Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher

Mar 10, 2021 | Job Bank

Laboratory

Information Integration for Neuroscience Team
Goal-Oriented Technology Research Group
RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project
(Laboratory head: Motoaki Kawanabe)

Research field

The Center for Advanced Intelligence Project has been launched with a subsidy from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan for “Advanced Integrated Intelligence Platform Project (AIP) -Artificial Intelligence/ Big Data/ Internet of Things/ Cybersecurity-”.
The Center conducts fundamental theoretical research and develops innovative technology, aiming to advance science and contribute to society or humanity.
This Center is a project with a maximum of 10 years from FY 2016.

For more information, please refer to the following Laboratories page:
Information Integration for Neuroscience Team | RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence ProjectThe webpage will open in a new tab.

Job title, available positions

Opening for Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher, one position

Research Scientist– Carries out research and other work in accordance with team research themes. Basically defined as those with a doctoral degree of more than 5 years.
Postdoctoral Researcher– Carries out research and other work in accordance with team research themes under the direction of supervisors. Basically defined as those with a doctoral degree of 5 years or less.

Job description

We seek a highly motivated research scientist or postdoctoral researcher to develop machine learning techniques in the context of estimating mental and cognitive states from EEG, other biomedical signals, and ambient information (video, audio, etc.). Through such methodological development for neuro-technologies and sensing of living activities, we aim to contribute to mental healthcare in daily life and neuroscience in general. Examples of our current interests include (but are not limited to):

  • Hierarchical dynamical models for EEG data by extending the tractable neural network model for extracting EEG spatial features (Hirayama et al., ICML2017)
  • Robust analysis techniques for EEG and biomedical signals, and integration methods for multi-modal information
  • Analysis of real-world video clips to understand daily-life activities
  • Statistical learning techniques to extract and visualize personal characteristics encoded in brain functional networks (Hirayama et al., 2016; Takagi et al., NeuroImage 2019), and transfer learning techniques for neuroimaging data of different users (Morioka et al., NeuroImage 2015)

We have access to EEG data as well as multi-sensor data obtained in daily living environments from close collaborators.

Qualifications

  • must have a Ph.D. or expect to receive a Ph.D. before the date of employment　
  • The candidate should possess a doctoral degree in machine learning, computer science, statistics, or a related field.
  • have preferably an interest in neuro-technology and/or sensing of daily-life activities. Research experience in biomedical data analysis will be advantageous, but not mandatory.
  • must be proactive, cooperative, flexible, and able to respond according to the circumstances.
  • must also have good communication skills and be able to cooperate with the relevant personnel within/outside of the laboratory to fulfill the tasks.

Work location

Branch and address

RIKEN Keihanna Campus ( 2-2-2 Hikaridai, Souraku-gun Seika-cho, Kyoto 619-0288, Japan )

Salary and benefits

  • 1.A maximum three-year, fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation. The employment duration will not exceed the end of the fiscal year (March 31) in which the employee completes 7 years of employment. (Maximum employment duration for a Postdoctoral Researcher is 5 years)
  • 2.RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee’s abilities, the 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 65 years.
  • 3.The employee’s period of fixed-term employment cannot exceed 10 years from the initial date of hire (or 10 years from April 1, 2013, for fixed-term employees already at RIKEN prior to this date).

In principle, the first two months of employment are considered a trial period.
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied. 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.
RIKEN has introduced telework as a temporary and special measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You may be asked to work from home according to the instructions of the institute. You can also choose to work from home with the permission of your supervisor.
No smoking on site (designated smoking areas available).
These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

RIKEN is promoting a Gender Equality Program by taking various measures to create a workplace where both men and women are able to give full rein to their talents and abilities. When applicants are judged to be equally qualified on the basis of fair and impartial criteria, women applicants will be given preference.

Also, eligible for an exemption from repayment for category 1 scholarship loans provided by the Japan Student Services Organization before the fiscal year 2003, and eligible applying for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).

Application and required documents

Required documents

  • 1.Complete CV (WORD 55.4KB)The webpage will open in a new tab. or CV (EXCEL 57.6KB)The webpage will open in a new tab. (with photo and email address)
    Write the RIKEN job ad number “W20296”, indicated in the parentheses next to the job title, in the RIKEN job ad number section in the upper right corner of your CV.
  • 2.List of publications: Circle titles of three major papers in the list.
  • 3.Photocopies of three major research papers.
  • 4.Two different letters of recommendation including one by the current supervisor
    Note:
    • If you cannot obtain a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, the same document issued by a third party is acceptable.
    • Letters of recommendation must be addressed to:
      Director of RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project
      Stamp or signature by referee is necessary.
    • Referees must directly send letters of recommendation 1) by postal mail to the address below after sealing, or 2) by email attached with a letter of recommendation with stamp or signature in PDF format, to the address below.
  • 5.Research in the past and research plan (3 pages in A4 size)
    Your research plan must include the outcome expected within a few years from your appointment.
  • 6.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 (PDF 97KB)The webpage will open in a new tab.” with your signature.

    *You will find detailed information about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
    Data protection | European CommissionThe webpage will open in a new tab.

How to apply

Applicants must contact the Center for Advanced Intelligence Project before they submit the required documents in PDF format by Email to the below Email address.
Please use the subject line “W20296_your name_the position that you are applying for” when you apply. (Example “W20296_Hanako Riken_ Postdoctoral Researcher”)
Also, the document names for the letters of recommendation must be “Letter of recommendation_your name.” (Example: Letter of recommendation_Hanako Riken). You need to ask your referees to use this document name for the letter.

Note: Application documents will not be returned.
No information can be released regarding application status or evaluation details prior to, during, or after the evaluation process.

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

Contact Information / Send application to

RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project
Nihonbashi 1-chome Mitsui Building, 15th floor,
1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan
Email: aip-hr[at]ml.riken.jp
For inquiries, please send an email.