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Seeking a Research Scientist or a Postdoctoral Researcher (25-982)

Laboratory

Uncertainty Quantification Team
Generic Technology Research Group
RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project
(Laboratory head: Futoshi Futami)

Outline of Laboratory

The RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP) has been launched since April 2016 with the subsidy for “Advanced Integrated Intelligence Platform Project-Artificial Intelligence/ Big Data/ Internet of Things/ Cybersecurity-.” from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. AIP aims to achieve scientific breakthrough and to contribute to the welfare of society and humanity through developing innovative technologies. We also conduct research on ethical, legal and social issues caused by the spread of AI technology and develop human resources.

The Uncertainty Quantification Team develops and analyzes methods for measuring the uncertainty inherent in machine-learning predictions. Our research includes calibration and epistemic and aleatoric uncertainty quantifications, for which we devise new analytical frameworks and statistical inference techniques.

For more information about the research team, please refer to the following:
Uncertainty Quantification Team | Center for Advanced Intelligence Project

Job title and job description

Job title

Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher 1 position

Research Scientist
Carries out research and other work in accordance with team research themes.
Basically defined as those with a doctoral degree more than 5 years.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Carries out research and other work in accordance with team research themes under the direction of supervisors.
Basically defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or less.

Job description

The candidate will develop theory and algorithms for uncertainty quantification in machine learning and is expected to publish the results in conferences and journals.

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

Qualifications

  • must have a Ph.D. or expect to receive a Ph.D. before the date of employment in machine learning, computer science, statistics or a related field.
  • must be proactive, cooperative, flexible, and able to respond according to the circumstances.
  • must also have good communication skills and be able to cooperate with the relevant personnel within/outside of the laboratory to fulfill the tasks.

Work location

RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (1-4-1, Nihonbashi, Chuo, Tokyo)

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 the fiscal year (March 31) in which the employee completes 7 years of employment. (Maximum employment duration for a Postdoctoral Researcher is 5 years).
  • 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 384,000 JPY for Research Scientist, 327,200 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher 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:

Research Scientist
Monthly salary range, including discretionary work allowance, at the time of employment is 500,000-833,000 JPY (annual salary 6,000,000-9,996,000 JPY). Decided based on experience, ability, and achievements.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Monthly salary range, including discretionary work allowance, at the time of employment is 400,000-575,000 JPY (annual salary 4,800,000-6,900,000 JPY). Decided based on experience, ability, and achievements.

RIKEN has implemented a telecommuting system that allows employees to work from home or other locations permitted by RIKEN. Our laboratory actively utilizes the telecommuting system. The post currently being offered may be carried out through telecommuting (full-remote work) within Japan for the entire specified work period, provided that the required procedures are completed and approval is obtained from RIKEN. For more information, please get in touch with the hiring staff at aip-hr@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 (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).

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).

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.List of publications(including Researcher ID or Google Scholar ID, if available): Circle titles of three major papers in the list
  • 2.Photocopies of three major research papers.
  • 3.Two different letters of recommendation including one by the current supervisor.
    Note:
    • If you cannot obtain a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, the same document issued by a third party is acceptable.
    • Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
    • Letters of recommendation must be addressed to: Director of RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project
    • Letters of recommendation must be submitted directly by the recommender, not by the applicant. We will contact the recommender with the URL to which the letter of recommendation should be submitted.
  • 4.Research in the past and research plan (3 pages in A4 size)
    Your research plan must include outcome expected within a few years from your appointment.
  • 5.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

  • A)Please access " [HR] Inquiry for public recruitment" and enter your contact information, the Open call ID (25-982) and so on.
  • B)Our HR staff will send you an email with instructions on how to submit your application.

Note:
Application documents will not be returned.
We cannot answer any inquiry about information regarding application status or evaluation details prior to, during, or after the evaluation process.

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

RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project
Nihonbashi 1-chome Mitsui Building, 15th floor,
1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan
Email: aip-hr@ml.riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.

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