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Seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher (25-746)

Laboratory

Chemical Biology and Biosynthesis Research Team
RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
(Laboratory head: Takayoshi Awakawa)

Research Field

Our laboratory aims to contribute to solving social issues such as the decrease and depletion of natural resources and to advance environmental resource science research through research on chemical biology and biosynthesis, including research on new useful natural products using biosynthetic methods. We analyze the biosynthesis pathway of bioactive substances and construct substance production systems in microbial hosts. We create non-natural compounds by modifying biosynthetic pathways and enzyme functions in the production system. We also analyze the mechanism of action of the bioactive compounds and obtain new knowledge in chemical biology.

For more information, please refer to the following link:
Chemical Biology and Biosynthesis Research Team | RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science

Job title and Job description

Job title

Postdoctoral Researcher, 1 position

Job description

Regarding the research project in RIKEN’s International Collaboration Program with Strategic Research Partners in the Fourth Mid- to Long-term Plan, “An investigation on the mechanism of biosynthesis and synthetic biology on unexploited drug discovery resources in South East Asia”, you will be engaged in the exploration of the biosynthetic diversity of natural products from Southeast Asian plants and its symbiotic microorganisms, biosynthetic pathways and enzymes to create active compounds.

The project is expected to end on 31 March, 2028.
The job description may be changed during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extent described above.

Postdoctoral Researcher
Receives developmental guidance from supervisor and conducts laboratory research programs.

Qualification

  • A person who has obtained a PhD within the past 5 years, or, one who is able to obtain a degree by the start of their post.
    • *From the viewpoint of career development at RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, the tenure as a RIKEN Postdoctoral Researcher is within 5 years in principle.
  • The candidate should possess a doctoral degree in a related field and research experience using enzyme and genetic manipulation.
  • The applicant must be able to communicate in English.
  • The applicant must be able to communicate and work together with collaborators both inside and outside our research group.

Work location

RIKEN Wako Campus
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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, up to maximum March 31, 2028.
    For the postdoctoral researcher position, however, the maximum term allowed at CSRS is 5 years. If the 5-year period ends before the above maximum contract date, the 5-year deadline takes precedence. In case an applicant for the postdoctoral position is currently working, or has previously worked, as a postdoctoral researcher at RIKEN, the total period of that employment as a postdoctoral researcher will be 5-year maximum in total.
    Those who wish to continue working at RIKEN beyond this point may apply for open positions.
  • 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 327,200 JPY. 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 more than 360,000 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 csrs-cbb@ml.riken.jp.

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 write Open-call ID [25-746] and the position you are applying for.
    • *Please use the format above.
  • 2.List of research achievements (Publications, Presentations, awards and others.)
    • *Please submit the PDF of one paper related to this application.
    • *Including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available.
  • 3.Previous research and future research plan
  • 4.A letter of recommendation from the PI of current laboratory
    • *The letter should be addressed to the Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Director.
    • *A recommendation from a third party is allowed when it is difficult for the candidate to obtain a recommendation from the PI of current laboratory.
    • *Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
  • 5.Certificate of graduation of the most recent education, or a copy of Diploma
  • 6.Contact detail of one reference (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
  • 7.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

The above documents except the recommendation letters combined into a single ZIP file should be uploaded to the following link:
25-746_Application documents for Postdoc (Chemical Biology and Biosynthesis Research Team)

The file name of the ZIP should contain your contact email address.
After you uploaded the ZIP file, please let us (csrs-cbb@ml.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 ”Chemical Biology and Biosynthesis Research Team, postdoctoral researcher [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

25-746_Application documents for Postdoc (Chemical Biology and Biosynthesis Research Team)

After the referees uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (csrs-cbb@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
If the submission requirements are not met, your application will not be processed.

Deadline

Open until the position is filled

  • *Note: Application documents will not be returned.
  • *Note: Only those candidates who pass the document screening will be notified by email within 10 days after the submission of the documents.

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 (face-to-face or remote).

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 (Negotiable)

Contact Information

RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
Chemical Biology and Biosynthesis Research Team
Email: csrs-cbb@ml.riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.

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