Reinforcement Learning Scientist

Tokyo & Kyoto

ABOUT CROSS LABS

We’re hiring talented people in a variety of roles to join our teams in Tokyo and Kyoto. Our mission is to bridge the divide between intelligence science and AI technology at the service of human society. To achieve this, we're building a team of individuals whose interests cover a diverse range of intelligence science topics including artificial life, cognitive neuroscience, collective intelligence, deep learning, robotics, and computational linguistics.

Ideal candidates share our excitement to understand the fundamental principles of intelligence, have a career interest in our core research questions and aim to eventually develop into a senior research fellow at Cross Labs, or continue these avenues of research at another institution after completing substantial work at Cross Labs. Ideal candidates will have:

  • Published research or patents in relevant fields
  • Enough background and knowledge of the literature to understand different parts of our research program and technical work as needed
  • A proactive research attitude, propensity toward teamwork and ability to generate productive new ideas for research directions
  • A formal degree or strong research experience in computer science or cognitive science  (strongly recommended)

Ideal candidates are:

  • Team players able to engage in collaborative work
  • Insightful and passionate about AI research
  • Insatiable learners

To demonstrate research ability, we recommend candidates aim to do one or more of the following:

  • Demonstrate a readiness to conduct and publish novel research relevant to Cross Labs’ research themes
  • Share previous concrete experiences fitting into one of our research projects
  • Before applying, attend one or more Cross Labs research or outreach activities, and talk to our research members

Responsibilities

As an AI Scientist at Cross Labs, you will conduct research in a team of researchers in the heart of Tokyo or Kyoto, one of the most technologically, culturally, and intellectually active metropoles in the world. Your schedule will be very flexible – we focus on progress, not presence. Autonomous research initiatives are strongly encouraged, and you will be able to engage in a large variety of projects, with other researchers in the lab and a wide range of extended academic collaborators, depending on the current team efforts.

If selected, the positions will start within 2022. The shortest positions start with 1 year long, but are renewable each year up to 3 years. In certain cases, the tenure can be extended beyond the 3 years into a senior researcher position.

The main features of the job include:

  • Development of an advanced research program in intelligence science
  • Daily collaboration in a wildly interdisciplinary team
  • Scientific dissemination in publications and conferences
  • Strong collaboration with our applied research team

Collaborations

Our researchers must be ready to collaborate closely with any of our affiliated research centers and academic institutions, including the University of Tokyo, the Earth-Life Science Institute (Tokyo Institute of Technology), Riken, and Hokkaido University. Students may be able to obtain academic degrees through their research at Cross Labs, in co-supervision with our research partners at universities. Please mention your interest in case you are a prospective student.

Technical Skills

Although the requirements will differ depending on the research project, in addition to the criteria above, candidates should have:

  • A strong knowledge in mathematics or computer science
  • A very good understanding of artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning in theory and in practice
  • Experience reading and writing academic papers
  • Programming skills in Python, R, C++, or Haskell, and Linux experience

HOW TO APPLY

Please email us via the button below, or send an email to jobs@crosslabs.org, attaching a recent CV detailing your academic record and programming experience, a research statement (1 or 2 pages), and up to two references (name and emails only at this stage).

We sincerely thank you for your interest in Cross Labs.
APPLY FOR THIS ROLE
We're committed to diversity of experience, expertise, background and perspective as equality of opportunity is at the heart of the what we're creating together.