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Research Fellow (postdoc-level) in cognitive science, psychology, informatics and food/cooking science
Ritsumeikan University's Multisensory Cognitive Design Lab, Research Organization of Science and Technology, is recruiting one or two full-time research fellows at its Biwako-Kusatsu campus in Shiga, starting 1 April 2027. Fellows work on food-centred perception and cognition research, including the JST CRONOS 'Bodyverse' project and industry collaborations; recruitment closes once suitable candidates are found.
- Country
- JP
- Experience
- Experience not specified
- Salary / stipend
- JPY 3,240,000 - 3,960,000 per year
- Apply by
- 25 Nov 2026
- Job type
- Contract
- Work mode
- On-site
- Function
- Research
- Openings
- 1–2
- Shift
- 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (break 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM) under a discretionary work system; weekends and public holidays off
Contact for this vacancy
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Doctoral degree, or expected by April 2027
Review the original notice to confirm the requirements. Related degrees are not automatically equivalent; the recruiting organisation decides eligibility.
What you’ll do
- Work on perception and cognition projects funded by KAKENHI, JST CRONOS and industry partners
- Plan and run experiments and surveys
- Analyse data
- Present at conferences and write papers
- Collaborate with internal and external researchers and students
- Support lab operations
- Pursue an own research theme if desired (not limited to food)
What the employer asks for
- Doctoral degree, or expected by April 2027
- Desirable: experience in experiments, surveys, data analysis and paper writing in psychology, sensory evaluation or human nutrition, or strong interest in these fields
- Willing to learn new lab equipment and software
- Able to work on several projects with other researchers
- Able to live near the Biwako-Kusatsu campus
- Fixed-term contract within each fiscal year; renewal possible up to twice (not for those aged 60 or over)
Selection process
- Document screening
- Interview online or in person (travel costs for in-person interviews are paid by the applicant)
- Results by email after selection ends
Documents to keep ready
- CV and publication list in the university's designated forms
- List of research skills (experimental skills and software)
- List of at least two referees with affiliation, email and phone
- Up to five representative papers as PDF
- Degree certificate or proof of expected degree as PDF
- Apply via the JREC-IN Portal or by email
Pay, benefits and perks
- Annual salary of JPY 3,240,000–3,960,000, set by experience and research record
- Health insurance and pension through the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan
- No commuting allowance (teaching allowances and travel paid if teaching classes)
How to apply
Apply by email to yujiwd@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp.
Applications must arrive by 25 Nov 2026; may close once a candidate is chosen
Skills for this role
What employers ask for in Research (JRF / SRF / PhD / Postdoc) roles. named in this notice
- Psychology experiments and surveys
- Sensory evaluation
- Human nutrition studies
- Data analysis
- Junior Research Fellow
- JRF
- Senior Research Fellow
- SRF
- PhD
- Postdoctoral
- Research Associate
- Food Technology research
- GATE XL
- ICAR NET
- ASRB
- Publications
Prepare for the interview
Questions commonly asked for Research (JRF / SRF / PhD / Postdoc) roles. Practise answers with an example and a number.
- Summarise your dissertation or main research project in two minutes for a non-specialist panel.
- Why this group or lab, and how does your experience fit the project described in the call?
- How did you design your experiments and choose the statistical analysis?
- Which analytical techniques have you used hands-on, and what were their limitations?
- What would be the first three months of work on this project if you were selected?
- Tell us about a result that did not work and what you did next.
Before you apply
- Read the original notice end to endDates, eligibility and the application route are decided by the employer, not by FSD.
- Tailor your resume to this vacancyMatch the keywords in the requirements. Resume Studio shows what is missing.
- Prepare a short research statementOne page on your project experience and why this group or call fits.
- Line up refereesMost calls ask for two or three referees; tell them in advance.
- Check the funding termsFellowship amount, duration, HRA and eligibility (NET / GATE) differ between calls.
Source & editorial check
Start date 1 Apr 2027. Contract up to one year, renewable up to two times. Posting in Japanese; lab site https://www.cogdesignlab.jp/.
Original posting: 2026-10-26
Checked 2026-11-05 · Updated 2026-11-05
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