Life Science and Biotechnology

Type B - Tenured Position

Type B is a tenured position of research scientist normally offered to a candidate with significant research achievements and management experience.
 

• Type B - Tenured Position

Job Opportunities for the 1st round of Open Recruitment 2026 - Closed at 23:59 on May 7, 2026 (JST)

Entry ID LS-1	Title	Research and Development of Societal Implementation for Extending Healthy Expectancy and Utilizing Biological Resources
	Job Summary and Essential/Desirable Skills and Experience	The Department of Life Science and Biotechnology promotes research and development that contributes to solving social issues such as an aging society and realizing a bioeconomy society. We invite applications from individuals who are eager to pursue research and development aimed at generating novel innovations through the utilization of biological phenomena, with an emphasis on future social implementation in industrial areas such as bio‑manufacturing, cellular products, medical devices, drug discovery and development, and healthcare. This open call encourages applicants who are uncertain which research unit within the department aligns best with their research background, as well as those whose cross‑disciplinary aspirations extend beyond the scope of a single research unit. We particularly welcome individuals who can lead next-generation platform technology development that will drive the expansion of the bio-manufacturing industry—our key focus area—or R&D supporting the cell industry through the utilization of microorganisms, plants, etc. Note that, even under this open call, the final assignment will be made to one of the four research units based on the candidate’s suitability and proposed research topics. Applicants must possess strong communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively, and a level of foreign-language proficiency appropriate for active engagement in international research environments. They should be highly motivated researchers who are not bound by their previous work, who are willing to take on new challenges as members of a research team, and who aspire to generate new innovations. We particularly welcome researchers who seek to pioneer new fields beyond the existing framework of life science research, as well as those who are interested in launching startups as a means of implementing their research outcomes in society. Individuals who do not hold a doctoral degree but have practical experience in industry and are motivated to apply that experience to AIST’s research and development or societal implementation of research results are also encouraged to apply.
	Start of Employment	April 1st, 2027
	Research Unit	Biomanufacturing Process Research Center / Health and Medical Research Institute / Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Insititute / Molecular Biosystems Research Institute
	Work Location	AIST Tsukuba、AIST Hokkaido、AIST Tokyo Waterfront、AIST Kansai、AIST Shikoku
	URL	https://www.aist.go.jp/aist_e/dept/en_dlsbt.html
	Inquiry	M-Life-recruit-ml*aist.go.jp (Replace "*" with "@")
	Number of Position	a few positions available
	Key Words	Biomanufacturing／Cellular industry／Medical devices and biomaterials／Bio x AI／Healthcare
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Entry ID HMRI-1	Title	Research and Development of Health and Medical Engineering
	Job Summary and Essential/Desirable Skills and Experience	In response to the challenges posed by an aging society, we seek outstanding individuals who will lead the development of cutting-edge biofunctional analysis and control technologies for the aim of contributing to the realization of future medical and diagnostic technologies and a healthy society. We are looking for candidates to tackle the following research areas: -Biomedical engineering applications (e.g., molecular, cellular and biological analysis, probiotics, nano/micro-devices), biomechanical and physical function analysis, medical devices (e.g., treatment and diagnostic technologies, devices development, biocompatible materials), biosensing, bioimaging relating to basic research and research for the aim of practical application and social implementation of innovative technologies. -Research fields based on other specialized technologies (e.g., AI, image information processing, in silico analysis, chemical biology, chemometrics, biomaterials, food tech) for the aim of basic research and practical application contributing to health and biomedical engineering. We expect candidates from science and engineering, biomedical, dental, and pharmaceutical fields, and other specialized fields who have excellent research and development achievements and commercialization experience, and are willing to collaborate with both inside and outside the institute. We welcome those who do not have a doctoral degree but who are motivated to utilize their practical experience at a company for the social implementation of AIST's R&D. Applicants with no doctoral degree should apply for the LS-1 slot (except for those who plan to obtain a degree).
	Start of Employment	April 1st, 2027
	Research Unit	Health and Medical Research Institute
	Work Location	AIST Tsukuba、AIST Shikoku
	URL	https://unit.aist.go.jp/hmri/en/index.html
	Inquiry	M-hmri-koubo-ml*aist.go.jp (Replace "*" with "@")
	Number of Position	a few positions available
	Key Words	Bioanalysis ／Healthcare／Medical Engineering／Biomechanics／Functional Materials
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Entry ID CMB-1	Title	Research and Development for Analysis, Control and Utilization of Cells and Biomolecules
