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Seeking a Technical Staff I or II (W23347)

Laboratory

Biofunctional Catalyst Research Team
RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
(Team Leader: Ryuhei Nakamura)

Research Field

We work on the development of biologically inspired catalysts as well as the application of biological systems towards energy conversion and material production. Specifically, we aim to understand nature’s ingenuity towards multielectron transfer catalysis, electron/proton transport, metabolic regulation, responsiveness to external stimuli, and energy management in deep sea environments to develop novel materials and systems necessary to effectively manage renewable energy sources.

For more information, please refer to the following website:
Biofunctional Catalyst Research Team's Website.

Job title and Job description

Job title, available positions

Technical staff I (discretionary labor system) or technical staff Ⅱ (non discretionary labor system), 1 position

*The applicant will be assigned to an appropriate position based on his/her ability, aptitude, etc.

Job description

The applicant will support the experiments of the following research project: “Advancing the Theory of Nonequilibrium Catalytic Reaction Networks”, which is funded by JST Fusion Oriented REsearch for disruptive Science and Technology (FOREST). More concretely, the applicant will measure the rates of enzymatic reactions and/or metabolic networks and perform surrounding tasks, such as expression and purification of recombinant enzymes using E. coli, chemical analysis using HPLC and colorimetry, and data analysis and management. The project is expected to end on March 31, 2029.

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

Technical Staff I
Provides technical support to the laboratory at their own discretion.
Technical Staff II
Provides technical support to the laboratory.

Qualification

  • Experience in analytical chemistry or biochemistry is required.
  • The candidate should be able to communicate smoothly with collaborators both inside and outside the research team, and work in cooperation and collaboration with them.
  • The candidate should have a university degree or equivalent.
  • The ability to communicate in English is desirable.

Work location

RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (Wako Campus)
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, 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.A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, to a maximum of March 31, 2029.
  • 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.
  • 3.In principle, the center is set to continue its research to the end of the Mid- to Long-term Plan (7 years from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2025).
    However, if it is decided that the research project with which the Employee is involved will not be continued, the above provision on continuation of the “research center, laboratory or project” applies and there will be no re-employment for FY 2025 (from April 1, 2025)

If you wish to continue working at RIKEN after your termination of contract, you may apply for open positions.

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 244,500 JPY for technical staff I, and 212,000 JPY for technical staff II, as of April 1, 2024. The monthly base salary and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations.

In addition to the salary above, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Discretionary work allowances will also be provided for technical staff I. Social insurance will be applied.

The approximate amount of monthly salary at the time of employment:

Technical Staff I
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 300,000 JPY or more.
Technical Staff II
The monthly salary at the time of employment will be approximately 240,000 JPY or more.

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

Technical staffⅠposition falls under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes.
Technical staffⅡfalls under the non-discretionary work system; Work hours: 9:00 to 17:20 (lunch break 12:00 to 12:50). Supervisors may instruct employees to work outside of these hours.

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.

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

  • *Applicants who pass the screening process will be asked to submit a letter of recommendation. We will ask for one letter of recommendation from the current supervisor. If it is difficult to obtain a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, a letter of recommendation from a third party may be accepted. Please contact us for details when you receive an email from us.

How to apply

All documents except recommendation letters should be combined into a single PDF and uploaded to the following website:

W23347 Seeking Technical Staff I or II, Biofunctional Catalyst Research Team

Please include your name in the filename of the PDF. Additionally, please let us (nakamuralab-recruit[at] ml.riken.jp) know the name of the uploaded PDF file.

If the submission requirements are not met, your application will not be processed.

Deadline

Open until the position is filled.

  • *Note: Application documents will not be returned.
  • *Only candidates who pass document screening will be contacted via email after document screening.

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

An interview (face-to-face or remote) will be conducted for applicants who pass document screening.

Start of Employment

As early as possible (Negotiable)

Contact Information

RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
Biofunctional Catalyst Research Team
Email: nakamuralab-recruit [at] ml.riken.jp

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