Research Scientist, or Postdoctoral Researcher

Offer Description

Background of the recruitment and description of the project

The RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS), led by Center Director Satoshi Matsuoka, are threefold, centered around supercomputing: one is to target high performance computation itself as a scientific objective, or namely, the "Science of Computing"; another is to apply the enormous computational power thus obtained to solve difficult scientific problems, or namely, the "Science by Computing"; finally, to collaborate with other scientific disciplines that contribute to advances in both sciences, or namely, the "Science for Computing." Our goal is to be recognized as one of the global leadership research centers to advance high-end computational science in this regard.

The Learning Optimization Platform Development Unit is part of the AI for Science Platform Division. The unit develops AI software infrastructure and models for expanding the use of AI beyond commercial use cases, and into scientific domains. In particular, adapting AI-based methods into the scientific requirements of semi-structured multimodal data, complex representations, and attribution, in collaboration with other research institutions working on AI for science in Japan and internationally.

Keywords: AI for Science

Details of the business

RIKEN is Japan's largest and most comprehensive research organization for basic and applied science.

Work content and job description

Conduct research on AI for science by focusing on the following topics:

1. Apply and develop AI optimization methods to use in real-world scientific applications and case studies in various domains, such as imaging (ex: CT, MRI etc.), life science, and earth science.
2. Developing techniques for incorporating scientific domain knowledge, uncertainty quantification, and constraints into machine learning for optimization.
3. Integration of AI into science codes: improving model serving, scalability, and resource utilization of LLMs for real-time and large-scale scientific applications.
4. Auto generation of code for HPC algorithms using empirical models based on machine learning.

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

Assigned department
Existing departments

Work location

Address
103-0027 Tokyo, Nihonbashi 1-chome Mitsui Building, 15th floor, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, RIKEN Tokyo Campus
RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary, in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

Number of hired

Number of hired: 1 person(s)
Number of hired description: Job title Research Scientist, or Postdoctoral Researcher: A few positions

Position-specific tasks are as follows:
Research Scientist
Conduct research projects and other activities in corresponding laboratories.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Receive training and guidance from senior staff; conduct research projects and other activities for corresponding laboratories.
Job content supplemental explanation: Start of Employment
As early as possible

Additional Information

Benefits

[Compensation]
Annual salary: 5 million yen
Wages description: 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 hiring:
The total amount of monthly discretionary work allowance and monthly salary at the time of hiring will be 440,000 JPY or more for Postdoctoral Researcher, and 550,000 JPY or more for Research Scientist.
Working hours: 09:00-17:20
Break time: 12:00-12:50
Holidays: Days off include Saturdays and Sundays, 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).
Overtime and other explanations: This position falls under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes.
Employment type: Contract employee
Employment type description: Research Scientist, or Postdoctoral Researcher
Contract period: Nontenured
Contract period description: Research Scientist

1. A one year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, up to a maximum of 7 years of employment, but not beyond the end of March, 2032 depending on the employment start date.
2. RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee’s abilities, workload 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.

Postdoctoral Researcher

1. A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, up to a maximum of 5 years of employment, but not beyond the end of March, 2032 depending on the employment start date.

※Continued in the Notes column
Probationary period: Probationary period present
Probationary period description: In principle, the first two months of employment are considered a trial period. There is no change of working conditions.

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
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

Measures for preventing passive smoking at the workplace

Smoking is entirely prohibited on site.

Supplementary explanation of compensation

RIKEN has implemented a telecommuting system that allows employees to work from home or other locations permitted by RIKEN. Our laboratory actively utilizes the telecommuting system. The post currently being offered may be carried out through telecommuting (full-remote work) within Japan for the entire specified work period, provided that the required procedures are completed and approval is obtained from RIKEN. For more information, please get in touch with the hiring staff at kobe-jobs@riken.jp.

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.

*Eligible to apply for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).

Additional comments

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.

※Continued from the Contract Period column
2. RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee’s abilities, workload 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.
RIKEN has indefinite-term positions. Any scientists, including fixed-term employees who have been hired through this open call, are eligible to apply to open calls for indefinite-term positions.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: RIKEN
Country: Japan
City: Tokyo

Contact

City: Saitama