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Seeking a Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher (25-698)

Laboratory

Quantum Electron Device Research Team,
RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science
(Laboratory head: Michihisa Yamamoto)

Outline of Laboratory

We develop quantum electron devices based on manipulation and transfer of quantum degrees of freedom in solids. We employ quantum electron optics, where quantum states of propagating electrons are manipulated, and experiments on manipulation of novel quantum degrees of freedom in atomic-layer materials. These experiments aim to reveal physics of quantum coherence, quantum correlations, and quantum conversions, as guiding principles for quantum electron devices. We also employ state of the art quantum technologies to solve long-standing problems in condensed matter physics from microscopic points of view.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist 1 position

  • Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those with a doctoral degree of less than 5 years.
  • Research Scientist is defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or more.

*Job judgment will be decided based on applicant's ability, aptitude etc.

Job description

The successful candidates will work on quantum transport in semiconductor nanostructures or atomic layer materials. Examples are development of quantum devices and quantum information technologies based on electron wave packets propagating on semiconductor quantum circuits, and quantum simulation experiments using semiconductor nanostructures and 2D materials.

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

Qualifications

The candidate should possess a doctoral degree by experimental study in the solid state physics field, or the candidate should be able to obtain a doctoral degree by experimental study in the solid state physics field before the work start date.

Work location

Quantum Electron Device Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)

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 5 years of employment.
  • 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 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 327,200 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher and range from 384,000 JPY to 509,100 JPY 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:

If hired as a Postdoctoral Researcher
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 3 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 450,000 JPY.

If hired as a Research Scientist
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 7 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 550,000 JPY.

RIKEN has implemented a telecommuting system that allows employees to work from home or other locations permitted by RIKEN.

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.

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

  • *Eligible for an exemption from repayment for category 1 scholarship loans provided by the Japan Student Services Organization before fiscal year 2003.
  • *Eligible to apply for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).

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.

Application and required documents

Required documents

  • 1.Complete CV or CV
    Please indicate either A or B.
    • A (RIKEN CV) Write the RIKEN job ad number “25-698”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
    • B (Original CV) Write down in the notes section of your CV the number written next to the title of the job position (e.g. 25-698).
  • 2.List of research achievements and publications　(including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
  • 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)
    • *Letters should be addressed to “Dr. Takahisa Arima, Center Director of CEMS”
      (If a letter from the current supervisor is unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.)
  • 4.Up to 5 set of copies of your major papers
  • 5.Summary of major achievements to date and research proposal in future (about 5 pages of A4 sized paper in total.)
  • 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.

How to apply

Please make inquiries to the contact address listed below prior to the application. Then, the above documents except the recommendation letters combined into a single ZIP file should be uploaded to the following link:

For Research Scientist or Postdoctoral positions, Quantum Electron Device Research Team, Center for Emergent Matter Science

The uploaded file name should contain your name.
After you uploaded the ZIP file, please let us (michihisa.yamamoto@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 subject line "Center for Emergent Matter Science, position name [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

For Research Scientist or Postdoctoral positions, Quantum Electron Device Research Team, Center for Emergent Matter Science

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

Note: Application 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

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

As early as possible

Contact Information

Quantum Electron Device Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science
Email: michihisa.yamamoto@riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.

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