Careers

Associate Chief Scientist program

Apply for the Associate Chief Scientist position

RIKEN's Associate Chief Scientists are young scientists with the character, drive and long-term vision needed to take the lead in pioneering new areas of scientific research.

Outline

The position of Associate Chief Scientist (Jun Shunin Kenkyuin in Japanese) was created in 2006 as a means to recruit promising young researchers with the potential to pioneer new areas of research. The young Associate Chief Scientists establish and operate their own, autonomous laboratories and are encouraged to become future leaders in various areas of science and technology.

This position is open to all research fields, but priority is given to those areas which can be expected to make the best use of RIKEN’s resources and achieve remarkable progress.

Young and talented scientists (those with less than 10 years since getting their PhDs) with a long-term vision of the next generation of scientific endeavor, and with the proven ability to preside over their own autonomous laboratories will be considered as candidates for this new position. The position is open to all nationalities.

The Associate Chief Scientist will head an independent laboratory in the same way that a Chief Scientist heads his or her own laboratory.

Details

Location

Laboratory location will be decided according to the nature of the research undertaken and in consultation with center directors and others.

Laboratory name

Associate Chief Scientist laboratories will be named after the Associate Chief Scientist and include a description of the laboratory’s research topic. This is the same naming policy as for Chief Scientist laboratories.

Rights and responsibilities

  1. The right to appoint fixed-term researchers; host Special Postdoctoral Researchers (SPDRs) and Junior Research Associates (JRAs); and apply for the purchase of commodities, research funds, and laboratory space.
  2. The responsibility to oversee the work of all laboratory members; manage the laboratory budget; and manage the maintenance and use of all laboratory equipment and instruments.
  3. The Associate Chief Scientist does not have the right to appoint tenured researchers. (However, a scientist who is already a tenured researcher at RIKEN can transfer to a laboratory headed by an Associate Chief Scientist.)

Research funds

  1. 100 million yen to start and maintain a new laboratory, to be distributed over a period of 5 years
  2. The Associate Chief Scientist may apply for research projects funded by RIKEN.

Evaluation

  1. A review of research results will be made once every five years.
  2. An Associate Chief Scientist cannot be promoted to the position of Chief Scientist. An Associate Chief Scientist may, however, apply for the position of Chief Scientist following the usual application and screening procedures.

Laboratory closure

  1. The laboratory will be closed upon the retirement of the Associate Chief Scientist.
  2. The Associate Chief Scientist will be expected to assist in ensuring the smooth transfer of laboratory members to other facilities.
  3. Upon following required application procedures, an Associate Chief Scientist may continue at RIKEN on a part-time basis for a transition period of up to 2 years for the purpose assisting in the transfer of lab members to other locations and to dispose of laboratory equipment and instruments.

Salary ranking

Grade 6

Type of remuneration

Annual salary

Type of employment

Fulltime (with RIKEN as primary employer)

Term of employment

To mandatory retirement at age 60.

Advisor

Each Associate Chief Scientist will be assigned an advisor selected from among the members of the RIKEN Science Council and those of similar status, to provide advice and support—without impinging upon the Associate Chief Scientist’s independence—in the management of the laboratory.