Assistant/Associate Professor in Optical and Information Technologies for Life Sciences – Hokkaido University Hokkaido University in Japan

The Research Institute for Electronic Science (RIES) at Hokkaido University is seeking applications for an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor position in the Biology and Life Sciences Division, specifically in Prof. Hideharu Mikami’s group (Mikami Lab). The lab focuses on pioneering research at the intersection of photonics, informatics, and life sciences, aiming to develop advanced optical and information technologies for life science applications. Research topics include the creation of innovative tools for biological imaging, integration of fluorescence microscopy and optogenetics with AI-driven information technologies, and the application of these methods to model organisms and live cells.

The successful candidate will engage in both research and education, contributing to the development of new interdisciplinary fields and supporting undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Information Electronics and the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology. The position involves collaborative research within and outside the group, and candidates are expected to have a strong background in one or more of optics, information science, or life sciences. Experience with advanced imaging, computational analysis, or neuroscience/cell biology is desirable but not strictly required.

Applicants must hold or expect to obtain a doctoral degree. The position offers a competitive salary (Associate Professor: from 6,000,000 JPY/year; Assistant Professor: from 4,000,000 JPY/year) and full employee benefits. The Associate Professor appointment is permanent, while the Assistant Professor appointment is for five years, renewable once for three years. The application deadline is May 1, 2026, with the start date as soon as possible after August 1, 2026.

To apply, candidates should prepare a cover letter specifying the position, CV, publication list, summary of past research, future research plan, names and emails of two referees, and up to five major papers. All documents should be combined into a single PDF and submitted via the JREC-IN Portal. For further details, visit the official job posting or contact Prof. Mikami at [email protected].

Keywords: biophotonics, photonics, informatics, life sciences, optical technologies, information technologies, fluorescence microscopy, AI, biological imaging, neuroscience, cell biology.