Pokémon Company Announces Plans to Recruit Real-Life Professor Oak
PhD graduates with a passion for gaming, science, and agriculture have a brand new opportunity to build a career thanks to The Pokémon Company.
The company has launched a new recruitment drive with the aim of finding real-world researchers to help expand the popular monster-catching universe.
The globally dominant entertainment franchise has always drawn heavy inspiration from the natural world since its inception in 1996.
The original video games, animated series, and trading card game frequently base their creature designs on real-life animals, plants, and mythological folklore.
Understanding the biological makeup and habitats of these fictional creatures has become an increasingly prominent focus for the brand in recent years.
Recent projects such as the Pokémon Ecological Encyclopedia (also referred to as Pokécology) and the immersive PokePark Kanto attraction in Japan have successfully presented the monsters through a highly academic lens.
To further this realistic approach, the company is now seeking applicants holding a doctorate in science or agriculture.
The ideal candidates will possess extensive research experience relating to the ecology of flora and fauna, alongside bilingual proficiency in both Japanese and English.
News of this listing quickly went viral on social media, with delighted fans joking that the official salary for a real-life Professor Oak had finally been revealed:
The viral sensation was initially sparked by a post from Chihiro Kinoshita, a professional illustrator and doctor of agriculture specializing in the behavioral ecology of marine animals.
“It seems that Pokémon Company Limited is recruiting PhD holders in science and engineering or agricultural sciences. “
Kinoshita previously worked alongside Yoshinari Yonehara, a PhD researcher currently employed by the gaming giant, to provide authentic scientific commentary for the recent encyclopedia release.
Successful applicants will be generously compensated for their highly specialized academic achievements, regardless of which specific department they are assigned to.
New hires will receive a special PhD allowance of one million yen upon joining, followed by an additional one million yen bonus every subsequent March.
The full-time permanent position offers an estimated annual salary ranging between six million and ten million yen (approx. $40,000 to $67,000 USD / £31,000 to £52,000 GBP).
Prospective researchers are required to submit a document detailing their previous academic studies alongside their standard application.
While not strictly mandatory, the application form also includes a section for candidates to outline their personal experience playing the video games and trading card game.
The recruitment drive officially opened for submissions on Monday, March 9, 2026, via The Pokémon Company’s official job portal.
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