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Seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist (25-1323)

Laboratory

Nuclear Chemistry Group
RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science
(Group Director: Hiromitsu Haba)

Outline of Laboratory

Promoting science and technology related to "element transmutation" founded by Dr. Yoshio Nishina more than 80 years ago, RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science challenges two ultimate questions: "How are elements created in the universe?" and "Can human beings freely transmute elements?" By returning the research results obtained to society, we are trying to solve the environmental, energy and resource problems faced by humankind.
The Nishina Center operates the RI Beam Factory (RIBF), the world's highest performing heavy ion accelerator facility where radioisotopes that do not exist in nature are artificially created. The Nishina Center promotes researches on the synthesis of superheavy elements with one prime example being nihonium, researches in the fields of magic numbers, nucleosynthesis in the universe, and reducing radioactive waste, as well as theoretical research linking these fields.

Nuclear Chemistry Group develops production technologies for useful radioisotopes (RIs) using the heavy ion accelerators at RIKEN RI Beam Factory, and conducts research on RI applications in the field of nuclear and radiochemistry.

For more information, please refer to the following webpage:
Nuclear Chemistry Group | RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science

Job title and Job description

Job title

Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist: one position

Postdoctoral Researcher
Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those who obtained a doctoral degree no more than 5 years ago.
Research Scientist
In principle, Research Scientist is defined as those who have held a doctoral degree for over 5 years.

Job description

The successful candidate will carry out the “Development of production technology for useful radioisotopes (RIs) using accelerators” task under the commissioned project “Development of stable and efficient production technology for RIs using accelerators” approved in FY2023 by Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation (F-REI). The successful candidate will be involved in the development of production and separation technologies of useful RIs for applications in medicine, agriculture, engineering, and other fields, the maintenance of production equipment and hot labs, and the RI production and distribution, using the heavy-ion accelerators and unsealed RI handling facilities at the RIKEN RI Beam Factory. The candidate is also expected to be in charge of RI production and separation at F-REI in future.

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

Qualification

  • The candidate should possess a doctoral degree in relevant fields, or is a prospective PhD candidate who is scheduled to obtain a doctoral degree before the first day of work.
  • Research experience with unsealed RIs is required.
  • The candidate is expected to conduct works actively and steadily under the smooth cooperation with persons involved from inside/outside of RIKEN.

Work location

RIKEN Wako Campus (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 of March 31, 2030.
  • 2.RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee’s abilities, work load 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.
  • 3.There will be an interim review around the third year.

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.
Discretionary work, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.

The approximate amount of monthly salary at the time of employment:

Postdoctoral Researcher
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 367,925 JPY or more.
Research Scientist
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 431,790 JPY or more.

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.

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 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 (with email address)
    • *Write the RIKEN job ad number “25-1323”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
  • 2.List of achievements (Please categorize: Papers on refereed journal, Papers on non-refereed journal, Conference presentation, Patents, Competitive funds, Others)
    (including Researcher ID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
  • 3.Summary of major achievements to date and research proposal in future (two pages A4 sized paper, respectively)
  • 4.A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.）
    • *Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
  • 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

  • 1.Contacting the Group you wish to be affiliated with:
    Please contact the Group you wish to be affiliated with, and inquire about your job before submitting your application.
    Nuclear Chemistry Group (Group Director: Hiromitsu Haba haba@riken.jp)
  • 2.Submission of application documents
    The above documents except the recommendation letters combined into a single ZIP file should be uploaded to the following link:

    Application documents: F-REI Nuclear Chemistry Group, RNC

    • *The file name of the ZIP should contain your name.
    • *After you uploaded the ZIP file, please let us (rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

    Recommendation letters must be directly submitted from the referees to the following website with the file name "F-REI Nuclear Chemistry Group, RNC [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)".
    After the recommenders uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
    Application documents: F-REI Nuclear Chemistry Group, RNC

Note: All the submitted 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, interview and oral presentation by 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

For inquiries concerning the research
Nuclear Chemistry Group (Hiromitsu Haba, haba@riken.jp)
For other inquiries
Nishina Center Screening Working Group Email: rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp

For inquiries, please send an email.

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