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Seeking a Team Director (Principal Investigator, Indefinite-term) (W25038)

Laboratory

RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics

Research Field and Overview

RIKEN's research is based on comprehensiveness and interdisciplinarity, and with free thinking as its basic philosophy, RIKEN promotes research that goes beyond the boundaries of conventional research fields, while at the same time responding to the needs of society from a strategic perspective.

RIKEN invites applications for the position of Team Director (Principal Investigator) to serve in a leadership position in the following research area. The successful candidate will be responsible for directing research projects from a medium-to-long-term perspective.

RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics (RAP) is a research hub where scientists from diverse fields of quantum photonics come together to pioneer cutting-edge science driven by light. RAP conducts a wide field of ambitious research projects, including the exploration of matter through attosecond laser pulses, the development of novel spatiotemporal measurement techniques using ultra-precise optical lattice clocks, terahertz quantum electronics, foundational photonic technologies for the next generation of quantum metrology, and advanced space exploration.
Under its Fifth Mid- to Long-Term Plan, which began in FY2025, RAP aims to unlock new potential as an international research center by fostering close and flexible collaboration across its wide-ranging photonics research fields and accelerating interdisciplinary and integrative research initiatives.

Field: Biophotonics

RIKEN's cutting-edge photon science research, which aligns with the strategic objectives of RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics (RAP), is accomplishing important missions that are expected to have a significant impact on the nation and society in the near future. On the other hand, a handful of underexplored photon science “seeds” await development through active collaborations with the life sciences. Such collaborations aim to revolutionize our lives in the not-too-distant future. To induce the germination of such interdisciplinary science seeds, we will establish a new Biophotonics team and are currently accepting applications for the position of team director.

The fusion of photonics and biology is now entering a new phase, characterized by various advanced technological innovations. Examples include the development of mid- or far-infrared imaging technology that maps spectral signatures onto subcellular structures and the development of optical microscopy technology that controls the absorption cross section across several orders of magnitude by leveraging the quantum nature of light. Biophotonics will also be well supported by data-driven science and AI technology, both of which are thriving in RIKEN.

Scientists with flexible minds and multidisciplinary perspectives deserve an opportunity to elevate their exceptional achievements to the next level in the rich research environment of RIKEN. With bountiful opportunities for interaction and communication with researchers in engineering, physics, chemistry, informatics, photonics, and biology, the team director is expected to shape Biophotonics science into a distinctive field unique to RIKEN.

Job title

Team Director (Principal Investigator): 1 position

Qualification

Applicants must have an outstanding research record and the ability to lead the above research field internationally. We welcome applicants of all nationalities.

Work location

Immediately after hiring: RIKEN Wako (2-1, Hirosawa, Wako-shi, 351-0198, Saitama)

RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.
Potential sites of relocation: Any campus, branch, or office as ordered by RIKEN.

Salary and benefits

This post is an indefinite-term employment position. Mandatory retirement age for FY 2025 and FY 2026 is 62 years old. Note: RIKEN has been increasing the mandatory retirement age by one year every two years from FY 2023.
There is a re-employment program to hire individuals as fixed-term employees from the mandatory retirement age to age 65. After evaluation, it is possible to keep the principal investigator position until age 65.

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 744,300 JPY. The monthly base salary and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations.
Based on RIKEN regulations, upon ensuring the salary of the candidate’s previous position, annual salary will be determined at the time of hire.

Commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied. Bonuses or retirement benefits will not be paid.

RIKEN has implemented a work-from-home system. Employees can work from home in accordance with the prescribed procedures.

Work hours: 9:00 to 17:20 (lunch break 12:00 to 12:50) in principle. However, employee may change starting and ending 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.

Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).

  • *RIKEN may require changes of responsibilities, job category, and work place based on RIKEN regulations due to management decisions, budgetary situation, and organizational restructuring.
  • *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.
  • *The Wako Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Wako. For details, please send an email to kids@riken.jp.
  • *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).

Rights and Responsibilities

  • Required to participate in RIKEN management activities in addition to conducting research in the area described above as a laboratory head.
  • Eligible to apply for competitive funding from within and outside RIKEN.
  • Eligible to host indefinite-term researchers, fixed-term researchers, Special Postdoctoral Researchers, JSPS Researchers and Junior Research Associates etc.
  • Eligible to apply for the purchase of commodities, and laboratory space.
  • Responsible for overseeing laboratory members, managing the laboratory budget and handling the maintenance and use of all laboratory equipment and instruments.

Application and Required documents

All the application documents should be prepared in English. (Only recommendation letters may be either in English or in Japanese)

  • 1.CV (include your contact email address)
  • 2.List of your research and technical development (lists of publications (divide into sections for original papers, reviews, and others), patents, invited talks, etc.).
  • 3.List of competitive research funds received, awards received, and other achievements including, contributions to university/institution operations, contribution to society through activities in scientific societies, joint research projects, technology transfers, etc.
  • 4.Outline of your research and technical development to date (2 pages, A4 size)
  • 5.Your future research plan for research and technical development if you are accepted for the position (3 pages, A4 size)
  • 6.Your ideas on how you expect to manage your laboratory and mentor young researchers if you are accepted for the position (1 page, A4 size)
  • 7.One set of copies of your main papers (maximum number: 5)
  • 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.
  • 9.Full names and contact information, including email addresses, of 5 researchers (including at least 3 researchers at non-Japanese institutes) who are able to evaluate your research and are not affiliated with RIKEN.

How to apply

The application documents (items 1 to 9) combined into a single ZIP or PDF file should be uploaded to the following link: RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics, Team Director (Biophotonics) W25038, Application documents

The file name should contain the applicant’s name.
After you uploaded the file, please notify the file name to the e-mail address at contact information below.
If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact the e-mail address at contact information below.

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

The application must arrive no later than noon, August 29, 2025 (Japan Standard Time)

Notification of hiring decision

The notification of hiring decision (conditional offer of employment) regarding this selection shall be carried out through the presentation of Statement of Working Conditions 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

After application documents are screened, only the successful candidates will be asked to have an interview. The interview will be held on September 30, 2025.
There will be final interviews with RIKEN executive directors as part of the hiring process.

Start of Employment

RIKEN expects that the successful candidate will be able to take up this position at the earliest opportunity on or after January 1, 2026.
Other conditions at the time of appointment will be negotiable.

Contact Information

RAP Selection Secretariat
Email: rap-jinji@ml.riken.jp

Note: No inquiries on the selection process and results will be answered.

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