Laboratory

Ion Beam Breeding Group
RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science

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 applications for the position of Group Director (Principal Investigator) to serve in a leadership position in the following research area. The successful candidate will be responsible for directing research projects from a medium-to-long-term perspective.

Field: Development of heavy-ion mutation induction technology and research on chromosome rearrangement by genome analysis
The Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science operates one of the world's most powerful heavy-ion accelerator facilities—RI Beam Factory. In addition to advancing a wide variety of nuclear physics research, the center is actively engaged in research and technological development aimed at industrial applications, including mutation breeding, production of valuable radioactive isotopes, and heavy-ion irradiation testing of space-use semiconductors. The Ion Beam Breeding Group is proposing a novel technique called "The Tailor-made Mutation Induction Method". This approach involves irradiating experimental materials with heavy-ion beams whose linear energy transfer (LET) is customized based on the desired size and type of genomic mutation as specified by a user. In cooperation with a breeding user group comprising 200 domestic and international institutions, the group has contributed to the commercialization of 43 plant and microorganism varieties. Building on genomic mutation data obtained through whole-genome analysis, the group also has been promoting interdisciplinary research, which includes the characterization of genome-wide mutations induced by heavy-ion irradiation, identification of novel genes using mutants, creating DNA markers for cultivar identification, and investigations into the effects of chromosomal rearrangements, including large deletions, on genetic traits and evolutionary processes.
We are now seeking a Group Director to lead the advancement of innovative heavy-ion mutagenesis techniques that overcome the diversity of complex biological species. The successful candidate is also expected to drive forward interdisciplinary research, such as research on mutagenesis using heavy-ion beams with LET of 180 keV/μm or higher, that induces large genome mutations, and the construction of new models for mutagenesis. In addition, in cooperation with the breeding user group, the Group director will conduct approximately ten plant breeding irradiation experiments annually and lead the development of new varieties expected to contribute to solve the global food, energy and environmental issues exacerbated by environmental change.

Job title

Group Director (Principal Investigator): 1 position

Qualification

• Possess a Ph.D. in the relevant field or equivalent accomplishments.
• Uses plants, algae, and/or microorganisms as experimental materials, and has sufficient ability and research achievements necessary to lead the research group with long-term perspectives and to pioneer and drive progress in the field.
• Able to communicate smoothly with breeding users.
• We welcome applicants of all nationalities.

Work location

RIKEN Wako Campus (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)

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 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 approximate amount of salary at the time of employment:
The monthly salary at the time of employment will be more than 744,300 JPY.
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 approximately 11.6 million JPY.
If the monthly salary amount offered by RIKEN at the time of hire is lower than that of the previous position, the annual salary amount may be adjusted based on a comprehensive assessment that includes consideration of the cost of living in the candidate’s previous location as well as the candidate’s knowledge, expertise, and accomplishments.

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 or other locations permitted by RIKEN.

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 entirely 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 work place based on RIKEN regulations due to management decisions, budgetary situation, and organizational restructuring.

• *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.

Rights and Responsibilities

• Required to participate in RIKEN management activities in addition to conducting research in the area described above as a laboratory head.
• Eligible to apply for competitive funding from within and outside RIKEN.
• Eligible to host indefinite-term researchers, fixed-term researchers, Special Postdoctoral Researchers, JSPS Researchers and Junior Research Associates etc.
• Eligible to apply for the purchase of commodities, and laboratory space.
• Responsible for overseeing laboratory members, managing the laboratory budget and handling the maintenance and use of all laboratory equipment and instruments.

Application and required documents

All the application documents may be either in English or in Japanese.

• 1.Complete CV or CV (include your contact email address)
• 2.List of research achievements including publications (categorized into original articles, reviews, and others), invited talks, patents, the record of registered plant varieties, etc.
• 3.List of competitive research funds received, awards received, and other achievements including, contributions to university/ research institution operations, contribution to society through activities in scientific societies, joint research projects, technology transfers, etc.
• 4.Outline of your research and technical development to date (2 pages, A4 size)
• 5.Your future research plan for research and 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.One set of copies of your main papers (maximum number: 5)
• 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.
    • 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
• 9.Letters of recommendation from 2 persons who can evaluate the applicant.
  At least 1 person of the 2 recommenders is not affiliated with RIKEN.
  There is no specific format for the letters of recommendation, but they must meet the
  following requirements:
  • -The letter must be submitted as a PDF file.
  • -The letter must be dated and stamped or signed by recommender.
  • -The name on the letter should be “To: Makoto Gonokami, President, RIKEN”.

How to apply

The application documents (items 1 to 8) combined into a single PDF file should be uploaded to the following link:

Application documents：RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-based Science

The file name of the PDF should contain your contact email address. After you uploaded the PDF, please let us ( rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp ) know the file name of the uploaded file.

If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp

Recommendation letters (item 9) must be directly submitted from the recommenders to the following link with the file name "RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-based Science, [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". In addition, please ask the recommenders to notify us (rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp) that the upload has been completed.

following link:
Recommendation letters: RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-based Science

Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

Deadline

The application must arrive no later than noon, October 6, 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 application documents are screened, only the successful candidates will be asked to have an interview. The interview will be held on November 20, 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 research-related inquiries:
Nobuhisa Fukunishi head of the selection committee (Group Director, RIKEN Nishina Center forResearch Instruments Group)
Email: fukunisi@ribf.riken.jp

For other inquiries:
The secretariat of RNC selection committee
Email: rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp

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