Careers

Nov. 20, 2024

Seeking 2 Research Associates
Laboratory for Circuit and Behavioral Physiology
RIKEN Center for Brain Science (W24244)

Laboratory

Laboratory for Circuit and Behavioral Physiology, Center for Brain Science (Laboratory Head: Thomas McHugh)

Research Field

Biology

Keywords

Systems neuroscience

Outline of Laboratory

My laboratory combines in vivo hippocampal electrophysiology and cutting-edge conditional genetics to address research questions at a high level of precision. Our ability to manipulate plasticity, synaptic transmission or neuronal excitability in a subregion or pathway specific manner and to characterize the consequences of those manipulations on the behavioral and physiological level allows us to study the dynamic routing and use of spatial information in the brain.

Job Title and Job Description

Job title, available positions

Research Associate: 2 positions

Job description

The successful candidate will be expected to take the lead in running, analyzing and publishing experiments which integrate advanced analytical methods with complex behavioral paradigms to the formation and use of schematic memory.

  • In vivo electrophysiology
  • Use of genetic approaches to “tag” defined neural populations
  • Circuit stimulation and silencing
  • Designing and implementing complex behavioral paradigms
  • Analysis of behavioral and neuronal activity data

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

Qualifications

A master’s degree holder in the area related to the job description or a person recognized as having equal ability. A person who also actively pursues PhD in his/her future, with clear intention and determination for advancing to a higher position, such as Research Scientist in the field of memory and behavior.

Work Location

RIKEN Center for Brain Science (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 (March 31) in which the employee completes 5 years of employment.
  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 253,700 JPY as of April 1st 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 discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be 288,100 JPY or more.

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. 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).

RIKEN has a work-from-home system, but this position requires attendance at the work location. Therefore, the work-from-home system is not available for this position.

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

  1. Complete CV (with photo and email address)
    WORD(56KB) or EXCEL(159KB)
    *Write down in the notes section of your CV the number written next to the title of the job position (e.g. W24244).
  2. List of research achievement and publications
  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.）

  7. 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:
    https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-and-the-eu/

How to apply

The above documents except the recommendation letters combined into a single ZIP file should be uploaded to the following website:
Research Associate position, Lab for Circuit & Behavioral Physiology, CBS, RIKEN
After you uploaded the ZIP file, please let us (thomas.mchugh[at] riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file.
Recommendation letters must be directly submitted from the referees to the above website with the file name "Research Associate, RIKEN CBS [applicant’s name] (Recommendation letter)". Please specify the applicant's name, referee's name and contact information in the recommendation letter.
After the referees uploaded the recommendation letter, please let us (thomas.mchugh [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: thomas.mchugh[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

Selection will be made based on application screening and interviews.

Start of Employment

April 1st, 2025（Negotiable)

Contact Information

RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Laboratory for Circuit and Behavioral Physiology
Email: thomas.mchugh [at] riken.jp or Research Associate position, Lab for Circuit & Behavioral Physiology, CBS, RIKEN
For inquiries, please send an email. (Replace [at] with @ )