Laboratory

Laboratory for Neurodiversity
RIKEN Center for Brain Science
(Team Director: Adrian Moore)

Outline of Laboratory

In our laboratory, we study the regulatory control of neuron and circuit differentiation. We use state-of-the-art combinations of genetics, molecular cell biology, in vivo imaging of cell differentiation, and machine learning-based image analyses to explore and test our hypotheses. We are recruiting research scientists with strong backgrounds in genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, protein biochemistry, in vivo imaging, and computational image analysis.

Job title and Job description

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Job title

Postdoctoral Researcher 1 position
Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or less.

Job description

The project investigates the control of neural cell fate decisions and neuronal differentiation. This position requires relevant skills and experience in cell culture, genetics, molecular biology techniques including gene editing, lentiviral transduction or nucleofection methods, flow cytometry, chromatin profiling techniques, immunohistochemistry, and advanced microscopy. Our laboratory is diverse and multicultural. We value open communication, collaboration, teamwork, and efficient productivity, with English serving as the scientific language of our laboratory, while staff who speak Japanese as a primary language are comfortable with Japanese conversations happening at various levels.

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

*This project will end by May 31, 2027.

Qualification

• The candidate should possess a doctoral degree in a related field and research, techniques described in the job description.
• A preexisting publication record, and history of attaining competitive funding will be advantageous.

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 the end of May 31, 2027.
• 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 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.

For more information, please get in touch with the hiring staff at: gcna.cbs@ml.riken.jp

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 “25-2017”, 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

Please email your documents as a PDF file to gcna.cbs@ml.riken.jp.
(Recommendation letters must be emailed directly from the reference to gcna.cbs@ml.riken.jp.)

Note:

• 1)All the submitted documents will not be returned.
• 2)Only candidates who pass document screening will be contacted via email.

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

After March 1, 2026 (Negotiable)

Contact Information

RIKEN Center for Brain Science Laboratory for Neurodiversity
Email: gcna.cbs@ml.riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.