of the years at the RIKEN Berkeley Center at the University of California, Berkeley on a long term business trip. The appointments of the RIKEN Berkeley Fellow are made through RIKEN iTHEMS.
Network for Neutrinos, Nuclear Astrophysics, and Symmetries (N3AS), NSF Physics Frontier Center, University of California, Berkeley (MC7300, South Physics Building, University of California, Berkeley CA 94720, USA)

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 3 years from the initial date of hire.
• 2.RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee’s abilities, work load 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. 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 monthly salary at the time of employment:
Based on RIKEN’s regulations, the monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 487,500 JPY or more（Annual salary will be 5,850K JPY or more）. Based on N3AS-PFC Fellows program, the Fellow will receive a supplement about 20K USD during their stay on their business trip to Berkeley, which includes a substantial travel allowance.

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).

The Wako Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Wako. For details, please send an email to the HR at kids [at] riken.jp.

Application and required documents

Required documents

• 0.A cover letter explaining your motivations to apply for this position. If there are special circumstances you would like the committee to consider, you may include them here.
• 1.Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • *Write down in the notes section of your CV the number written next to the title of the job position (e.g. W22284). You may also include your research IDs (ORCID, GoogleScholar, etc.).
• 2.List of publications (including preprints)
• 3.Research statement (summary of current and past research relevant to this position)
• 4.Research proposal (description of your research objectives over the time scale of the position)
• 5.At least two letters of recommendation (including one from the current supervisor, if available)
• 6.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

Application documents should be uploaded through Academic Jobs Online.

Note: All the submitted documents will not 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. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process

Application screening, interview and oral presentation by selected applicants

Start of Employment

September 1, 2023 (Negotiable)

Contact Information

RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS)
For inquiry, send an email to ithems_app [at] ml.riken.jp with Subj: RIKEN-Berkeley Fellow.

Note

Updated as of June. 13, 2023:　"Work location", "Salary and benefits"