Apply for Our Fully Funded Postdoc Position – Starting January 2025

About OIST:
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) is a dynamic graduate university located in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The 85-hectare campus is nestled in protected forestland with breathtaking views of the coastline. OIST offers world-class research facilities and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration by eliminating academic departments, enabling free-flowing scientific exchange. The campus is fully equipped with advanced computing infrastructure and state-of-the-art structural biology core facilities. English is the official language, and the community is truly global, with more than 50 countries represented.

Key Responsibilities:

• Explore evolutionary principles and apply AI-driven algorithms for protein engineering, including (but not limited to) the design of protein wires with electron transfer capabilities for energy applications.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team using computational and biophysical methods to understand protein structure and function at atomic resolution.
• Participate in lab meetings, mentor junior members, and contribute to the lab’s intellectual environment.

Qualifications:
Essential Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a related field
• Strong background in bioinformatics.
• Experience with AI tools for protein engineering and/or molecular modeling.
• Enthusiasm for basic science research and willingness to explore novel concepts
• Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills
• Strong command of English for working in an international research environment

Optional Qualifications:

• Proficiency in data analysis
• Wet lab experience, particularly in protein biochemistry

What We Offer:
At OIST, we are committed to supporting researchers with a creative, collaborative, and productive work environment. Our compensation packages are internationally competitive and designed to accommodate personal circumstances. The candidate will enjoy 20% of research freedom to pursue independent research, take part of career development projects privided by C-Hub, Innovation Center or those in industrial setups.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base annual salary: 4.3 - 5.9 million JPY, plus housing allowance (up to 60,000 JPY/month)
• Relocation and commuting allowances
• Comprehensive health insurance
• Pension insurance (kousei-nenkin)
• Worker’s accident compensation insurance (roudousha-saigai-hoshou-hoken)
• Annual paid leave and summer holidays
• Access to the Child Development Center and schooling options
• Language education and daily life support services
• Career development programs (C-Hub)
• Remote work system
• Maternity and childcare leave

Our group fosters strong international collaborations with prestigious institutes such as the Centre for Enzyme Innovation (UK), National Autonomous University of Mexico, and University of Bayreuth (Germany). Opportunities to attend and present at major international conferences are fully supported.