Laboratory

Nuclear Many-body Theory Laboratory
RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science
(Laboratory Director: Masaaki Kimura)

Research Field and Overview

Nuclear structure and reactions reveal various aspects of quantum many-body systems due to the assembly and disassembly of protons and neutrons. In the Nucleon Many-body Theory Laboratory, we aim to understand such dynamics of nuclei and to construct theoretical models to describe them. Our research topics include nuclear structure issues such as deformation, shell structure, and clustering of unstable nuclei, and nuclear reactions in the Universe where elements originate. In addition to this fundamental research, we are also developing nuclear reaction databases for applications in various scientific and technological fields such as medicine and industry.

For more information, please refer to the following webpage:

• Nuclear Many-body Theory Laboratory | RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science

Job title and job description

Job title

Research Scientist or Senior Research Scientist: 1 position
The position at the time of hiring will be determined through the selection process.

Job description

The successful candidate will be affiliated with the Nuclear Many-Body Theory Laboratory at the RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science and will lead advanced theoretical research on nuclear structure and reactions. In detail, the candidate is expected to engage in research on nuclear structure based on fundamental nuclear forces or in the development of microscopic theories of nuclear reactions, as well as in their related applications.
In addition, the candidate will be expected to actively take part in interdisciplinary research promoted by RIKEN platforms such as RIKEN TRIP and RIKEN Quantum, contributing to the integration of nuclear theory with machine learning and quantum computing.

The successful candidate is expected to conduct research and development on topics specified above and to contribute to the management of the laboratory. Senior Research Scientist is also expected to assist the laboratory head.

Qualification

Doctoral degree (or equivalent research ability and background) in the relevant research field.
Experience in machine learning or quantum computing is not required.

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 Special Temporary Employment program that allows employees to be rehired and continue working until age 65.

Full time. This position falls under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes.

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. Bonuses or retirement benefits will not be paid.
The approximate amount of annual salary at the time of employment:
If hired as a Research Scientist:
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 510,000 JPY or more. Example: The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 5 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 580,000 JPY.

If hired as a Senior Research Scientist:
The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 540,000 JPY or more. Example: The monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment for a candidate with 10 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 730,000 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 rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp.

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.

Other

• *Eligible to apply for 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

Application documents

All the application documents should be prepared in English (Only letters of recommendation may be either in English or in Japanese).

• 1.CV or CV (include your contact email address)
• 2.List of research achievement ( publications, patents, presentations) If you have a ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, please include that information as well.
• 3.List of external research funding, awards, and other achievements including contributions to academic societies, community service, or joint research projects).
• 4.Outlines of your research projects to date (3 pages, A4 size)
• 5.Your future research plans and perspectives if you are accepted for the position (3 pages in A4 size in total)
• 6.Copies of major publications (up to 5 papers; for open-access papers, a link may be provided instead of a copy).
• 7.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
• 8.Two or more letters of recommendation
  One letter must be from the applicant’s current supervisor or head of affiliation, and another must be from someone not affiliated with RIKEN.

How to apply

The above documents (items 1 to 7), except the letters of recommendation, should be combined into a single ZIP file and uploaded to the following link:
Indefinite-term employment position Nuclear Many-body Theory Laboratory, RNC
The file name of the ZIP should contain your name and contact email address.
After you uploaded the ZIP file, please let us (rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

About letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link with the subject line " Nuclear Many-body Theory Laboratory, RNC [applicant’s name] (Letter of recommendation)". Please specify the applicant's name, and the referee's name and contact information in the letter of recommendation.
Indefinite-term employment position Nuclear Many-body Theory Laboratory, RNC
After the referees upload the letter ot recommendation, please let us (rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
If none of your current supervisors or academic advisors are able to prepare a letter of recommendation, a letter from a third person will be accepted. There is no set format for the letters of recommendation, but they must meet the following conditions: they must be addressed to the President of RIKEN, Makoto Gonokami, and include the date of issue. Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address).

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

Note: None of the submitted documents will be returned.

Deadline

Noon, November 25, 2025 (Japan time).

Handling of personal information

Submitted documents are strictly protected under the RIKEN Personal Information Protection Regulations and will be used only for the purpose of applicant screening. 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. There will be the final interview 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 after April 1, 2026.

Other conditions at the time of appointment will be negotiable.

Contact Information

For inquiries concerning the research

Nuclear Many-body Theory Laboratory, RNC
Masaaki Kimura (Laboratory Director)
Email: masaaki.kimura@ribf.riken.jp

For other inquiries

Nishina Center Screening Working Group
Email: rnc-jinji@ml.riken.jp

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