Laboratory

Multimodal Data Recognition Research Team
Guardian Robot Project,
RIKEN Information R&D and Strategy Headquarters
(Team Leader: Yasutomo Kawanishi)

Research field

RIKEN launched a robotics project in April 2019, aiming at a future society where humans and AI/robots coexist flexibly. In April 2021, the project was renamed as Guardian Robot Project. This project is promoting R & D for the social implementation of next-generation robotics ("brain x AI") that synergistically incorporates the strengths of AI research into brain science and cognitive science. Multimodal data recognition Research Team focuses on multi-modal signal processing and pattern recognition, especially action/facial expression/intension estimation of a person, object recognition by fusing multiple sensor outputs, and 3D scene description.

Job title and job description

Job title, available positions

Seeking Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher 1 position

Research Scientist

Carries out research and other work in accordance with team research themes.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Carries out research and other work in accordance with team research themes under the direction of supervisors.

Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or less.
Research Scientist is defined as those with a doctoral degree more than 5 years.

Job description

We seek a highly motivated research scientist or postdoctoral researcher to develop environmental perception techniques and implement them for robot applications. We mainly focus on multi-modal signal processing and pattern recognition; especially, fine-grained understanding of the surrounding environment (3D object recognition, utilization of scene graphs, etc.) using video and LiDAR data, necessary for controlling autonomous mobile and interactive robots, and on robot implementation of these recognition technologies.

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

Qualifications

• must have a Ph.D. or is expected to receive a Ph.D. in computer vision, pattern recognition, machine learning, multimedia processing, or a related field before the date of employment.
• must be proactive, cooperative, flexible, and able to respond according to the circumstances.
• must also have good communication skills and cooperate with the relevant personnel within/outside of the laboratory to fulfill the tasks.

Work location

RIKEN Keihanna Campus (In Keihanna Science City, 2-2-2 Hikaridai, Souraku-gun Seika-cho, Kyoto 619-0288, Japan, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR))

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.A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, to a maximum of the end of the fiscal year 2026 (March 31 2027) in which the employee completes 3 years of employment.
• 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 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. The monthly base salary is 355,000 JPY for Research Scientist, and 300,000 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher as of April 1st 2024. 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:
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 399,010 JPY or more for Research Scientist, and 337,185 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher.

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

• 1.Complete CV or CV
  • A.RIKEN CV: Write the RIKEN job ad number “W23301”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
  • B.Original CV: Write down in the notes section of your CV the number written next to the title of the job position (e.g. W23301).
• 2.List of research achievement and publications
• 3.A summary of past job, reasons for application, and future job aspirations (A4, about two pages)
• 4.Copies of major papers, articles and patent acquisition related to job achievements etc. Up to three papers.
• 5.A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.)
  • *Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
    (Please address the recommendation letter to "Director of Information Integration Headquarters, RIKEN")
• 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

The above documents except the recommendation letters should be uploaded to the following website:

upload folder for GRP's recruitment

Recommendation letters must be submitted directly by the recommender. Change the file name to “Recommendation letter for the Public Recruitment (applicant name) of Information Integration Headquarters Guardian Robot Project Multimodal Data Recognition Research Team”. For recommenders, please write the applicant's name and recommender's name/contact information in the text and upload it to the link below.

upload folder for GRP's recruitment

*If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: isr_jinji [at] ml.riken.jp.

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 at RIKEN.
Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process

Application screening and interview (possibly be web) for selected applicants

Start of employment

April 1, 2024 (Negotiable)

Contact Information

RIKEN Information Research Promotion Office
RIKEN Information R&D and Strategy Headquarters,
RIKEN
Email: isr_jinji [at] ml.riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.