Laboratory

Chrono-Developmental Biology RIKEN ECL Research Team
RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research
(Laboratory head: Masayuki Oginuma)

Outline of Laboratory

The Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) views the functions of molecules, cells, and organs that support all life stages of organisms as a dynamic system, and aims to elucidate developmental, growth and aging phenomena as well as apply their findings to develop regenerative medicine and diagnostics, thereby contributing to the extension of healthy life expectancies.

The Chrono-Developmental Biology RIKEN ECL Research Team is recruiting technical employees to carry out a new theme. The research overview of the laboratory is shown below.

In our laboratory, we investigate the mechanisms regulating embryonic time. Embryonic development, from fertilization to body formation, progresses according to a strict schedule governed by a genetic clock. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. Our lab focuses on the turquoise killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri, which can pause embryonic development and enter a long-term state of diapause. By unraveling this unique clock-stopping phenomenon and developing rapid gene analysis methods, we aim to elucidate the molecular basis of embryonic time regulation and apply our findings to other organisms.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Technical Staff Ⅱ: 1 position

Position-specific tasks are as follows:
Provide technical support to the laboratory which they belong to.

Job Description

Maintenance and rearing of turquoise killifish, and culturing of fertilized embryos. Assistance with experiments conducted by the Researcher (preparation of reagents, molecular biology experiments, tissue staining, imaging analysis, etc.)

Qualification

A person who is able to dedicate themselves to the job by communicating, coordinating and collaborating smoothly with people in and out of the laboratory.
A person graduated from special school, junior college, university or higher level, with expertise and skills related to Job description. Or, a person recognized as having equal ability in the related area.

Work location

RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (Kobe Campus-East-West)
2-2-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047（Developmental Biology Buildings)

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 the end of April 2031.
• 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.

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 218,600 JPY. 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 including base salary and variable salary at the time of employment for a candidate with one year of experience, ability, and achievement after completing their master’s course will be approximately 221,000 JPY.

RIKEN has a telecommuting system, but this position requires attendance at the work location. Therefore, the telecommuting system is not available for this position, in principle. For more information, please get in touch with the hiring staff at kobe-jobs@riken.jp.

Work hours: 9:00 to 17:20 (lunch break 12:00 to 12:50). Supervisors may instruct employees to work outside of these hours.
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 (caring for a sick child, 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).

The Kobe Campus has an on-site daycare, Po-I Kids Kobe. For details, please send an email to the General Administrative Section at kobe-kosei@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.

Application and required documents

Required documents

• 1.Complete CV or CV
  • *Email address is required.
  • *Application Number[25-512] and position to apply (Technical Staff) should be clearly written at top-right in the margin.
  • *Format is free. Or the format attached is available.
• 2.List of obtained skills, experienced work, research achievement (about 1 page of A4 paper)
• 3.Motivation for applying and ambition for the future (about 1 page of A4 paper)
• 4.One letter of recommendation (including one from the current supervisor, If available)
  • *The recommendation letters should be addressed to “Center Director, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research”.
  • *Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number and email address)
  • *If it is difficult to obtain the recommendation letters from immediate manager or current supervisor, please obtain a letter from a third party.
  • *The referee should not be a person who belongs to the laboratory you apply for.
• 5.Certificate of graduation from the last school or graduation certificate from the last school (copy)
• 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 letters combined into a single PDF or ZIP file should be uploaded to the following link:

(25-512) Application for Technical Staff of Chrono-Developmental Biology RIKEN ECL Research Team

The uploaded file name should contain the job ad number “25-512” and the applicant’s name.
When you upload the file, your contact email address is required.
After you uploaded the file, please let us (kobe-jobs@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Recommendation letters must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link with the file name "Chrono-Developmental Biology RIKEN ECL Research Team [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

(25-512) Application for Technical Staff of Chrono-Developmental Biology RIKEN ECL Research Team

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

Note: None of the submitted documents will be returned.

Deadline

We will examine application documents as they are accepted. Application will be closed as soon as 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

Selection will be made based on application screening and interview. After documents screening, only successful applicants will be invited for interview. No inquiries on the selection process and results will be answered.

Notification of hiring decision

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

Start of Employment

October 1, 2025 (Negotiable)

Contact information

For inquiries on this open position, please contact below by email:
Research Personnel Affairs Section, Human Resources Strategy Division, Human Resources Group, RIKEN
kobe-jobs@riken.jp

*If you have any research-related questions, please contact masayuki.oginuma@riken.jp (Chrono-Developmental Biology RIKEN ECL Research Team, Dr. Masayuki Oginuma)