Laboratory

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

Outline of Laboratory

RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (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.

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

Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist, a few positions

Position-specific task is as follows:

Postdoctoral Researcher

Conduct own research projects with a host researcher.

Research Scientist

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

Job description

This call is for Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Scientist who will be affiliated with iTHEMS “Mathematical Fundamentals Division (tentative name)”. Successful candidates will conduct a research project “Development of New Computational Principles through the Interdisciplinary Integration of High-Energy Physics and Quantum Computing” in the JST CREST research area “Exploring Quantum Frontiers Through Quantum-Classical Interdisciplinary Fusion” with Dr. Masazumi Honda, in the field of theoretical physics.

This project aims to formulate and implement quantum gauge theory and quantum gravity in a form that is efficiently executable on quantum computers, through the interdisciplinary integration of high-energy physics and quantum computing. Additionally, we will develop novel quantum error correction codes by utilizing insights from the symmetries and topological properties of gauge theories and quantum gravity. This approach will enable the simulation of nonequilibrium dynamics and finite-density systems, which have been challenging with traditional methods, thereby opening up new frontiers in the integration of quantum computing and high-energy physics.

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

For more information on the JST CREST research area “Exploring Quantum Frontiers Through Quantum-Classical Interdisciplinary Fusion”., please refer to the following website:
[Quantum Frontiers] Exploring Quantum Frontiers Through Quantum-Classical Interdisciplinary Fusion | CREST.”

This project is also accepting applications for researchers at the joint research institutions (Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University). Please refer to the following website for details.
Call for postdoctoral fellow at Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University

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 of 3years (Postdoctoral Researcher) or 5 years (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 will be 310,100JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher, and in the range of 365,800 to 461,200 JPY for Research Scientist, as of April 1, 2025. 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 450,000 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher, and 500,000 JPY or more for 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 (W24214) 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.Two or more letters of recommendation (from the referees of above 7.)
• 9.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 9:00a.m., December 13, 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

April 1, 2025 afterwards (Negotiable)

Contact Information

RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS)
For inquiry, send an email to masazumi.honda@riken.jp with Subject: iTHEMS Postdoc/RS (W24214).