Seeking either a Research Scientist or a Postdoctoral Researcher [DA]
Profile of the Center and Division
On April 1, 2013, RIKEN will be launching its Center for Life Science Technologies (Center Director: Yasuyoshi Watanabe) to coincide with RIKEN's new five-year term. The center has two core purposes. One is to achieve key technologies for breakthroughs in the medical and pharmaceutical applications of life science. The other is to conduct groundbreaking research and development for next-generation life science. For these purposes, RIKEN is aiming to promote and further develop its distinguished knowledge and techniques on biomolecules to focus on three hierarchical levels: designing molecular structures at the atomic level, manipulating molecular function at the cellular level and tracing molecular dynamics at the whole-body level. Three organizations, the Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, the Division of Genomic Technologies, and the Division of Bio-function Dynamics Imaging, will work together on this endeavor. Research and development programs will be carried out in collaboration with companies, universities, and international consortia, in order to disseminate our achievements to the global community.
The Center is currently seeking a researcher at Transcriptome Technology Team, Life Science Accelerator Technology Group, Division of Genomic Technologies
The outline of the division is as follows
- We plan to Standardize expression profiling technology including CAGE with further development on single cells analysis, to develop technologies to study the genomic functions relating to transcriptome and develop bioinformatics tools to handle large integrated databases, with focus on transcriptional network including the role of non-coding RNAs and retrotransposons.
- We plan to develop methods for screening of key regulatory factors, which selection is based on transcriptional networks, epigenome and ncRNAs in order to establish a pipeline to accomplish complete cell conversion methods including differentiation of Stem Cells safely and terminally. We also develop methods for diagnosis of human biomarkers in human health or diseases.
- We plan to develop advanced and world-wide standardized genomics analysis platform capable to analyze transcriptome and gene basin networks as well as non-coding RNA.using next generation sequencer, which enables us to provide technological services.
The outline of the team is as follows
The team will develop technologies to comprehensively detect non-coding RNAs and comprehensively screen their functions, Using those technologies, we will explore regulatory interactions of ncRNAs within cells, interaction with chromatin, retrotransposition and ncRNA role in the regulation of protein synthesis. Additional emphasis will be on standardization of transcriptome technologies like CAGE.
Available Position, Number of Openings and Job Description
[Position and Number of Openings]
One Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher
[Job Description]
Project Name: "Direct DNA damage response activation by nuclear non-coding short RNAs in mammals"
* This project is coordinated with the IFOM (The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology) Foundation, for Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP).
This project will focus on the study of the distribution of endogenous DDRNAs across the human genome before and after double- strand breaks. We will test DDRNAs synthesis and processing and will analyse RNA profiles with known geneomic, transcriptional and chromatin features. The functions of the identified DDRNAs will be determined, including DNA recognition and DDR complex formation. In addition, the possible role of DDRNA in DNA repair will be studied.
[Research Scientist]
Carries out the research in accordance to the themes of the Team.
[Postdoctoral Researcher]
Carries out the research in accordance to the themes of the Team under the mentorship and training of supervisors.
Qualifications
Ph.D. holders in fields related to those in the "Job title and description" section. Candidate with less than three years of postdoctoral experience will be considered for the position of Postdoctoral Researcher.
Note: Postdoctoral Researchers must have a Ph.D. issued by March 31, 2013.
(2) Must have good communication skills and be able to engage in the research in a coordinated manner.
Work location
RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (Yokohama Campus)
1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
Salary and benefits
[Terms of contract]
Full-time position with an annually renewable contract.
The initial term of the contract shall be until March 31, 2014.
Thereafter, RIKEN may renew the contract annually based on necessity and a performance evaluation and when both parties agree to the conditions.
RIKEN will decide whether to enter into a new contract on the basis of the employee's abilities, work load, work record, work attitude, progress of the project or projects in which the employee is involved at the time of termination of the original contract, and on the basis of RIKEN's situation at the time.
A new contract will not be entered into after August 31, 2015.
[Salary]
Salary is determined annually on the basis of employee experience, abilities and research results. Commuting and housing allowances will be provided and social insurance applies (health insurance, pension insurance, worker's accident compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, etc.).
[Holidays]
Saturdays and Sundays, Japanese National Holidays, Year-end and New Year (Dec.29-Jan.3), summer holidays and RIKEN Foundation Day (4th Monday in October).
[Others]
Other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.
*Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).
*Eligible for an exemption from repayment of category 1 scholarship loans provided by the Japan Student Services Organization before fiscal year 2003.
Required Documents and Deadlines
[Documents to submit]
(1) Curriculum Vitae (with photo).
*Indicate your e-mail address.
*Indicate the symbol [DA]on your CV (top right-hand corner) and the position you are applying for.
(2) List of publications (articles, reviews and books), presentations and others
(3) Brief description of previous research and achievement (within two A4-size pages)
(4) Brief description of future research plans (within two A4-size pages)
(5) List of competitive external funds obtained (ex., Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [KAKENHI]; indicate whether you are the representative researcher or the collaborator)
(6) One letter of recommendation from your current supervisor. (If it is not possible to obtain a recommendation letter from your current supervisor, a third party recommendation is acceptable.)
Recommendation letters should be addressed to "Director of the Center for Life Science Technologies."
(7) Certificate of graduation or copy of Ph.D. diploma, (a certificate of expected doctoral degree is acceptable for Postdoctoral Researcher applicants)*
Note:
-Please write "Division of Genomic Technologies, CLST application for [DA]" on the front side of the envelope in red ink.
[Deadline]
Until the position is filled
[Handling Personal Data]
Handling of Personal Data: All private data sent to RIKEN in application for employment is handled in strict confidentiality, and such data is not utilized for any other purpose or disclosed to any third party. Application documents will not be returned.
Selection Process
Selection will be made based on application screening and interviews.
Start of Employment
Earliest date possible (negotiable).
Inquiry / Contact Information
Any questions about this position should be sent to the email address given below. Please write "Division of Genomic Technologies, CLST application for [DA]" in the subject line.
For research contents:
Planning Office for the Center for Life Science Technologies
Email: clst-gt-qa[at]riken.jp
For application documents:
Recruiting staff for the Center for Life Science Technologies
Email: clst-jobs[at]riken.jp
Send your application to the following address.
Life Science Technologies Planning Office
1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan