Seeking a Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher

Laboratory

Approximate Bayesian Inference Team
Generic Technology Research Group
RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project
(Laboratory head: Mohammad Emtiyaz Khan)

Research field

The Center for Advanced Intelligence Project has been launched with subsidy from 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 an innovative technology, with 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 link:
Approximate Bayesian Inference Team | RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project

Job title and Job description

Job title, available positions

Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher 2 positions

Job description

The candidate will work on the CREST-ANR project titled “A new Bayes-duality principle for adaptive, robust, and lifelong learning of AI”. The candidate will work on problems at the intersection of deep learning, Bayesian inference, optimization and reinforcement learning.
The candidate is expected to carry out research and publish their findings in top machine-learning conferences, and help in the management of the group, as well as supervision of internship students and technical staffs. The position is meant to further the careers of early-career researchers who wish to pursue a career in academia.

Qualifications

• Must have a Ph.D. or expect to receive a Ph.D. before the date of employment in machine learning, computer science, statistics, or a related field.
• The candidate must have published their research in machine-learning conferences (NeurIPS, ICML, AISTATS, UAI, ICLR, etc.).
• Be an expert in one or more of the following areas: Bayesian Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Optimization, Active Learning, Continual Learning / Lifelong Learning
• 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 Tokyo Area (1-4-1, Nihonbashi, Chuo, Tokyo)

RIKEN has implemented a work-from-home system. Employees can work from home in accordance with the prescribed procedures.

Salary and benefits

• 1.A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation up until March 31, 2027. Project name: “A new Bayes-duality principle for adaptive, robust, and lifelong learning of AI”
• 2.RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee’s abilities, work load 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.In principle, the duration of the Center is 10 years from FY 2016 to FY 2025. If it is decided that research projects in which they are involved will be discontinued after the duration ends, RIKEN may adjust the maximum period of renewability for their contract.

In principle, the first two months of employment is considered a trial period.
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. The monthly base salary is 350,300 JPY for Research Scientist, and 295,100 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher as of April 1,2023. The monthly base salary and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations.

Discretionary work, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.

The approximate amount of monthly salary at the time of employment:

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.
Paid leave includes annual paid leave (up to 20 days depending on the month of employment), special paid leave (childcare, family nursing care, etc.), and work life balance holidays (up to 7 days depending on the month of employment).
There are also additional leave systems such as maternity leave, childcare leave, and family nursing care leave.
Smoking is not permitted on site except in designated smoking areas. Smoking will be entirely prohibited on site from April 2024.
These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

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.

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

Our laboratory actively utilizes a 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 at aip-hr [at] riken.jp.

The Wako Campus has an on-site daycare, RIKEN Kids Wako. For details, please send an email to the HR at kids [at] riken.jp.

Application and required documents

Required documents

• 1.List of publications: Circle titles of three major papers in the list
• 2.Photocopies of three major research papers.
• 3.Two different letters of recommendation including one by the current supervisor (Japanese letters are accepted.)
  Note:
  • If you cannot obtain a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, the same document issued by a third party is acceptable.
  • Please specify the referee’s contact information (Name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address)
  • Letters of recommendation must be addressed to: Director of RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project
  • Stamp or signature by referee is necessary.
  • Recommendation letters must be submitted directly by the recommender, not by the applicant. We will contact the recommender with the URL to which the recommendation letter should be submitted.
• 4.Research in the past and research plan (3 pages in A4 size)
  Your research plan must include outcome expected within a few years from your appointment.
• 5.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)” with your signature.

  *You will find detailed information about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
  Data protection | European Commission

How to apply

• A)Please access “ [HR] Inquiry for public recruitment” and enter your contact information, the recruitment announcement number (W23144) and so on.
• B)Our HR staff will send you an email with instructions on how to submit your application.

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, interview and oral presentation by selected applicants

*The selection process is conducted in English.

Start of employment

As early as possible

Contact Information

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.