Detailed information
Work location : Kanto district - Saitama
Date of publication : 2025/06/23
[Female only] Seeking a Chief Scientist (Principal investigator, Indefinite-term) (25-576) (Pioneering Research Institute)
D125061749
RIKEN
Research field : Natural Science - Unspecified | Life Science - Unspecified | Informatics - Unspecified | Nanotechnology/Materials - Unspecified | Manufacturing Technology - Unspecified
Professor level : Regular employee - Tenured - Non-tenure track - Probationary period present
Job description
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Background of the recruitment and description of the project
Research Field and Overview
https://www.riken.jp/en/research/labs/pri/
RIKEN's research is based on comprehensiveness and interdisciplinarity, and with free thinking as its basic philosophy, RIKEN promotes research that goes beyond the boundaries of conventional research fields, while at the same time responding to the needs of society from a strategic perspective.
RIKEN invites female applicants for the position of Chief Scientist (Principal Investigator) to serve in a leadership position in these research activities. The successful candidate will be responsible for directing research projects from a medium-to-long-term perspective.
Field: Any field
The “Chief Scientist Program” is a historic program introduced in 1922 in order to help researchers pursue their research freely based on their own ideas. Dr. Hantaro Nagaoka, who established the foundation of physics in Japan, Dr. Yoshio Nishina, who is known as the father of modern physics in Japan, and Dr. Umetaro Suzuki, known for his discovery of vitamin B1, all actively participated in this system, and have driven the history of science forward.
In 1953, Sechi Kato, a pioneer in chemical analysis who endeavored for the training of women in research, became the first woman to be a Chief Scientist at RIKEN (and the third woman to become a Doctor of Science in Japan).Since then, many female researchers have served as Chief Scientists, including National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) President Maki Kawai and RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) Director Mikiko Sodeoka, both of whom continue to lead their respective research fields today. Currently, there are approximately 30 Chief Scientists including both men and women, are actively engaged in research across a wide range of disciplines.
The successful applicant for this Chief Scientist position (equivale
For this continuance, Please refer to "job posting URL".
For an overview of the RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI), please refer to RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute. -
Work content and job description
The Chief Scientist’s laboratory will be provided with a research environment suitable for a representative of their field (conditions negotiable).
・If necessary, initial financial support is available in order to ensure a smooth start-up of the laboratory.
・Research expenses and space for conducting research will be allocated as needed.
・It will be possible to access RIKEN’s shared state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. (RIKEN promotes the shared use of its state-of-the-art equipment and facilities internally and externally in order to maximize utilization and efficiency from the perspective of contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions)
・RIKEN is able to employ indefinite-term employees and fixed-term employees through the usage of research funds. Additionally, it is also possible to invite Junior Scientists (Special Postdoctoral Researcher, Junior Research Associate, etc.) through RIKEN’s Junior Scientist Programs.
・Research support is also available through internal funds for emergent research and collaborative research with domestic and international partners. -
Assigned department
Newly established departments
RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute
Date of new establishment : April 1, 2026
Job type
- Professor level
Research field
- Natural Science - Unspecified
- Life Science - Unspecified
- Informatics - Unspecified
- Nanotechnology/Materials - Unspecified
- Manufacturing Technology - Unspecified
Wages
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Annual Salary : 11 million yen ~
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 and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations.
The approximate amount of annual salary at the time of employment:
Based on RIKEN regulations, upon ensuring the salary of the candidate’s previous position, annual salary will be determined at the time of hire. The annual salary at the time of employment for a candidate with 15 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be at least 11.6 million JPY.
Commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied. Bonuses or retirement benefits will not be paid.
Working hours
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Working hours :09:00-17:20
Break time :12:00-12:50
Holidays : 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).
Overtime and other explanations : Work hours: 9:00 to 17:20 (lunch break 12:00 to 12:50) in principle. However, employee may change starting and ending times at their own discretion if it does not interfere with work performance.
Application requirements
Qualifications
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Education and Degree Requirements
Others
Applicants must be female researchers with a long-term vision, with sufficient ability and research achievement to preside over a laboratory and pioneer and lead the field. We welcome applicants of all nationalities.
Employment Type
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Regular employee
Chief Scientist
Contract period
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Tenured - Non-tenure track
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 re-employment program to hire individuals as fixed-term employees from the mandatory retirement age to age 65. After evaluation, it is possible to keep the principal investigator position until age 65.Probationary period present
In principle, the first two months of employment is considered a trial period. There is no change of working conditions.
Work location
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351-0198
Saitama
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako,
Immediately after hiring: In principle, RIKEN Wako
※Laboratory location will be decided according to the nature of the research undertaken.
RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.
Potential sites of relocation: Any campus, branch, or office as ordered by RIKEN.
Compensation
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Various systems
Pay increase system : 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.
Transportation expenses : available
Retirement age : available
Others : Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).
There are also additional leave systems such as maternity leave, childcare leave, and family nursing care leave. -
Insurance
Employees' Health Insurance : available
Employees' Pension Insurance : available
Worker's accident insurance : available
Employment insurance : available
Others : available
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Measures for preventing passive smoking at the workplace
Smoking is prohibited on site.
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Supplementary explanation of compensation
RIKEN may require changes of responsibilities, job category, and workplace based on RIKEN regulations due to management decisions, budgetary situation, and organizational restructuring.
RIKEN has implemented a telecommuting system that allows employees to work from home etc.
*RIKEN is actively undertaking initiatives to promote gender equality and diversity, and moving forward with the establishment of a diverse and vibrant research environment. RIKEN offers a full range of work-life balance support systems, including onsite daycare centers (Wako, Yokohama, Kobe), support for returning to work after a break in research, and subsidies for personnel expenses for research support staff during pregnancy, childcare, and nursing care.
*Optimizing gender balance will create a more comfortable and creative research environment for researchers of all attributes. By realizing diversity, we hope to make RIKEN a place where new ideas are more likely to emerge. 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.
*We will consider spousal hiring with married couples and cross-appointments. Please discuss this at the time of application.
*In principle, this position is a full-time appointment at RIKEN. However, if you are interested in cross-appointment, please consult with us.
*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).
Application Considerations
Number of hired
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Description
Job title:
Chief Scientist (Principal Investigator): 1 or 2 positions (limited to female applicants) -
Job content supplemental explanation
Start of Employment:
RIKEN expects that the successful candidate will be able to take up this position at the earliest opportunity on or after April 1, 2026.
Other conditions at the time of appointment will be negotiable.
1 person(s)
Application period
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2025/06/23~2025/09/16 Deadline for receipt
The application must arrive no later than noon, September 16, 2025 (Japan Standard Time)
Application method
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Attached documents
Application Form : Online SubmissionPlease refer to "job Posting URL"Achievements and Activities : Online SubmissionPlease refer to "job Posting URL"Other online application forms
Please refer to "job Posting URL" -
Return of application documents
Others
Application documents will not be returned.
Submitted documents including personal information will be used only for the purpose of applicant screening.
URL of this job posting
Selection / Notification of result
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Selection
After the application documents are screened, only the successful candidates will be asked to have an interview. The interview is expected to be held in December 2025.
There will be final interviews with RIKEN executives as part of the hiring process. -
Notification of result
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.
Contact details
RIKEN
RIKEN
Pioneering Science Promotion Division
pioneering_pi(at)ml.riken.jp
* Please change (at) to @ and send it.
For inquiries, please contact the above administrative office via email. If necessary, we will connect you to the appropriate PI in the relevant field.
Note: No inquiries on the selection process and results will be answered.
Notes
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.
