The Pokémon Company hiring real-life ‘Pokémon Professors’ with PhDs in ecology

The Pokémon Company is reportedly looking to hire scientists with doctoral degrees to help make its fictional universe even more realistic.

According to a job listing on the Japanese recruitment platform HRMOS, the company is seeking PhD holders for unspecified roles across several of its business divisions. The listing notes that successful candidates could work in “each” of the company’s operations depending on their expertise.

Applicants are required to have a PhD in fields such as science, engineering, or agriculture, with research experience related to the ecology of plants and animals. Candidates must also be fluent in both English and Japanese and submit a PDF detailing their research work.

The full-time roles reportedly offer an annual salary ranging from 6 million to 10 million yen (approximately $38,000 to $63,000), along with yearly salary reviews each March.

The move has sparked interest among fans, as the franchise is known for building worlds inspired by real ecosystems. Many games in the Pokémon series feature elements such as wildlife behavior, regional habitats, and day–night cycles that mirror real-life environmental systems.

While the exact responsibilities of the new hires remain unclear, some observers speculate the scientists could help design more detailed environments, behaviors, and ecosystems for future Pokémon games and projects.

The development also comes as the franchise continues expanding into new experiences beyond traditional games. For example, the recently opened PokéPark Kanto in Tokyo features a themed town and nature areas where visitors can interact with Pokémon-inspired attractions.

For now, the company has not revealed how these researchers will contribute to upcoming projects, but the unusual job listing has already captured the attention of fans, especially those who have long dreamed of becoming a real-life Pokémon Professor.