Laboratory

RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS)
(Program Director: Tetsuo Hatsuda)

*From FY2025, affiliation will be changed to the newly established “Applied Mathematics Team (tentative name)”.

Research Field

iTHEMS promotes interdisciplinary collaborations and the creation of new interdisciplinary fields through interactions among researchers in mathematics, theoretical sciences, and computational sciences. iTHEMS aims to nurture and support young scientists eager to cross disciplinary boundaries.

iTHEMS is planning to establish a “Mathematical Fundamentals Division (tentative name)” and a “Mathematical Deployment Division (tentative name)” from April, 2025, to deepen basic mathematical research, such as elucidating the origin and evolution of the universe, matter and life, and to promote mathematical deployment research to develop new research areas and solve global and social challenges. Among these, the “Mathematical Deployment Division (tentative name)” will establish several new teams to organically link the results of basic research in mathematical sciences with mathematical, information and computational methods such as big data, artificial intelligence, large-scale computation and quantum computation to predict and control the dynamics of natural systems, living systems, artificial systems and social systems. Cross-disciplinary research will be developed.
This call for applications invites applications for Research Scientists or Senior Research Scientists in the field of applied mathematics.

For more information, please refer to the following website:
RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS)

Job title and Job description

Job title, available positions

Research Scientist or Senior Research Scientist, a few positions

Position-specific task is as follows:

Research Scientist

Conduct and direct their own research project(s),and expand their research focus beyond their discipline through new research collaborations.

Senior Research Scientist

Same as Research Scientist, but additionally assist the host researcher, and lead, supervise and support researchers affiliated with iTHEMS.

Job description

iTHEMS is looking for Research Scientists or Senior Research Scientists in the field of mathematical sciences (e.g. pure mathematics, applied mathematics, statistical mathematics, and information and computational sciences), who are keen to conduct research to develop new approaches to problems in various sciences and industries by applying mathematical ideas and methods. While they are encouraged to collaborate with researchers not only within iTHEMS and SUURI-COOL (iTHEMS' satellite office), but also at other centers in RIKEN such as the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, they are also expected to engage in the deepening and developing of mathematical theories and methods. The successful candidate will join the Applied Mathematics Team (tentative name), Mathematical Deployment Division (tentative name) of the iTHEMS from April 2025. We welcome applications from highly qualified young researchers in the field of mathematical sciences.

For more information, please email the contact details below.

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

Qualification

The candidate should possess or is expected to obtain a doctoral degree by the starting date.

Work location

RIKEN Wako (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)

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 5 years (Research Scientist) or 7 years (Senior Research Scientist) from initial date of hire.
• 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 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 500,000 JPY or more for Research Scientist, and 550,000 JPY or more for Senior Research Scientist.

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.
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).

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

• 1.A cover letter explaining your motivations to apply for this position. If there are special circumstances you would like the committee to consider, you may include them here.
• 2.Curriculum Vitae (CV)*
  • * In the notes section of your CV, include the job position number (W24168) next to the title of the job position. You may also include your research IDs (ORCID, Google Scholar, etc.).
• 3.List of publications (including preprints)
• 4.Research statement (summary of current and past research relevant to this position; 2 pages max)
• 5.Research proposal (describe your research objectives over the time scale of the position [5-7 years]; 3 pages max)
• 6.Interdisciplinary statement (discuss your views and interest on interdisciplinarity, and how you see yourself interacting with iTHEMS members from other fields; 1 page max)
• 7.Contact information of two persons willing to provide a reference.
• 8.Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR
  • *If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA)or UK, you are required to submit the document, "Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR and Regulation of the European Parliament and of the council of on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (UK General Data Protection Regulation)" with your signature.
    • You will find detailed information about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
      Data protection | European Commission
    • You will find detailed information about Regulation of the European Parliament and of the council of on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (UK GDPR) on the following website:
      Data Protection and the EU | Information Commissioner’s Office

How to apply

Application documents should be uploaded through Academic Jobs Online.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

Open until the position is filled.
We will first select the application documents that have arrived by October 31, 2024 (JST).

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.

Start of Employment

February 1, 2025 (Negotiable)

Contact Information

RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS)
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198
For inquiry, send an email to motoko.kotani[at]riken.jp with Subj: iTHEMS App-Math RS/SRS (W24168).

*Please replace [at] with @.