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Seeking a Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher (BDR-23-080)

Laboratory

Laboratory for Bottom-up Cell Biology
RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research
(Team Leader: Makito Miyazaki)

Research Field

The Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) views the life of an individual, from birth to death, as a dynamic process of development, maintenance and failure of complex systems of molecules, cells and organs.

The Laboratory for Bottom-up Cell Biology is recruiting research/technical employees to carry out a new theme. The research overview of the laboratory is shown below.

The cell maintains its life through the assembly and disassembly of various subcellular structures having unique biological functions from molecules. How do the tiny molecules recognize the vast intracellular space and self-organize into micrometer-scale structures at appropriate time and space to regulate cell functions? This is a fundamental but non-trivial question in biology. Our team aims to understand the design principles that govern the self-organization of cell-scale ordered structures and biological functions from molecules. Using the cytoskeleton as a model system, we are exploring biochemical and physical conditions under which cytoskeletal structures and the related biological functions are reconstituted in artificial cells.

For more information, please refer to the following link:
Laboratory for Bottom-up Cell Biology

Job title and Job description

Job title

Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher: 1 position

Position-specific tasks are as follows:

Research Scientist
Carry out research and other work in accordance with research themes of the team.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Carries out research and other work in accordance with laboratory research themes under the mentorship and training of supervisors.

Job Description

We are now recruiting a person who will work exclusively for the project "Development of force-measuring techniques for biological tissues", which is a part of the five-year external grant Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Area (A) "Mechanical Self-transformation of Living Systems" (FY2022-FY2026). Specifically, the following projects will be carried out.

  • 1.Development of a method to fuse cell-sized vesicles with living cells/a method to implant cell-sized vesicles into biological tissues.
  • 2.Development of a method to measure forces acting between the cells/in the tissues.
  • 3.Reconstitution of the actin cytoskeletal dynamics observed in the developmental processes to understand the molecular mechanisms.

We welcome applicants who have expertise in experimental biophysics, soft matter physics, cell biology, synthetic biology, or developmental biology, and are interested in collaborating with developmental biologists to study the mechanisms of embryogenesis.

The job description may be changed during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extent described above.

For details, please feel free to contact Makito MIYAZAKI.

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 (Yokohama Campus)
1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan

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.

Salary and benefits

  • 1.One-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, up to March 31, 2027.
  • 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 70 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, 2024, the monthly base salary is 355,000 JPY for Research Scientist and 300,000 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher. 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 Scientist
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 Researcher
The monthly salary including base salary, variable salary, and discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate just after completing their doctoral course will be approximately 334,000 JPY.

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

The Yokohama Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Yokohama. For details, please send an email to the HR at kids-yk-hr [at] ml.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.CV or CV
    • *Email address is required.
    • *Application Number [BDR-23-080] and position to apply (e.g.: Research Scientist) should be clearly written in the upper right corner of the CV.
    • *Please use the RIKEN format CV above.
  • 2.List of publications (Please categorize: Original article, Review article, Book, Conference presentation, Others)
  • 3.Summary of past research and the result (about 2 pages of A4 paper)
  • 4.Plans for the future research once appointed（about 1 page of A4 paper)
  • 5.Acquisition of competitive external funds (e.g. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research) (Please write: Representative, Contribution)
  • 6.One reference letter from immediate manager or current supervisor
    • *If it is difficult to obtain reference letter from immediate manager or current supervisor, please obtain a letter from a third party.
    • *A reference letter 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)
    • *The referee should not be a person who belongs to the laboratory you apply for.
  • 7.Certicate of degree awarded or PhD diploma (PDF)
  • 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 should be converted to PDF and uploaded to the following website after these files are combined into a single ZIP file:
RIKEN/BDR BCB Application Box

  • Zip file name: BDR-23-080_desired position_Name
  • The file name of each PDF file: BDR-23-080_desired position_Name_submitted document No.
  • When uploading the application documents by a ZIP file via BOX, please make sure to input your contact email address.
  • After uploading the ZIP file, please let us (bdr-bcb-recruit [at] ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

*Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Recommendation letter(s) by PDF must be directly submitted from the referee(s) to the following website.
RIKEN/BDR BCB Application Box

  • The file name of the recommendation letter: BDR-23-080_applicant’s name_recommendation letter
  • The recommendation letter should be addressed to [Center Director, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research]
  • Please specify the applicant's name, referee's contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number and email address) in the recommendation letter.
  • When uploading the PDF letter, please make sure to input your contact email address.
  • After uploading the letter, please contact at bdr-bcb-recruit [at] ml.riken.jp to inform the file name of the uploaded file.
  • *If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: bdr-bcb-recruit [at] ml.riken.jp
  • *Please understand that we will not return application documents.

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. (face-to-face or remote interview)
After documents screening, only successful applicants will be invited for interview.

*We do not answer to questions regarding contents of the examination.

Start of Employment

April 1, 2024 or later (Negotiable)

Contact Information

For inquiries on this open position, please contact below by email mentioning the open call ID, BDR-23-080:
Laboratory for Bottom-up Cell Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (Yokohama Campus)
bdr-bcb-recruit [at] ml.riken.jp

*If you have any research-related questions, please contact makito.miyazaki [at] riken.jp
(Laboratory for Bottom-up Cell Biology, Dr. Makito MIYAZAKI)

Note

Updated as of Jan 9, 2023:　"Job Description"

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