Seeking a Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher at Brain-Body Interaction RIKEN ECL Research Team (26-1435)

The Brain-Body Interaction RIKEN ECL Research Team, led by Tomoe Ishikawa and scheduled to be established on 1 December 2026, seeks one or two research scientists or postdoctoral researchers. Research will use mouse models, neurophysiology, biology and immunology to investigate how social behaviour and neural circuits affect responses to pathogen infection. The programme aims to understand brain–body and neuroimmune regulation of physiological functions and whether neural activity can modulate immune responses.

The appointment is based at the Wako campus; employment is planned from 1 April 2027 or later, by agreement.

We are interested in understanding how interactions between the brain and peripheral organs regulate physiological functions and are seeking highly motivated researchers with experience in neuroscience techniques, such as behavioral analysis, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and in vivo or in vitro electrophysiological recordings, as well as in molecular biology and/or immunology. Experience with stereotaxic surgery in rodents, tissue sectioning, and/or staining is also preferred.

Applicants are expected to hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field, such as neuroscience, biology, veterinary medicine, or medicine. Candidates should also be comfortable working in an international research environment in which English is the primary language of communication.