Postdoc Recruitment

As of December 1, 2025, the Oizumi Laboratory is recruiting 1-2 postdoctoral researchers to conduct research related to the following themes.

  1. Inter-brain information translation and control
  2. Characterizing brain states (conscious, unconscious, etc.) from the perspectives of stochastic thermodynamics and control theory
  3. Comparing qualia structures (relational structures of subjective experiences) across individuals and identifying their neural substrates

The degree of freedom in the specific research theme is high, and it is possible to set a theme that respects each individual's wishes to the maximum extent. In addition, employment is possible even for themes other than those listed above, as long as they are related to the research being conducted in the laboratory. If you are interested in any related research themes, we would be happy if you would consider applying.

We also hope for someone who can actively take charge of research guidance for students. Of course, the premise is that you can secure enough time for your own research, and we will ask you to provide guidance on research themes that match your own research interests.

We also welcome the opportunity to speak with you once before applying. Please feel free to contact us. For applications, please contact Oizumi by email (c-oizumi atmark g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp).

Last updated: December 1, 2025

Related research for [1]

  • Takeda et al. (2025) Unsupervised alignment reveals structural commonalities and differences in neural representations of natural scenes across individuals and brain areas. iScience, 28, 5112427. DOI
  • Kamiya et al. (2025) Unsupervised Neuronal Matching with Spontaneous Neuronal Activity. In ICLR 2025 Workshop on Representational Alignment. DOI
  • Takeda et al. (2025) Unsupervised Alignment in Neuroscience: Introducing a Toolbox for Gromov-Wasserstein Optimal Transport. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 419, 110443. DOI

Related research for [2]

  • Sekizawa et al. (2024) Decomposing thermodynamic dissipation of linear Langevin systems via oscillatory modes and its application to neural dynamics. Physical Review X 14 (4), 041003. DOI
  • Sekizawa et al. (2025) Koopman Mode Decomposition of Thermodynamic Dissipation in Nonlinear Langevin Dynamics. arXiv. DOI
  • Shikauchi et al. (2025) Quantifying state-dependent control properties of brain dynamics from perturbation responses. bioRxiv. DOI
  • Ogino et al. (2025) Designing optimal perturbation inputs for system identification in neuroscience. bioRxiv. DOI

Related research for [3]

  • Kawakita et al. (2025) Is my "red" your "red"?: Evaluating structural correspondences between color similarity judgments using unsupervised alignment. iScience, 28, 3, 112029. DOI
  • Oizumi et al. (2025) Principal bundle geometry of qualia: Understanding the quality of consciousness from symmetry. PsyArXiv. DOI
  • Takahashi et al. (2026) Investigating Fine-and Coarse-grained Structural Correspondences Between Deep Neural Networks and Human Object Image Similarity Judgments Using Unsupervised Alignment. Neural Networks, 195, 108222. DOI
  • Asanuma et al. (2025) Correspondence of High-Dimensional Emotion Structures Elicited by Video Clips Between Humans and Multimodal LLMs. Scientific Reports, 15, 32175. DOI
  • Masafumi Oizumi (2023) Is your "red" the same as my "red"? -- Mathematics connecting one's own qualia and others' qualia, Kagaku June issue, Iwanami Shoten. pdf
  • Masafumi Oizumi (2022) How should mathematical theories of consciousness be experimentally verified? Seitai no Kagaku, 73(1), 1-5. pdf

1. Introduction to the Laboratory

The Oizumi Laboratory was established on April 1, 2019. It is a laboratory that works on theoretical research in neuroscience, especially theoretical research on consciousness. As of December 2025, there are 3 postdoctoral researchers, 9 doctoral students, 5 master's students, and 2 undergraduate students. I think it is a lively laboratory where enthusiastic researchers and students gather. Those who are appointed as project researchers may conduct joint research not only with me but also with other laboratory members depending on the case.

In the laboratory, we hold group meetings where people with similar research themes gather to report their progress, as well as individual meetings, once every two weeks. We value time for discussion with laboratory members, and our style is to advance research through discussion.

