Careers

Jan. 19, 2024

Seeking Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher and/or Technical Staff (W23311)
Social Value Decision Making Collaboration Unit
Center for Brain Science

Laboratory

Social Value Decision Making Collaboration Unit, RIKEN CBS-TOYOTA Collaboration Center, Center for Brain Science (Unit Leader：Rei Akaishi)

Research Area

Mathematical and Information Science, Computer Science, Biology, Medical Science, Interdisciplinary

Keywords

Mental Health, Wellbeing, Brain, Social Network

Research Field

Societies around the world are now changing rapidly and in accelerating speeds. Research disciplines for studies of human being have not caught up with the rapid changes of the societies. To address these issues, our laboratory combines the research fields of decision science such as neuroeconomics, behavioral economics, psychology. In addition to the research fields of individual decision making, we will extend and connect principles of decision making, which are found in experimental rooms, to decision making at group and society levels with the aid of analysis techniques of big data, which are developed in new fields of collective behavior such as computational social science. Our research will bring about positive impacts to people in society by humanizing practices of work environments and by creating sustainable designs of social systems. We welcome eager and ambitious participants in this exciting research endeavor to create positive values for people in our global society.

Job title and job description

Job title, available positions

Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher and/or Technical staff Ⅰ 1~2 position(s)

Postdoctoral Researcher is defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or less.
Research Scientist is defined as those with a doctoral degree more than 5 years.
Technical staff I must provide technical supports independently to implement the lab missions.

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

Job description

The Social Value Decision Making Lab at RIKEN Center for Brain Science invites applications for a full-time Research Scientist, a Postdoctoral Researcher position and/or a Technical Staff I at RIKEN’s Wako Campus. We will begin reviewing applications as soon as possible and continue until the position is filled.

We are looking for an applicant interested in combining brain imaging techniques and real-world data collection methods. Our lab uses a range of methods including computational modeling, functional brain imaging, experience sampling method, in the lab and the field. A candidate with experience in brain imaging methods such as MRI and/or large-scale data collection and analyses regarding the use of the digital technologies is welcome to apply for this position. Especially, we prefer candidates who are passionate about combining these different types of methodologies for the scientific studies of human mental health and wellbeing in the evolving human conditions of the digital world. Additionally, persons with advanced machine learning/AI skills are welcome to apply.

The position will contribute to all aspects of our lab’s research. Below are details of the job responsibilities:

Core Job Responsibilities of Research Scientist and Postdoctoral Researcher

(1) Designing and executing the research projects in the issues of digital mental health and the brain
(2) Document, organize and store data using practices geared toward fully reproducible science (e.g. GitHub, OSF);
(3) Mentoring and training less experienced members of the lab for technical details of experimental methods, and data analyses.
(4) Cooperating with other lab members and helping them in their projects.

Core Job Responsibilities of Technical staff I

(1) Helping the PI for designing and executing the research projects in the issues of digital mental health and the brain
(2) Analyzing brain imaging data and the large-scale real-world data with advanced machine learning and AI techniques
(3) Document, organize and store data using practices geared toward fully reproducible science (e.g. GitHub, OSF);
(4) Cooperating with other lab members and helping them in their own projects.

Qualification

Postdoctoral Researcher: PhD with training in neuroscience, psychology, computational social science, and related fields.

Technical Staff I: Experience in advanced machine learning and AI techniques with at least bachelor’s degree

The position is an excellent opportunity to gain multidisciplinary research experience tackling some of society’s most pressing problems such as mental health, wellbeing and digital health. The ideal candidate will be interested in combining the knowledge and expertise of the different fields.

Work location

Branch and address

RIKEN Wako (2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198)
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 end of the fiscal year 2025 (March 31, 2026)
  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 a monthly 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 355,000 JPY for Research Scientist, 300,000 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher, and 212,000 JPY for Technical Staff as of April 1st 2024. 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 discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 403,000 JPY or more for Research Scientist, 340,000 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher, and 240,000 JPY or more for Technical Staff.

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 will be entirely prohibited on site from April 2024. 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. If multiple candidates are found to have the same aptitude following a fair assessment, active efforts will be made to recruit female candidates.

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). (For Research Scientist and Postdoctoral Researcher)
The Wako Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Wako. For details, please send an email to the HR at kids [at] riken.jp.

Application and required documents

Required documents

  1. Complete CV (Format: WORD(56KB) or EXCEL(159KB) , with photo and email address)
    (RIKEN CV) *Write the RIKEN job ad number “W23311”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
    (Original CV) *Write down in the notes section of your CV the number written next to the title of the job position (e.g. W23311).
  2. List of research achievement
  3. External funding awarded
  4. Summary of research experience to date
  5. Reason for applying for the post (personal strengths, motivation, future research plans, career aspirations, etc.)
  6. A letter of recommendation from the current supervisor (If unavailable, a letter from a substitute reference will be acceptable.）
  7. Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR
    If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you are required to submit the document, “Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR” 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

How to apply

The above documents except the recommendation letters combined into a single ZIP file should be uploaded to the following website:
https://riken-share.ent.box.com/f/ccd9c57060394c3eb32b3a6858bd59e8
For Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher and/or Technical Staff I position, Social Value Decision Making Team, RIKEN CBS-Toyota Collaboration Center, RIKEN
The file name of the ZIP or PDF should contain your contact email address.
After you uploaded the ZIP file, please let us (rei.akaishi [at] riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.

Recommendation letters must be directly submitted from the referees to the following website with the file name" RIKEN CBS-Toyota Collaboration Center Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher and/or Technical Staff [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.

For Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher and/or Technical Staff position, Social Value Decision Making Team, RIKEN CBS-Toyota Collaboration Center, RIKEN

After the referees uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (rei.akaishi [at] riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: rei.akaishi [at] 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. 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

As early as possible after April 1, 2024

Contact Information

RIKEN RIKEN CBS-Toyota Collaboration Center
Laboratory/Research Unit for Social Value Decision Making
Email: rei.akaishi [at] riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.