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[Female only] Seeking a Chief Scientist (Principal investigator, Indefinite-term) (25-576)

Laboratory

RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute

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 female applicants for the position of Chief Scientist (Principal Investigator) to serve in a leadership position in these research activities. The successful candidate will be responsible for directing research projects from a medium-to-long-term perspective.

Field: Any field

The “Chief Scientist Program” is a historic program introduced in 1922 in order to help researchers pursue their research freely based on their own ideas. Dr. Hantaro Nagaoka, who established the foundation of physics in Japan, Dr. Yoshio Nishina, who is known as the father of modern physics in Japan, and Dr. Umetaro Suzuki, known for his discovery of vitamin B1, all actively participated in this system, and have driven the history of science forward.
In 1953, Sechi Kato, a pioneer in chemical analysis who endeavored for the training of women in research, became the first woman to be a Chief Scientist at RIKEN (and the third woman to become a Doctor of Science in Japan).Since then, many female researchers have served as Chief Scientists, including National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) President Maki Kawai and RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) Director Mikiko Sodeoka, both of whom continue to lead their respective research fields today. Currently, there are approximately 30 Chief Scientists including both men and women, are actively engaged in research across a wide range of disciplines.

The successful applicant for this Chief Scientist position (equivalent to full or senior university professor or director) will in particular have an outstanding research record, a high level of research leadership abilities, and a high level of discernment as a scientist, and will be expected to continue to produce outstanding results going forward. The successful candidate will be free to pursue their own research based on their long-term vision, and will aim to create new science beyond the boundaries of research fields and organizations in a research environment that facilitates collaboration with other laboratories led by Chief Scientists in diverse fields.

In “RIKEN's Vision on the 2030 Horizon” RIKEN has declared its plan to “assemble and orchestrate RIKEN’s strengths, achievements, and tradition in order to bring science to new heights and pioneer new realms of research in response to rapidly evolving real problems.” Chief Scientists are one of the pillars that support this.
Participation in various programs established under TRIP (Transformative Research Innovation Platform of RIKEN Platforms) is also possible, offering optional opportunities to contribute to global-scale challenges through cutting-edge scientific research.

For an overview of the RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI), please refer to RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute.

Job title

Chief Scientist (Principal Investigator): 1 or 2 positions (limited to female applicants)

Qualification

Applicants must be female researchers with a long-term vision, with sufficient ability and research achievement to preside over a laboratory and pioneer and lead the field. We welcome applicants of all nationalities.

Work location

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

*Laboratory location will be decided according to the nature of the research undertaken.

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 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 and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations.
The approximate amount of annual salary at the time of employment:
Based on RIKEN regulations, upon ensuring the salary of the candidate’s previous position, annual salary will be determined at the time of hire. The annual salary at the time of employment for a candidate with 15 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be at least 11.6 million JPY.

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

RIKEN has implemented a telecommuting system that allows employees to work from home etc.

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 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 workplace 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. RIKEN offers a full range of work-life balance support systems, including onsite daycare centers (Wako, Yokohama, Kobe), support for returning to work after a break in research, and subsidies for personnel expenses for research support staff during pregnancy, childcare, and nursing care.
  • *Optimizing gender balance will create a more comfortable and creative research environment for researchers of all attributes. By realizing diversity, we hope to make RIKEN a place where new ideas are more likely to emerge. In compliance with Article 8 of the Equal Employment Opportunity Law (Special Provisions of Measures Pertaining to Women Workers), this type of recruitment is carried out as a measure to attain adequate levels of female representation.
  • *We will consider spousal hiring with married couples and cross-appointments. Please discuss this at the time of application.
  • *In principle, this position is a full-time appointment at RIKEN. However, if you are interested in cross-appointment, please consult with us.
  • *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

The Chief Scientist’s laboratory will be provided with a research environment suitable for a representative of their field (conditions negotiable).

  • If necessary, initial financial support is available in order to ensure a smooth start-up of the laboratory.
  • Research expenses and space for conducting research will be allocated as needed.
  • It will be possible to access RIKEN’s shared state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. (RIKEN promotes the shared use of its state-of-the-art equipment and facilities internally and externally in order to maximize utilization and efficiency from the perspective of contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions)
  • RIKEN is able to employ indefinite-term employees and fixed-term employees through the usage of research funds. Additionally, it is also possible to invite Junior Scientists (Special Postdoctoral Researcher, Junior Research Associate, etc.) through RIKEN’s Junior Scientist Programs.
  • Research support is also available through internal funds for emergent research and collaborative research with domestic and international partners.

Application and Required documents

Required documents

All the application documents should be prepared in English.

  • 1.CV (include your contact email address)
  • 2.List of your research (lists of publications (divide into sections for original papers, reviews, and others), patents, invited talks, etc.) and ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available.
  • 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/or technical development to date (2 pages, A4 size)
  • 5.Your future plan for research and/or 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.Names and contact information including email addresses of three recommenders who are able to evaluate your research. Please include at least one non-Japanese researcher out of the three recommenders.
  • 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.One set of copies of your main papers (maximum number: 5)

How to apply

Upload the application documents (items 1 through 8) combined into a single PDF file to the following URL (Document 9 should be submitted as a separate PDF).
RIKEN/PRI file upload box
The file name of PDF:
25-576_applicant’s name.pdf
25-576_mainpapers_applicant’s name.pdf

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: The submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

The application must arrive no later than noon, September 16, 2025 (Japan Standard Time)

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 the application documents are screened, only the successful candidates will be asked to have an interview. The interview is expected to be held in December 2025.
There will be final interviews with RIKEN executives as part of the hiring process.

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.

Start of Employment

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

Contact Information

For inquiries, please contact the following administrative office via email. If necessary, we will connect you to the appropriate PI in the relevant field.
Pioneering Science Promotion Division
RIKEN
Email: pioneering_pi@ml.riken.jp

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

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