Laboratory

Dementia Pathophysiology Collaboration Unit
RIKEN Center for Brain Science
(Unit leader: Hiroki Sasaguri)

Outline of Laboratory

Human brain function declines as the brain environment changes with aging. On the other hand, in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, specific neurons degenerate and die, deviating from the normal aging process, resulting in various neurological symptoms. In addition to mouse models, our laboratory aims to create non-human primate marmoset models and analyze them using state-of-the-art technology to elucidate the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and to develop novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, through research on these neurological diseases, we aim to elucidate the normal aging process of the brain.

Job title and Job description

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Job title

Research Scientist 1 position
Research Scientist is defined as those with a doctoral degree more than 5 years.

Job description

Engaged in research work to elucidate Alzheimer's disease pathology and brain aging process, to search for novel biomarkers, and to develop therapeutic methods.
Specifically, the successful applicant will conduct cognitive-behavioral, biochemical, and pathological analyses of Alzheimer's disease model mice, as well as various analyses using human samples such as iPS cells from Alzheimer's disease patients and centenarians, and create new model mice based on these findings.
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 PhD degree and be familiar with the generation, maintenance, and analysis of iPS cells and various types of iPS cell-derived cells and organoids. We welcome applicants who are willing to communicate with other members of the team, work on their own initiative in research, and aim for an independent position in the future. Experience with experiments using mice is also desirable.

Work location

Keio University Shinanomachi Campus (35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582) and RIKEN Wako (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 the end of the fiscal year of 2027 (March 31, 2028).
• 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.

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 total amount of monthly discretionary work allowance and monthly salary at the time of hiring 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
  • *Write the RIKEN job ad number “25-2000”, 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 ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
• 3.External funding awarded
• 4.Summary of research experience to date
• 5.Reason for applying for the post
• 6.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)
• 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

How to apply

The above documents, except the letters of recommendation, should be combined into a single ZIP file and uploaded to the following link:

For Research Scientist position, Dementia Pathophysiology Collaboration Unit, RIKEN Center for Brain Science

After you upload the ZIP file, please let us (hiroki.sasaguri@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Letters of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the following link with the file name" [applicant’s name]
(Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

For Research Scientist position, Dementia Pathophysiology Collaboration Unit, RIKEN Center for Brain Science

After the referees upload the letter of recommendation, please let us (hiroki.sasaguri@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: hiroki.sasaguri@riken.jp.

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 Center for Brain Science
Dementia Pathophysiology Collaboration Unit
Email: hiroki.sasaguri@riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.