［Female only］Seeking a few Senior Research Scientists, Research Scientists, Postdoctoral Researchers, or Research Associates (25-508) – RIKEN, Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences

Position Description

【Title】    
［Female only］Seeking a few Senior Research Scientists, Research Scientists, Postdoctoral Researchers, or Research Associates (25-508)

【Laboratory】    
RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences
(1)    Division of Fundamental Mathematical Science (Division Director: Satoshi Iso)
and the following Teams in iTHEMS’ Division of Applied Mathematical Science:
(2)    Mathematical Application Research Team, Division of Applied Mathematical Science (Team Director: Motoko Kotani)
(3)    Quantum Mathematical Science Team, Division of Applied Mathematical Science (Team Director; Tetsuo Hatsuda)
(4)    Medical Science Data-driven Mathematics Team, Division of Applied Mathematical Science (Team Director; Eiryo Kawakami)
(5)    Medical Science Deep Learning Team, Division of Applied Mathematical Science (Team Director; Jun Seita)
(6)    Prediction Science Research Team, Division of Applied Mathematical Science (Team Director; Takemasa Miyoshi)
(7)    Mathematical Social Science Team, Division of Applied Mathematical Science (Team Director; Yohsuke Murase, appointed September 1, 2025)

【Outline of Laboratory】    
RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS) is an international research center at RIKEN. It facilitates close collaborations among researchers from different disciplines in theoretical, mathematical and computational sciences. On April 1, 2025, iTHEMS transitioned from a program to a center. The ultimate goal of iTHEMS is to unravel the mystery of the Universe, matter, and life, as well as to solve key problems in modern society through interdisciplinary approaches.
For more information, please refer to the following website:
RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Science (iTHEMS)

【Job title and Job description 】　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Senior Research Scientist, Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associate, a few positions (Female only)

Senior Research Scientist
Assists the director or the team director, provides guidance to the laboratory members and others, and implements the laboratory’s research agenda.

Research Scientist
Conducts the laboratory’s research projects.

Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Associates
Under the training and guidance of senior staff, conducts the laboratory’s research project, etc.

＊The applicant will be assigned to an appropriate position based on his/her ability, aptitude, etc.

Job description
Specifics of the job description and work location will depend on the laboratory (see [Laboratory] section) to which the Applicant will be assigned. Applicants should mention in their cover letter which iTHEMS laboratories they would like to join based on their expertise and research proposal (see the list (1)-(7) in the [Laboratory] section above), and are encouraged to list more than one laboratory.

Applicants’ research projects will be one of:
(1) Mathematical basic research through interdisciplinary initiatives centered on mathematics (mathematics, materials, life, space, computing, and information)
(2) Applications of Mathematics to other research fields
(3) Promoting research in fundamental sciences (such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, medical science, and information science) as well as applied sciences utilizing quantum computers.
(4) Integration of information theory, mathematical modeling and machine learning and their application to medical science problems
(5) Deep Learning in Biomedical Sciences
(6) Theory and methods on prediction, control and estimation
(7) Mathematical analysis and modeling of social behaviors

where numbers (1)-(7) above correspond to the same numbers in the [Laboratory] section above.

Applicants will be considered for their chosen laboratory whenever possible, but might be offered a position in a different laboratory as part of the screening process. If there are any changes in job description during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extension described above, it will be made within the scope of each job description (1) through (7) determined at the time of hiring. During the term of the contract or at the time of contract renewal, for example, the work of a person engaged in research project (1) cannot be changed to (2) (I.e., a change in research project cannot be made).

【Qualification】
The candidate should possess a doctoral degree or be expected to obtain a doctoral degree by the date of hire or aim to obtain a doctoral degree.

【Work location】
Depending on their suitability for carrying out the research, one of the following will be their place of work.
•    RIKEN Wako Branch (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama)
•    RIKEN Yokohama Branch (1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa)
•    RIKEN Kobe Branch, South area (7-1-26 Minatojima-minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo)
•    RIKEN Tokyo Campus (Nihonbashi 1-chome Mitsui Building, 15th floor, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)

RIKEN has implemented a work-from-home system. Employees can work from home in accordance with the prescribed procedures.

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 7 years (Senior Research Scientist) or 5 years (Research Scientist) or 3 years (Postdoctoral Researcher, or Research Associate) from the date of hire.
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 is 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. The monthly base salary is 268,300 JPY for Research Associate, 327,200 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher, 384,000 JPY for Research Scientist, 458,500 JPY for Senior Research Scientist as of April 1, 2025. The monthly base salary and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations.

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

The approximate amount of annual salary at the time of employment:
The monthly salary including discretional work allowance at the time of employment will be 300,000 JPY or more for Research Associate, 450,000 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher, 500,000JPY or more for Research Scientist, 550,000 JPY or more for Senior Research Scientist.  

Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).
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 (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.
RIKEN is actively undertaking initiatives to promote gender equality and diversity, and moving forward with the establishment of a diverse and vibrant research environment. In compliance with Article 8 of the Equal Employment Opportunity Law (Special Provisions of Measures Pertaining to Women Workers), this type of recruitment is carried out as a measure to attain adequate levels of female representation.

Also, eligible for an exemption from repayment for category 1 scholarship loans provided by the Japan Student Services Organization before fiscal year 2003, and eligible applying for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).

*The Wako Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Wako. For details, please send an email to  kids@riken.jp.
*The Yokohama Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Yokohama. For details, please send an email to General Administration Section, Yokohama Operations Division, Safety and Campus Operations Group at kids-yk-hr@ml.riken.jp.
*The Kobe Campus has an on-site daycare, Po-I Kids Kobe. For details, please send an email to the RIKEN KOBE General Affairs Section at kobe-kosei@riken.jp.

【Application and required documents】
[Required documents]
1. A cover letter explaining your motivations to apply for this position. If you want to be considered for a position within a specific iTHEMS Division or Team, please specify your preferences. If there are special circumstances you would like the committee to consider, you may include them here.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)*
* In the notes section of your CV, include the job position number (25-508) next to the title of the job position. You may also include your research IDs (ORCID, Google Scholar, etc.).
3. List of publications (including preprints)
4. Research statement (summary of current and past research relevant to this position; 2 pages max)
5. Research proposal (describe your research objectives over the time scale of the position [3-7 years]; 3 pages max)
6.Interdisciplinary statement (discuss your views and interest on interdisciplinarity, and how you see yourself interacting with iTHEMS members from other fields; 1 page max)
7. Contact information of two persons willing to provide a reference.
8.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.

 *You will find detailed information about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection_en
*You will find detailed information about 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 GDPR) on the following website:

[How to apply ]
Application documents should be uploaded through Academic Jobs Online
Note: All the submitted documents will not be returned.

[Deadline]
Open until the position is filled
We will first select the application documents that have arrived by July 20, 2025 (JST).
[Notification of hiring decision]
The notification of hiring decision (conditional offer of employment) regarding this selection shall be carried out through the presentation of a Fixed-term Employment Contract or a Conditional Offer of Employment issued by RIKEN.

[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

【Start of Employment】
Upon consultation

【Contact Information】
Mathematical, Computational and Information Science Promotion Division(iTHEMS)
Email: ithems_saiyo@ml.riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.