2. Policy on Joint Research with Postdoctoral Researchers

Basically, you will conduct research themes related to projects currently being undertaken in the laboratory jointly with Oizumi. However, rather than the specific research being already fixed, we will create an appropriate one through discussion with the researcher. I believe that each individual has their own research interests/preferences and strengths/weaknesses, so we will set a research theme that is mutually satisfactory after considering all of them. I also welcome proposals from unique perspectives that I am not currently considering. Although there are rough theme settings, my first priority is to do interesting science and to make it a research theme that the person can work on with the most enthusiasm, so in that sense, I think the degree of freedom in research is high.

Also, since I myself have experienced being a postdoc for more than 8 years before reaching my current tenure position, I will give consideration to the career path of postdoctoral researchers. Specifically, I can provide the following support:

  • Appropriate theme setting and time management so that papers can be published during the tenure
  • Encouragement to apply for competitive funds such as KAKENHI and advice on preparing application forms
  • Advice on preparing application documents for open recruitment, handling interviews, etc.

Recruitment Information for Project Researchers

[1] Title and Hiring Numbers: Project Researcher, 1-2 positions

[2] Term of Employment: April 1, 2026 (negotiable) to March 31, 2027

[3] Renewal of Contract: Your employment agreement may be renewed. Renewal of the agreement will be determined by the following factors: progress of the work assigned to you, your performance, work record, and attitude, your medical conditions, budget status, and/or the amount of the work at the end of the term. Renewable until March, 2031.

[4] Probation Period: 14 days from the date of employment

[5] Place of Work: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo (3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo)

[6] Affiliation: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of General Systems Studies

[7] Contents of Work Duties: To conduct research related to the following themes:

  1. Inter-brain information translation and control
  2. Characterizing brain states (conscious, unconscious, etc.) from the perspectives of stochastic thermodynamics and control theory
  3. Comparing qualia structures (relational structures of subjective experiences) across individuals and identifying their neural substrates

Also, to provide research guidance for students in the laboratory related to these projects.

[8] Working Hours: Discretionary work system for professional work applies and working hours will be deemed as 7 hours and 45 minutes per day.

[9] Days off: Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, and the year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 to January 3)

[10] Leave: Annual Paid Leave, Special Leave, etc.

[11] Wages, etc.: Annual Salary System applies and monthly paid salary will be around JPY 370,000 to JPY 600,000 including performance / achievement allowance. (The salary will be decided taking your qualifications, capacity, experience etc. into account. Commuting Allowance (basically up to JPY 55,000 per month if you meet the requirements for the payment.)

[12] Insurance: You will be automatically enrolled in the insurance from the Mutual Aid Association of MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), Employment Insurance, and Workers' Compensation Insurance.

[13] Qualification Requirements:

  • Those who have obtained a doctoral degree or are expected to obtain a degree by the date of employment.

  • Those who can work on research guidance for students in the laboratory with enthusiasm.

  • Those who have the mathematical background (statistics, information theory, machine learning, statistical physics, etc.) and programming skills necessary to conduct theoretical research in neuroscience.

  • Those who have achievements and experience in the following items are particularly preferred, but it is not mandatory.

    1. Analysis of brain activity data such as fMRI, EEG (EEG, ECoG), Ca imaging, Neuropixels
    2. Theory and implementation of deep learning
    3. Data-driven analysis (Koopman operator, dynamic mode decomposition, etc.) and control theory for dynamical systems

[14] Documents to be Submitted:

  • Resume (Format is arbitrary.)
  • List of achievements (Format is arbitrary.)
  • PDF of your major papers (within 3 papers)

[15] Submission Method: Please submit the above documents to Oizumi by email.

[16] Application Deadline: Applications must arrive by January 12, 2026. After screening of application materials, interviews of selected applicants will be conducted at any time. If there are no successful applicants, the recruitment is scheduled to be extended. Please refer to the Oizumi Laboratory website for the latest status regarding recruitment.

[17] Contact:
3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Department of General Systems Studies
Associate Professor Masafumi Oizumi
E-mail: c-oizumi atmark g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Please replace atmark with @.

[18] Name of Recruiter: The University of Tokyo

[19] Status of measures to prevent second-hand smoke: No smoking on site in principle (Designated outdoor smoking areas are available)

[20] Other:

  1. Personal information obtained will only be used for recruitment purposes.
  2. We welcome proactive application from women in accordance with “The University of Tokyo, Declaration for Promoting Gender Equality (March 3, 2009) .”