RIKEN Early Career Leaders (ECL) is seeking for Unit Leaders

RIKEN started RIKEN Early Career Leaders (ECL) Program in FY 2023 which declares our goal to train the next generation of talented researchers and engineers. The RIKEN ECL program provides two types of positions, Team Leader and Unit Leader, for highly talented junior researchers with no or limited PI experience depending on one’s career stage and research plans. RIKEN has decided to limit this year’s RIKEN ECL Program call to women researchers. This call will be made through the Sechi Kato Program. Please see ‘Recruiting Policy for FY 2024 RIKEN Early Career Leaders Program’ .

• Sechi Kato (1893-1989) was a pioneering female scientist who developed spectrometric analysis of organic materials. She was also the first female Chief Scientist of RIKEN.
• 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. RIKEN ECL Program will be open to all genders next fiscal year (call for FY 2025). We will continue to take measures to realize diversity.

Job title

Call for RIKEN ECL Team / Unit Leaders (Sechi Kato Program) FY 2024　

Organisation /Company

RIKEN

Location

Japan

Location description

Wako, Tsukuba, Tokyo, Yokohama, Keihanna, Kobe, Other  

Research Field

Natural sciences (including mathematical science and information science) or research areas bordering/blending natural sciences with humanities and social sciences

Position Type

Full Time

Organization Type

Academia 

Job Type

Principal Investigator

Duration

Fixed Term

Qualification

PhD 

Application Deadline

• September 19, 2024 (noon, Japan time) for applicant registration
• September 26, 2024 (noon, Japan time) for revising or uploading application documents  and recommendation letters

Application website

https://www.riken.jp/en/careers/programs/riken_ecl/call2024

Job title

• RIKEN ECL Team Leader (roughly equivalent to early career professor)
• RIKEN ECL Unit Leader (roughly equivalent to section chief or associate professor/assistant professor) 

Qualifications

Applicants should be women researchers who have appropriate knowledge, experience, and abilities to supervise and promote research.
A doctoral degree or an equivalent competence is required for this position.

Research fields

Natural sciences (including mathematical science and information science) or research areas bordering/blending natural sciences with humanities and social sciences.

Research environment

• Annual research budget (amount supported by Sechi Kato Program)
  Team Leader: an average of 40 million yen 
  Unit Leader: an average of 20 million yen
  Note: In addition to the annual research budget, initial expenses for a smooth lab start-up will be provided.
• A variety of programs are available for balancing work and personal life, including on-campus childcare facilities (in Wako, Yokohama, and Kobe), support for returning to work after a break, and subsidies for hiring support staff for researchers with family priorities (i.e., pregnancy, childcare, and nursing care).
• Please consult if you are interested in spousal hiring.

Start of employment

Between September 1, 2025, and April 1, 2026.

Term of employment

The maximum term of appointment is seven years. 

Salary 

• The ECL Team Leader’s annual salary :10.92 million yen 
• The ECL Unit Leader’s annual salary :8.52 million yen 

Career

• In principle, the ECL Team / Unit Leaders will have an opportunity to apply to undergo screening for indefinite-term PI positions in the fifth year of their service after appointment.
• The ECL Team / Unit Leaders who are promoted to universities or other institutes receive as much support as possible, including research budget to continue developing their research without interruption, while maintaining their collaboration with RIKEN.

For more information and to apply, visit at the website below

https://www.riken.jp/en/careers/programs/riken_ecl/call2024/