Laboratory

Optical Quantum Control Research Team,
RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing
(Team Director: Hidehiro Yonezawa)

Outline of Laboratory

The missions of RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing (RQC) are to deepen our understanding of quantum mechanics and quantum information, develop techniques for quantum control and measurement, build quantum computing hardware and software, and explore novel applications. We promote basic research on quantum information science and contribute to society through quantum technology.
This research team is investigating optical quantum control technology with the aim of developing an optical quantum computer. In quantum systems, quantum states are susceptible to environmental disturbances and measurements. Therefore, it is essential to develop quantum control techniques to manipulate quantum states properly. We will develop high-fidelity quantum measurement and estimation as well as coherent and measurement-base control. With these techniques, we aim to realize and improve the performance of optical quantum computing and quantum information technologies.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Senior Research Scientist, Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associate a few positions

In general, those who earned a doctoral degree more than 5 years ago and have excellent achievements and abilities will be appointed as Senior Research Scientist, those who earned a doctoral degree more than 5 years ago will be appointed as Research Scientist, those who earned a doctoral degree within the past 5 years will be appointed as Postdoctoral Researcher, or doctoral degree not yet obtained will be appointed as a Research Associate.

Senior Research Scientist

Assists the team director, provides guidance to the team members and others, and implements the team's research agenda.

Research Scientist

Conducts the team's research projects.

Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associates

Under the training and guidance of senior staff, conducts the team's research project, etc.

Job description

The position will involve experimental research in optical quantum control, quantum measurement, and estimation as well as related optical quantum information technology.

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

Qualification

The candidate should possess a doctoral degree in a field related to quantum computing or be expected to obtain such a doctoral degree by the date of hire or aim to obtain a doctoral degree.
The candidate is expected to have experience in quantum optics experiments, particularly in generation and measurement of non-classical light.

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, Senior Research Scientist or Research Scientist may be reappointed for a period of up to seven years from the date of hire and Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associate maybe reappointed for a period of up to five years from the date of hire.
• 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.When the Employee's research is scheduled to be reviewed in employee's 4 year at RIKEN, and when it is concluded that there is reason* to believe it will be difficult for the research (or technology development) to be continued, the employment contract will not be renewed for 6 year. (*The reason may relate to the Employee's abilities, performance and/or work attitude.)

In principle, the first two months of employment are 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 458,500~509,100 JPY as of April 1, 2025 for Senior Research Scientist, 384,000~482,300 JPY for Research Scientist, 327,200 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher, 268,600 JPY for Research Associate. 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 750,000 JPY or more for Senior Research Scientist, 650,000 JPY or more for Research Scientist, 500,000 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher, 300,000 JPY or more for Research Associate.
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@riken.jp.

Application and required documents

Required documents

• 1.Complete CV or CV (with photo and email address)
  • *Write the RIKEN job ad number “W24344”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
• 2.List of research achievement and publications
• 3.A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor
  • *Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
  • *If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.
• 4.Major papers (not more than 3 for Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associate, 5 for Senior Research Scientist or Research Scientist)
• 5.Summary of past research and future research plan (not more than 3 pages for Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associate, 5 pages for Senior Research Scientist or Research Scientist)
• 6.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

The above documents except the recommendation letter combined into a PDF file should be uploaded to the following link:

RQC Optical Quantum Control Research Team Application BOX_W24344

The file name should contain your contact email address.
After you uploaded the file, please let us (hidehiro.yonezawa@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Recommendation letter must be directly submitted from the referee to the following website with the file name " Optical Quantum Control Research Team [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

RQC Optical Quantum Control Research Team Application BOX_W24344

After the referee uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (hidehiro.yonezawa@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file. If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: hidehiro.yonezawa@riken.jp.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

Open until the position is 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 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 and interview for selected applicants

Start of Employment

As early as possible

Contact Information

Team Director Hidehiro Yonezawa,
Optical Quantum Control Research Team, RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing
Email: hidehiro.yonezawa@riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.