Postdoc or Research Scientist in Efficient AI, LLM Memory and AI Agents, RIKEN AIP (Tokyo, Japan)

Job Description

The RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project is hiring a postdoc in efficient AI and large language model agents (or a Research Scientist, depending on experience) in its Succinct Information Processing Team, led by Team Director Yasuo Tabei (call ID 26-1239).

At a glance

• Position: Postdoctoral Researcher or Research Scientist, one position
• Where: Succinct Information Processing Team, Mathematical Intelligence Group, RIKEN AIP, Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan
• Team director: Yasuo Tabei
• Pay: At least ¥382,610 a month (postdoc) or ¥448,990 a month (Research Scientist), including the discretionary work allowance
• Contract: One year, renewable on evaluation; postdocs can stay up to five years
• Japanese: Not required
• Apply: open until filled (re-checked 25 October 2026)

About the efficient AI and LLM agents research

• Develop ways to represent, compress, index, retrieve and update information for memory and knowledge management in large language models and AI agents
• Structure the execution histories and experiences of AI agents so they can learn reusable skills and adapt to unseen tasks more efficiently
• Design algorithms and data-processing methods that cut the compute and memory used by large language models and AI systems
• Design and evaluate AI systems for on-device and edge settings with tight compute, memory and communication budgets
• Publish papers and release research software, working with researchers inside and outside the team

The team’s background is in data compression, succinct data structures, information retrieval and machine learning, and the call invites applicants to combine that knowledge with their own expertise. The ad welcomes original proposals beyond the listed examples; specific topics will be agreed with the Team Director. Postdoctoral Researchers are defined as having held a doctorate for five years or less, and Research Scientists for more than five, but RIKEN assigns the level based on the candidate’s ability.

Why this role matters

Making large models cheaper to run and giving agents a usable long-term memory are two of the most practical open problems in AI, and both reward people who understand algorithms and data structures, not only deep learning. This call suits a researcher from compression, databases, information retrieval or systems who wants to move into LLM research at a national AI centre, with no Japanese needed.

What RIKEN is looking for

• A doctorate in machine learning, AI, natural language processing, algorithms and data structures, data compression, information retrieval, databases, computer systems, data mining, applied mathematics or a related field, or expected by the start date
• Original research contributions in these or related areas (direct experience of the listed topics is not required)
• The ability to formulate problems and design, implement and validate models, algorithms or systems on real data; mainly theoretical applicants must show concrete plans for implementation or empirical evaluation
• Programming skills, and English good enough to discuss research, write papers and present

Nice to have

• Original research ideas that extend your expertise into new directions in AI and information processing
• Papers at international conferences or journals, or released research software and open-source contributions

Pay and location

RIKEN pays an annual salary made up of a base and a variable part. According to the ad, the monthly salary plus discretionary work allowance at hiring will be at least ¥382,610 for a Postdoctoral Researcher and at least ¥448,990 for a Research Scientist, with commuting and housing allowances and social insurance. The contract is for one year, renewable on evaluation, up to the end of the fiscal year in which the employee completes seven years (five years at most for postdocs). The post requires working on site at RIKEN’s Tokyo campus in Nihonbashi.

How to apply

Apply through the official RIKEN job posting. RIKEN’s posting does not give a closing date, so the role is open until filled; ResearchJobs.in will re-check this listing on 25 October 2026. Start by submitting RIKEN’s online HR inquiry form for public recruitment with call ID 26-1239; HR then emails instructions for sending the publication list, three major papers, research summary and plan, and the privacy consent form. Two recommendation letters are sent directly by the referees. Check the posting for location and work-authorisation details before you apply.

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