1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Job Openings

Seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist (Y24008)

Laboratory

Cambial Stem Cell System RIKEN ECL Research Unit
RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (to be established on Oct. 1, 2024)
(RIKEN ECL Unit Leader: Dongbo Shi)

Research Field

Many plants can continue to grow throughout their lives. Stem cells play an important role in the continued growth of plants, and among them, cambial stem cells have been the driving force behind the secondary growth of plants, contributing to the gigantic size of land plants. Cambial stem cells maintain themselves while differentiating into various cell types and change their activity in response to the environment, such as the seasons in coordination with surrounding cells. However, many of the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. By uncovering these mechanisms, our research unit will reveal the plant-like nature of growth at the cellular level and explore the differences in survival strategies between plants and animals.

For more information, please refer to the following website:
Shi group – Seeking mechanisms behind the formation of multicellular organisms

Job Title and Job Description

Job title, available positions

Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist 1 position

Job Description

The candidate will engage in research aimed at elucidating the stem cell systems that enable sustainable plant growth by revealing the molecular mechanisms governing secondary growth, the dynamics of cambial stem cells and their environmental responses.

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

Postdoctoral Researcher
Receives developmental guidance from supervisor and conducts laboratory research programs.
Research Scientist
Conducts laboratory research programs and others.

Qualifications

Both positions

  • *Communicate smoothly with collaborators inside and outside the research team and work in partnership and collaboration.
  • *An experience in plant research is preferred but not required.
  • *We welcome applications from an individual with experience in biological research using trees.
  • *Higher priority is given to the applicants who wish to promote their own conception of research within the scope of the job description.

Postdoctoral Researcher

A person who has obtained a PhD within the past five years, or, one who is able to obtain a degree by the start of their post.

  • *From the viewpoint of career development at RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, the tenure as a RIKEN Postdoctoral Researcher is within five years in principle.

Research Scientist

A person who has obtained a PhD five or more years ago, or, someone with similar qualifications.

In principle, we will prioritize postdoctoral researcher applications.

Work Location

RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (Yokohama Campus)
1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, 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.A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, up to maximum September 30, 2029.
    For the postdoctoral researcher position, however, the maximum term allowed at CSRS is 5 years. If the five-year period ends before the above maximum contract date, the five-year deadline takes precedence. In case an applicant for the postdoctoral position is currently working, or has previously worked, as a postdoctoral researcher at RIKEN, the total period of that employment as a postdoctoral researcher will be 5-year maximum in total.
    Those who wish to continue working at RIKEN beyond this point may apply for open positions.
  • 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)

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 will be 305,100 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher, and 361,000 JPY for Research Scientist, 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 monthly salary at the time of employment:

Postdoctoral Researcher
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with experience, ability, and achievement immediately after the completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 340,000 JPY.
Research Scientist
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 5 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 430,000 JPY.

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 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 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.

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

[Research Scientist]

[Postdoctoral Researcher]

How to apply

The above documents except the recommendation letters combined into a single ZIP file should be uploaded to the following link:

For Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist position, Cambial Stem Cell System RIKEN ECL Research Unit (Y24008), RIKEN CSRS

The file name of the ZIP should contain your contact email address.
After you uploaded the ZIP file, please let us (csrs-hr [at] riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Recommendation letters must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link with the file name "Cambial Stem Cell System RIKEN ECL Research Unit, postdoctoral researcher or search scientist [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

For Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist position, Cambial Stem Cell System RIKEN ECL Research Unit (Y24008), RIKEN CSRS

After the referees uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (csrs-hr [at] riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: csrs-hr [at] riken.jp.
If the submission requirements are not met, your application will not be received.

Deadline

Open until the position is filled

  • *Application documents will not be returned.
  • *Only shortlisted candidates 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

Application screening, interview and oral presentation by selected applicants (face-to-face or remote).

Start of Employment

October 1, 2024 (Negotiable)

Contact Information

RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
Cambial Stem Cell System RIKEN ECL Research Unit
Email: csrs-hr [at] riken.jp
We welcome inquiries. For inquiries, please send an email.

Top