Laboratory

Behavior Learning Research Team
The Guardian Robot Project,
RIKEN Information R&D and Strategy Headquarters
(Laboratory head: Yutaka Nakamura)

Research field

This team aims to develop a robot that can interact with humans as humans do in daily life by measuring human behaviors during the dialogue and constructing a deep generative model of the interaction behaviors.

Job title and job descriptions

Job title, available positions

Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist 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

You will be engaged in one of the following tasks.

• (1): A study on modeling human behavior and its application to robot control
  Job description: Participation in the development of data-driven robots in the team. Currently, we are conducting research on measuring human behavior, deep generative models, and robot motion generation. The mission of this position is to apply machine learning techniques to develop a motion generation system operating in a daily environment.
• (2): Development of robots that operate in everyday spaces
  Participation in the development of robots that operate in everyday environments, including interaction with humans. Working on the development of everyday robots that require the integration of various recognition and control functions. Implementing and developing platforms using various devices and frameworks such as ROS.
• (3): Development of an avatar operation system
  Participation in the development of a semi-autonomous cybernetic avatar in a Moonshot Project (Avatar symbiotic society). Developing a system that enables the use of avatars without performing complex operations by using autonomous systems based on human behavior knowledge to substitute some operations.

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

Qualifications

Common for (1)(2)(3) above:
We are seeking applicants who hold a PhD related to the job responsibilities described above and have experience in system development using programming languages such as C++, C#, Python, and others.

• Especially for (1):
  Having knowledge in machine learning and are proficient in using deep learning libraries such as PyTorch.
• Especially for (2):
  Having experience using ROS and possess knowledge in mechatronics.
• Especially for (3):
  Having experience in developing systems using computer networks.

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 inaccordance 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 1, 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 annual 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 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).

Our laboratory actively utilizes a telecommuting system. The post currently being offered may be carried out through telecommuting (full-remote work) within Japan for the entire specified work period, provided that the required procedures are completed and approval is obtained from RIKEN.

Application and required documents

Required documents

• 1.Complete CV or CV (with photo and email address)
  • *RIKEN CV: Write the RIKEN job ad number “W23315”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
  • *Original CV: Write down in the notes section of your CV the number written next to the title of the job position (e.g. W23315)
• 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
  • (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")
  • (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.)
• 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 Behavior Learning 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

Information Research Promotion Office,
RIKEN Information R&D and Strategy Headquarters,
Email: isr_jinji [at] ml.riken.jp