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Seeking a few Research Scientists or Postdoctoral Researchers (W25015)

Laboratory

Mathematical Social Science Team,
Division of Applied Mathematical Science,
RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences
(Team Director: Tetsuo Hatsuda*)

*Dr. Yohsuke Murase is scheduled to be appointed as Team Director on September 1, 2025

Outline of Laboratory

RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (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.

On April 1, 2025, iTHEMS was reorganized from a Program into a Center. iTHEMS aims to elucidate the universe, matter, and life, and to solve fundamental problems in society, using a cross-disciplinary approach centered on mathematics.

Through this call, iTHEMS is seeking Research Scientists or Postdoctoral Researchers to join the Mathematical Social Science Team and advance mathematical research aimed at deepening our understanding of collective social phenomena and contributing to the realization of a stable and sustainable society.

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

Job title and Job description

Job title

Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher, a few positions

Research Scientist
Conducts the laboratory’s research projects.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Under the training and guidance of senior staff, conducts the laboratory’s research project, etc.

*The applicant will be assigned to an appropriate position based on his/her ability, aptitude, etc.

Job description

iTHEMS is seeking Research Scientists or Postdoctoral Researchers who mathematically study collective social behaviors, leveraging approaches such as evolutionary game theory, network science, and agent-based simulations. We are interested in a wide range of topics, including the evolution of cooperation, the formation of social networks, and opinion dynamics, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the preservation of global commons and the realization of a sustainable society. We welcome applications from individuals who share the philosophy of iTHEMS and are eager to promote interdisciplinary research across diverse fields, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, engineering, computational science, information science, and social sciences.

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

Mathematical Social Science Team, Division of Applied Mathematical Science, RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (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 3 years (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 is 327,200 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher, and 384,000 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 kids@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 (W25015) 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 [3-5 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.

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 July 18, 2025 (JST).

Notification of hiring decision

The notification of hiring decision (conditional offer of employment) regarding this selection shall be carried out through the presentation of a Fixed-term Employment Contract or a Conditional Offer of Employment issued by RIKEN.

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

As early as possible

Contact Information

RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS), Division of Applied Mathematical Science, Mathematical Social Science Team
Email: yohsuke.murase@riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.

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