Research Associate - RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies - Yokohama, Japan
Research field
The RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies has two core purposes. One is to develop key technologies for breakthroughs in the medical and pharmaceutical applications in life science. The other is to conduct groundbreaking research and development for the next-generation life sciences.
The Division of Genomic Technologies plans to develop methods for screening of key regulatory factors, with selection based on transcriptional networks, epigenomes 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 for human health and diseases.
The Transcriptome Technology Team develops technologies to comprehensively detect non-coding RNAs and comprehensively screen their functions. Using those technologies, we explore regulatory interactions of ncRNAs within cells, interaction with chromatin, retrotransposition, and ncRNA’s role in the regulation of protein synthesis. Additional emphasis is given to the standardization of transcriptome technologies like CAGE.
Job title and description
Position available
One opening for a Research Associate
Job description
We seek a Research Associate to be employed under the ZENCODE Marie Curie Initial Training Program. The successful candidate will engage in genomics of zebrafish developmental biology, with emphasis in transcriptional profiling at single cells level, engaging in experimental biology, bioinformatics analysis and interpretation of the data. He or she will work in close coordination with the ZENCODE consortium in an interdisciplinary and international collaboration, which aims at training the candidate for a possible PhD in collaboration with Universities in Europe (details to be defined).
Project Name: “Development of novel genomics technologies to study vertebrate embryo development”
* This work is supported by “ZENCODE: A Marie Curie Initial Training Programme” funded by the European Union under the H2020 Programme.
The ZENCODE Initial Training Networks aims to improve career perspectives of early-stage researchers (ESR) in both public and private sectors, thereby making research careers more attractive to young people. The ZENCODE consortium recognises the urgent need for highly skilled young scientists trained in both computational biology and experimental wet lab biology. This network provides multi-disciplinary skills for a solid foundation in computational biology and developmental genomics. We aim to comprehensively annotate functional elements, decipher genomic codes of transcription, as well as coding and non-coding gene function during vertebrate development and enhance zebrafish as an attractive developmental, comparative genomic and disease model. The participants include major zebrafish genomics laboratories, eminent computational biologists and world-class genomics technology experts with experience in the FANTOM and ENCODE programmes. The training program is designed for 15 ESRs, with more than 40 intersectoral and interdisciplinary secondments, 7 training courses and 2 workshops/conferences.
Position-specific task is as follows:
Research Associate: Carries out research and other work in accordance with team research themes under the direction of supervisors.
Qualifications
1. Must, at the time of recruitment, be in the first four years of their research careers relevant to the field shown in the “job description “ section and have not yet been awarded a doctoral degree.
2. Must not have resided or carried out the main activity (work, studies, etc) in Japan for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date.
3. Will find a doctoral program for full–time workers and enroll on his/her own.
4. Excellent scientific background in life science and/or computational biology required
5. Must have excellent communication skills and be able to engage in the research in a coordinated manner, given the emphasis of international training.
6. Be available to travel in countries in EU for training and collaboration purposes
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 annual renewable contract.
The initial contract will be until March 31, 2016.
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 based on the employee's abilities, work load, work record and work attitude, as well as the progress of the project(s) in which the employee is involved and RIKEN's organizational/budget situation at the time.
A new contract will not be entered into after March 31, 2018. Thereafter, the successful candidate may be able to work under Dr. Carninci for an additional period of time until the total term of employment is three years.
In evaluation, the employee will be asked whether or not there is a strong desire to earn a PhD degree and motivation to advance to a higher position.
Salary
Salary is determined annually on the basis of the employee’s experience, abilities and research results. Commuting and housing allowances will be provided in accordance with RIKEN regulations and social insurance applies (health insurance, pension insurance, worker’s accident compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, etc.).
Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).
Holidays
Saturdays and Sundays, Japanese national holidays, New Year holidays (Dec.29-Jan.3) and RIKEN Foundation Day (4th Monday in October).
Other provisions
Other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.
*RIKEN’s gender equity program promotes various measures to create a workplace where both men and women can give full rein to their talents and abilities.
http://www.riken.go.jp/en/careers/working-at-riken/benefits/
Required documents and deadlines
Please prepare the documents below as PDF files and send them to CLST-recruit[at]riken.jp.
* Please replace “[at]” with “@”.
* Please write “Application documents; [TTT-1501] CLST/DGT–Research Associate” in the subject line.
Documents to submit
1. CV with photograph and e-mail address (Please indicate the open call ID [TTT-1501] in the upper right corner of the CV.)
2. List of publications (articles, reviews and books), presentations and others
3. Brief description of previous research and achievements (within one to two A4-size pages)
4. Brief description of future research interest (within one to two A4-size pages)
5. List of competitive external funds obtained (e.g. 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.
* A recommendation letter should be addressed to “Director of the Center for Life Science Technologies” and include the recommender’s name, affiliation, position, telephone number and e-mail address.
* If a recommender will send the letter by email directly to RIKEN, (s)he should write “Recommendation letter for (name of applicant)” in the subject line. Send a recommendation letter to CLST-recruit[at]riken.jp.
* Please replace “[at]” with “@”.
7. Diploma or certificate of graduation
Note: Application documents will not be returned.
Deadline
Until the position is filled
Handling of personal data
Submitted documents are strictly protected under the RIKEN Privacy Policy and used only for the purpose of applicant screening and hiring. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances.
Selection process
Only persons who pass the application screening will be interviewed.
Start of employment
Earliest date possible (negotiable)
Contact information
Any questions about this position should be sent to the e-mail address below.
Please write “[TTT-1501] Application for DGT, CLST” in the subject line.
Recruit address:
Recruiting staff for RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies
Administrative Division, RIKEN Yokohama Branch
CLST-recruit[at]riken.jp
* Please replace “[at]” with “@”.
*If you would like to inquire about the nature of the labs research, please send your inquiry to
clst-jobs[at]riken.jp (please replace “[at]” with “@”). Application documents should not be sent to this address; please use the recruit address above.