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Seeking a Director of the AI for Science Platform Division (K24061)

Laboratory

AI for Science Platform Division,
RIKEN Center for Computational Science

Outline of Laboratory

RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS), led by Center Director Satoshi Matsuoka, is an international hub for computational science that promotes “science of computing, by computing, and for computing.” R-CSS positions the technology in which RIKEN has strengths (R-CCS technology) and the software developed by RIKEN that contributes to science, technology, industry, and society (R-CCS software) as its “core competence in computational science driving science as a whole.” R-CCS aims to develop these technologies, disseminate them domestically and internationally, and produce results. In addition, R-CCS utilizes its expertise to operate the supercomputer Fugaku, developed as Japan's national project, in accordance with relevant ordinances.

The AI for Science Platform Division at R-CCS is working on initiatives like the Computing Platform Pioneering Project for the Advanced General Intelligence for Science Program (TRIP-AGIS, planned to last April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2032), which is part of the interdisciplinary project Transformative Research Innovation Platform of RIKEN platforms (TRIP). Specifically, it aims to link Fugaku and specially developed AI for Science computers at a high level; to promote the construction of computing environments and management structures best suited for development, use, and application of generative AI models for scientific research; and to research new computing principles that will realize the sophistication, increased speed, and energy-reduction of operational processing, thereby leading to the development of highly trustworthy AI for scientific research, and to the use and application of scientific research in a variety of ways.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Director of the AI for Science Platform Division / 1 position (full-time/fixed-term)

Job description

The Director of the AI for Science platform Division is responsible for overseeing the division's activities aimed at promoting AI for science and science by AI and creating new scientific fields, with the goal of establishing the division as a hub for these efforts. This includes leading the activities related to the construction of the AI for Science platform, centered on the "Computational Infrastructure Development Project" within TRIP-AGIS.
The detailed description is below.

  • -R&D
  • -Management (budget, status management, public relations, hiring/human resources, etc.)
  • -Domestic and international collaboration and coordination of the division
  • -Other matters necessary for the operation of the division

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

Qualification

Applicants must have a PhD degree and be able to demonstrate sufficient abilities in leading the AI for Science Platform Division in a research management role.
The applicants must also be willing to work on R&D and its dissemination/development with the aim of realizing AI for Science research from a long-term perspective, through collaboration between various scientific research and computational science and computer science.

In particular, the applicants must have a strong ability to lead the related research field described above internationally with no requirements in nationality and must have an outstanding sense of cooperation and the management and communication skills that are necessary to perform work

Work location

RIKEN Center for Computational Science (South Area, Kobe Campus),
7-1-26, Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047 JAPAN
or
RIKEN Center for Computational Science (Tokyo Campus – Nihonbashi)
Nihonbashi 1-chome Mitsui Building, 15th floor
1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0027, JAPAN

Work location will be arranged depending on the actual duty to be performed.

RIKEN has implemented a work-from-home system. Employees can work from home in accordance with the prescribed procedures.
Employees may be transferred to other locations when necessary to perform duties, in accordance with relevant regulations.

Salary and benefits

  • 1.One-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, up to seven years since the initial date of hire, but not beyond the end of March 2032 depending on the employment start date.
  • 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.

RIKEN has indefinite-term positions, which are subject to the mandatory retirement age of 61 for FY2023 and FY2024. (Note: RIKEN has been increasing the mandatory retirement age by one year every two years from FY 2023.) There is a subsequent re-employment program allowing hiring until age of 65. Any scientists, including fixed-term employees who have been hired through this open call, are eligible to apply to open calls for indefinite-term 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 720,000JPY. The monthly base salary and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations. 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 at the time of employment will be more than 720,000JPY. The monthly salary at the time of employment for a candidate with 20 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 940,000 JPY.

Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).
Work hours: 9:00 to 17:20 (lunch break 12:00 to 12:50). However, the employee may change starting and finishing times at their own discretion if it does not interfere with work performance.
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.

  • *The Kobe Branch has an on-site daycare, Po-I Kids Kobe.
    For details, please send an email to the HR at kobe-kosei [at] riken.jp.
  • *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

Please prepare the following documents in English (Only recommendation letters may be either in English or in Japanese).

Documents to be submitted

  • 1.CV
    There is no format specified for the CV, but it must include the following information: name, nationality, date of birth, educational background and employment history, including current affiliation and address of affiliation, and the applicant’s email address to be used for contact information.
  • 2.Work experience
    Specify if you have any experience being responsible for overseeing scientific research projects that use simulation and AI in specific scientific fields, including life science and materials science, or overseeing operation of supercomputers or large-scale data centers, software development, etc.
  • 3.Employment history and R&D achievements
    Please give an outline of your employment history. If you have experience with R&D, please attach a list of publications (divided into sections for original papers, reviews, and others), patents, invited talks, etc. Please include a description of an evaluation barometer that is as quantitative as possible (e.g. citations by GoogleScholar.). When submitting lists of publications, please attach reprints or photocopies of the main publications (maximum of 5 and mark achievements in the list). If the original papers are not in PDF format, please scan them into PDF format and send them to us.
  • 4.List of competitive funds acquired, awards received, and other achievements
    Include contributions to university/institution operations, contributions to society through activities in academic societies, joint research projects, technology transfers, etc.
  • 5.Your future research plan and ideas on operations and human resources for the Division (limited to three pages on A4 size paper)
  • 6.Recommendation letters from two persons who can evaluate your work
    • *One recommendation letter should be written by the applicant’s current supervisor. If this is difficult to provide, a recommendation letter written by a third party may be accepted.
    • *If the applicant currently works for RIKEN, a recommendation letter should be written by a person outside of RIKEN.
    • *Both recommendation letters should not come from the same institution.
    • *There is no specified form for recommendation letters, but letters must be submitted directly by referees and meet the following conditions:
      • Be in PDF format
      • Contain the date and the recommender’s seal or signature. A digital image of the seal or signature should be embedded in recommendation letters in PDF format. If not including a seal or signature, the recommender’s contact information (name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address) must be specified in the letter.
      • Be addressed to President of RIKEN.
  • 7.Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR

How to apply

  • Combine the above documents except the recommendation letters into a single PDF file and upload the file to the following link:
    K24061_Applications for Director of AI for Science Platform Div.
  • The file name of the PDF should contain the job ad number " K24061, AI for Science Platform Division" and the applicant's name.
  • After you upload the PDF file, please make sure to let us (kobe-jobs [at] riken.jp) know the name of the uploaded file.
  • Please make the email subject line: "Your Name_ K24061 Director of the AI for Science Platform Division application documents"
  • Recommendation letters must be directly submitted from the referees to the website mentioned above with the subject line " K24061 (Applicant's Name) recommendation letter for the AI for Science Platform Division, Director Application”. Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the body of the email.
  • If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: kobe-jobs [at] riken.jp.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

Applications will be accepted until the positions are 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. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process

We will conduct the screening procedures upon receipt of the applications. We will notify all applicants regardless of acceptance or rejection, but only selected candidates will move on to the interview process. Please understand that we cannot respond to inquiries about the selection results.

Start of Employment

At the earliest opportunity (subject to negotiation)

Contact Information

For inquiries on this open position, please contact the person named below by email:
Computational Science Promotion Office, Kobe Branch, RIKEN
Email: r-ccs-pijinji [at] ml.riken.jp

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