Join our dynamic lab at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science, where we unravel the regulatory mechanisms of neuron specification and differentiation - key processes that build the nervous system and, when disrupted, lead to neurodevelopmental disorders and age-related degeneration. We are recruiting postdoctoral researchers or research scientists with expertise in one or more of the following fields: genomics, bioinformatics, protein biochemistry, in vivo imaging, and machine-learning-based image analysis.

One or more successful candidates will assume leadership of an established project and guide it to publication. The project uses Drosophila somatosensory circuits as our model system and requires expertise in genetics and molecular biology. This research investigates how postmitotic neurons drive gene expression with dramatic cell-size increases during development. The chromatin-level mechanisms that selectively amplify growth-supporting genes, and the cell biological function of these targets, remain unexplored. The project integrates advanced in vivo imaging and computational image analysis with cutting-edge transcriptional control studies. Going forward, candidates will receive support to launch new projects and for individual grant applications.

Our laboratory is located at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Japan’s premier center for neurobiology and neuroscience. We are in metropolitan Tokyo with quick access to downtown and easy routes into the countryside. Our lab is diverse and multicultural. We value open communication, collaboration, teamwork, and productivity. Our laboratory’s scientific language is English, and Japanese language proficiency is not required. We will provide comprehensive assistance with visa applications for international candidates. Staff who speak Japanese as a primary language are also comfortable with Japanese conversations ranging from conversational to scientific contexts.

Learn more about our lab at https://sites.google.com/view/labforneurodiversity. For inquiries or formal applications email gcna.cbs@ml.riken.jp. For formal applications, please include a brief cover letter explaining your interest and a CV with two to three referees’ contact information.

Postdoctoral Researcher: Doctoral degree obtained within the last 5 years.
Research Scientist: Doctoral degree obtained more than 5 years ago.

Keywords: postdoc job, Japan, Tokyo, neuroscience, neurobiology, RIKEN CBS, Drosophila genetics, cell biology, genomics, bioinformatics, in vivo imaging, computational image analysis