Laboratory

Radioactive Isotope Physics Group,
RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science
(Group Director: Hiroyoshi Sakurai)

Outline of Laboratory

This Group conducts programs at “RI Beam Factory (RIBF)”, and explores exotic nuclear structures and dynamics in exotic nuclei with largely imbalanced proton and neutron numbers. Our aim is to develop new experimental techniques utilizing fast radioactive isotope beams at RIBF, to discover new phenomena and properties in exotic nuclei. The Laboratory is focusing three major subjects; shell evolution of very neutron-rich nuclei, the r-process path and equation-of-state in asymmetric nuclear matter. The Laboratory has initiated international collaborations for in-beam gamma spectroscopy, decay spectroscopy and heavy-ion induced reactions, and has formed a discussion forum for next generation gamma detectors.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Postdoctoral Researcher, one position

Job description

As part of the Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Area (A), “Quantum Matter Science in the Universe Opened Up by Precise Numerical Calculations,” specially within the project “Study of Neutron-Rich Heavy Nuclei Aimed at Unraveling the Process of Heavy Element Synthesis” (Principal Investigator: Shunji Nishimura), the candidate will engage in international collaborative experiments at RIBF and promote research on nuclear structure and the r-process. In addition, the candidate will be responsible for development of detectors for measuring beta rays, gamma rays, and neutrons as well as the development of computational codes for analyzing the obtained data.

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.

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.An interim review is scheduled to be conducted after two 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.
Discretionary work, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.

The approximate amount of salary at the time of employment:
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 367,925 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.CV or CV (with email address)
  • *Write the RIKEN job ad number “25-1629”, 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 research achievement and publications
  (including Researcher ID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
• 3.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)
• 4.3 sets of copies of your major papers
• 5.Summary of major achievements to date and research proposal in future (two pages A4 sized paper, respectively)
• 6.Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR/UK GDPR
  If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the UK, you are required to sign and submit the document, “Consent form for handling personal information based on Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) and the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation.”
  • *For residents of the EEA, you will find detailed information about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
    Data protection | European Commission
  • *For residents of the UK, you will find detailed information about Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation) on the following website:
    The UK GDPR | Information Commissioner’s Office

How to apply

The above documents except the recommendation letters combined into a single ZIP file should be uploaded to the following link:
Radioactive Isotope Physics Group, RNC

The file name of the ZIP should contain your name.
After you uploaded the ZIP file, please let us (sakurai@ribf.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" Radioactive Isotope Physics Group, [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter) ". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.
Radioactive Isotope Physics 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 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

April 1, 2026 (Negotiable)

Contact Information

RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science
Radioactive Isotope Physics Group
Group Director: Hiroyoshi Sakurai
Email: sakurai@ribf.riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.