RECRUITMENT

Recruitment information (PDF 308K)

Purpose

The purpose of this new program is to provide a career path for young investigators who conduct multidisciplinary and/or strategic research that will bridge immunology with other research fields. The selected Young Chief Investigators will run an independent research laboratory but will be mentored by specialists in related research fields, i.e. Group Directors (GD) and Team Leaders (TL) in all of the RIKEN Institutes, including Brain Science Institute (neuroscience), Center for Developmental Biology (developmental science), Plant Science Center (plant science), Center for Genome Medicine (SNPs), Systems and Structural Biology Center (protein research), Omics Science Center (genomics), Bioinformatics And Systems Engineering division (phenome research), Center for Research Network for Infectious Diseases (network for infectious diseases), Advanced Science Institute (basic Science), Center for Molecular Imaging Science (imaging), BioResource Center (biological resources), Harima Institute (SPring-8, XFEL), Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science (physics), Innovation Center, Program for Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms (R&D), Biomass Engineering Program (green technologies) and Center for Computational and Quantitative Life Science (systems biology). The Young Chief Investigators are expected to be pioneers in new research fields and, if successful, they will be candidates for future TL or GD positions to establish the new research field as one of the core research programs at RIKEN RCAI.

Research structure

The Young Chief Investigator (YCI) will run the laboratory independently in terms of funding and research. The laboratory will, however, share space, equipment and facilities with a host lab (RCAI Research Group or Team). The Young Chief Investigators are supported by the following mentor system and the RCAI Program Committee and will be evaluated by the RIKEN RCAI External Advisory Council (RCAI AC) and the RCAI Internal Review Systems as described in sections 3 to 5.

Evaluation

1. The YCI reports progress to the RCAI Program Committee twice a year.
2. The YCI makes a presentation to the RCAI AC (once every 1-2 years) and receives their review and recommendations.
3. In the fifth year, the YCI will be reviewed by the RCAI AC and the RCAI Internal Review Board. If successful, his/her position may be extended for two years or he/she may be encouraged to apply for TL or GD positions.

Mentors

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Three specialists from related fields will serve as mentors (Refer to the attached figure).

1. Mentors support the research of the YCI.
2. Mentors provide guidance for experimental design, preparation of papers and presentations, promotion of international visibility, and obtaining research funding.
3. Mentors attend the RCAI Program Committee meeting and offer evaluation of the YCI.
4. Mentors provide and annual report to the Director on the YCI’s research progress.

Role of the RCAI Program Committee

During the initial assessment of the proposed research project, the Committee will discuss its relevance and value as a part of the core research programs at RCAI. Subsequently, the Committee will consider necessary changes in the level of RCAI support for approved YCI (e.g. additional research budget).

Candidate eligibility and application

RIKEN RCAI opens the call for applications to the public. Potential candidates must be MD or PhD no more than 40 years old who are able to work full-time. Graduate students may also apply if the student’s mentor agrees them to work as part-time researchers. The aim of this program is to facilitate multidisciplinary and strategic research in immunology.

Term and budget

The term is for 5 years (until March 31, 2016). The YCI will be evaluated at the end of the fifth year, and if it receives an excellent evaluation the term can be extended for another 2 years. (However, this possibility is contingent on the national economic status, etc.). The lab will receive a maximum annual budget of 15 million yen, which includes the YCI’s salary as well as those of the other researchers in the laboratory. However, if necessary, additional funding will be considered by the RIKEN RCAI and the RCAI Program Committee.

Selection and appointment

Once the applications are received, the selection committee of the RIKEN Yokohama Institute will choose a candidate and the president of RIKEN (Dr. Ryoji Noyori: Nobel Prize Laureate for Chemistry, 2001) will appoint the YCI.

Application

1. Research plan
   This should contain the project title, background, project detail and relation to the investigator's previous research. (Maximum of 10 A4 pages, single spaced).
2. Annual plans
   Briefly describe the annual plans for the first two years. Include for each year a detailed research plan, research goal, employment plan and budget plan. Indicate major milestones for 3rd 4th and 5th year. If there are any outside funds available to support the research, they should be itemized.
3. Host lab
   Nominate or specify, if possible, the names of the preferred host lab(s) for your preference. RCAI will coordinate a host lab and mentors.
4. Mentor
   Indicate the preferred field of research. Applicants may specify the preferred PI mentor.
5. Provide a critical self-evaluation to demonstrate capability to complete the research project.
6. A CV and two recommendation letters addressed to RIKEN RCAI Director Masaru Taniguchi are required.

• Application deadline is February 11, 2011.
• Inquiries
  Contact Dr. Haruka Iwano, Research Coordinator at RIKEN RCAI, at for any inquiries.