	Job Summary and Essential/Desirable Skills and Experience	To create advanced fundamental technologies that can be utilized in the fields of medical care, drug discovery and healthcare, we are looking for researchers who elucidate the basic characteristics of cells and their constituent molecules, and who can analyze and control their changes and failures in and outside the body. The ideal candidates should be able to independently pursue the following research projects in collaboration with our teams and should aim to solve social issues through social implementation of the results obtained. - Development of technologies that contribute to the establishment, analysis, manipulation, and quality evaluation of highly functional cells, using advanced omics technology and biomaterials development. - Development of technologies to identify novel disease or pre-symptomatic markers and to promote drug discovery and the search for functional ingredients. - Development of new treatment methods using various drug modalities and biological evaluation systems such as alternatives to animal experiments. - Development of technologies that contribute to the medical and health industries through integration of biodata and AI, advancement of cell culture or analysis, and development of predictive models based on acquired bioinformation. Group assignment will be determined based on the candidate's ability and suitability for the research themes done in our institute. We also welcome candidates those who are willing to take on the challenge of a new field without being limited to their existing research field, and those who do not hold a doctoral degree but are willing to apply their practical experience in industry to AIST's research and development and the social implementation of its results. Applicants with no doctoral degree should apply for the LS-1 slot (except for those who plan to obtain a degree).
	Start of Employment	April 1st, 2027
	Research Unit	Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Insititute
	Work Location	AIST Tsukuba、AIST Tokyo Waterfront
	URL	https://unit.aist.go.jp/cmb5/index_en.html
	Inquiry	M-cmb5-info-ml*aist.go.jp (Replace "*" with "@")
	Number of Position	a few positions available
	Key Words	Cell engineering／Drug discovery modality／AI/Bioinformatics／Biomolecular analysis／biomaterials
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Entry ID BPRC-1	Title	Research and development on microorganisms and plants, and development of theoretical analysis methods for biological data
	Job Summary and Essential/Desirable Skills and Experience	We seek motivated researchers to conduct research on microorganisms, plants, enzymes, and related fields by leveraging experimental and information sciences. Applicants with a strong interest in industrial collaboration and social implementation are particularly welcome. ・Development and application of statistical models, AI, and simulations for biological data. ・Research in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, or biotechnology. ・Molecular breeding and modeling (e.g., molecular dynamics) of enzymes based on experimental and AI-driven design. ・Development of production processes through improved microbial cultivation. ・Enhancement, evaluation, and analysis of plant functions, or production of valuable compounds using plants. ・Metabolomics and proteomics research and applications. ・Exploration and utilization of novel microorganisms. ・Utilization and control of microbial communities (microbiomes). We also welcome those who do not have a doctoral degree but who are motivated to utilize their practical experience at a company for the social implementation of AIST's R&D. Applicants with no doctoral degree should apply for the LS-1 slot (except for those who plan to obtain a degree).
	Start of Employment	April 1st, 2027
	Research Unit	Biomanufacturing Process Research Center
	Work Location	AIST Hokkaido、AIST Tsukuba
	URL	https://bprc.aist.go.jp/en
	Inquiry	M-bprc-webmaster_ext-ml*aist.go.jp (Replace "*" with "@")
	Number of Position	several positions available
	Key Words	Information Science／Microbial engineering／Synthetic biology／Plant biotechnology／Bioengineering
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Entry ID Molbis-1	Title	Research and Development on the Design, Evaluation, and Social Implementation of Functional Biomolecules
	Job Summary and Essential/Desirable Skills and Experience	With the aim of contributing to the design, evaluation, and social implementation of functional biomolecules, we are looking for researchers with outstanding ability to promote leading and international research and high motivation to implement research results in society, working on one of the following research topics. - Development of advanced measurement technologies as a basis for the design of functional biomolecules. - Design of functional biomolecules and their applications in materials, health and medical fields (including the exploration, design, synthesis, modification and application of functional molecules, both inorganic and organic). - Elucidation and utilization of functions and interactions (biosystems) among molecules, cells, and organisms. - Human microbiome analysis and control: microbiome analysis, evaluation of immunity and other functions using model animals, microbiome control through microbial culture. ※Functional biomolecules: Molecules related to diverse functions such as drug delivery systems (DDS), immune regulation, antibody therapeutics, molecular labelling and molecular recognition, whether derived from organic synthesis or biosynthesis. Workplaces will be determined based on applicants' expertise and matching to the research topics in Molecular Biosystem Research Institute. Applicants with no doctoral degree should apply for the LS-1 slot (except for those who plan to obtain a degree). We welcome those who do not have a doctoral degree but who are motivated to utilize their practical experience at a company for the social implementation of AIST's R&D. Applicants with no doctoral degree should apply for the LS-1 slot (except for those who plan to obtain a degree).
	Start of Employment	April 1st, 2027
	Research Unit	Molecular Biosystems Research Institute
	Work Location	AIST Tsukuba、AIST Kansai
	URL	https://unit.aist.go.jp/molbis/en/index.html
	Inquiry	M-mol-koubo-ml*aist.go.jp (Replace "*" with "@")
	Number of Position	a few positions available
	Key Words	Bioanalytical Chemistry／Biomolecular Engineering／Microbiome／Bioplastics／Gene Manipulation
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