NIMS provides research assistantship to students who aspire to a career as researchers in materials science.
NIMS Junior Researcher
NIMS offers a NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship to doctoral students who aspire to pursue careers in materials science research. This assistantship provides a monthly stipend to support students in achieving their academic objectives. Appointed NIMS Junior Researchers will gain valuable hands-on experience by contributing to cutting-edge research projects, while being financially supported throughout their studies.
* Application schedules vary by course. ([Chemistry] Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, [Life Science] Graduate School of Life Science and [Physics] Graduate School of Science)
- How to Apply
- From application to enrollment
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Outline
| Duties | The duties assigned by the hosting professor or researcher fall under the scope of the NIMS employment regulations. These duties and responsibilities are related to the student’s research activities. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility |
Admission to the Doctoral programs of the NIMS-Hokkaido University joint Graduate Program is a prerequisite for the assistantship. NIMS Junior Researchers are expected to have sufficient research capability to be involved in the research activities. * The employment occurs when the students are enrolled in the graduate programs without leave of absence or withdrawal. * If you receive a Japanese government-funded scholarship—such as MEXT, JSPS, or JST fellowships, please check with your scholarship provider to confirm your eligibility. Please see the FAQ for the details. |
| Contract | The contract is for one year and may be renewed annually, up to a maximum of three years. It will be terminated if you withdraw from the program or fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress. |
| Probation Period | 3 months |
| Monthly Stipend |
It will be determined by the assessment of the candidate and the actual working days.
|
| Start-up Support System | The Start-up Support Grant of 300,000 JPY will be provided to newly hired NIMS Junior in addition to the salary at the first salary payday. The amount is almost equivalent of the entrance fees to the university. |
| Insurance Coverage | NIMS Junior Researchers will be covered by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance. |
| Name of Recruiter | National Institute for Materials Science |
How to Apply
Send the following documents to NIMS Graduate Program Group nims-graduate@nims.go.jp by email, with a subject line of [Hokkaido-NIMS GRA] Application.
- Application form (word format)
- Please send this in word format when you apply. Sample is available here (pdf format).
- Please include the contact details of at least two references. We may directly contact the references regarding the application.
- The 14th item (questions for Master's candidates) and 15th item (travel grant) on the application form are not applicable to NIMS Junior applicants for the Hokkaido University - NIMS Joint Graduate School Program. Please submit them without description. - Curriculum Vitae ( Please be sure to use the designated Curriculum Vitae form.)
- Academic transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate
-
Scanned copy of the valid TOEFL iBT / TOEIC L&R /IELTS Academic score certificate.
The certificate must meet the following conditions.
- The result score from the exam taken within 2 years is valid.
- TOEFL ITP (Institutional Test Program), TOEIC IP (Institutional Program) and IELTS (General Training Module) are not acceptable.
- If you apply for [Chemistry] Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, only TOEIC Listening & Reading or TOEFL iBT are recognized. Please read the details carefully on the university website.
スケジュール
Graduate School of
Chemical Sciences and Engineering
A: March 2025 Application
| 3 March - 24 April 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Late April | Distribution of the university admission guidelines |
| Early May | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| Late May | Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable) |
| Early June | Interview at NIMS * Result will be announced within a week. |
| Early late June | University application period |
| Early August | University entrance exam at Hokkaido University |
| Late August | - Result announcement of the university exam - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| October 2025 or April 2026 |
University enrollment and Start of the employment |
B: August 2025 Application
Application for April 2026 entry is open. Application deadline is on September 18.
| 1 August - 18 September 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Early October | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| Late October | Distribution of the university admission guidelines |
| Late Ocober - Early November |
Interview at NIMS * Result will be announced within a week. |
| Early December | Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable) |
| Early - late January 2026 | University application period |
| Late February | University entrance exam at Hokkaido University |
| Early March | - Result announcement of the university exam - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| April 2026 | University enrollment and Start of the employment |
Graduate School of
Life Science
C: March 2025 Application
| 3 March - 24 April 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Early May | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| Early June | Distribution of the university admission guidelines |
| Early June | Interview at NIMS * Result will be announced within a week. |
| Mid - late June | Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable) |
| Early July | University online application period (International student admission, for residents outside of Japan) |
| Early - mid July | University application period (General admission, for residents in Japan) |
| Late August | University entrance exam at Hokkaido University (Possibly arranged individually) |
| Early August - early September | - Result announcement of the university exam - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| October 2025 or April 2026 |
University enrollment and Start of the employment |
D: August 2025 Application
Application for April 2026 entry is open. Application deadline is on September 18.
| 1 August - 18 September 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Early October | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| Late October - Early November | Interview at NIMS * Result will be announced within a week. |
| Early November | Distribution of the university admission guidelines |
| Late November | - Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable) |
| Late November to early December |
University online application period (International student admission, for residents outside of Japan) |
| Early-mid December | University application period (General admission, for residents in Japan) |
| Early January 2026 | - University entrance exam at Hokkaido University (Possibly arranged individually) |
| Late January | - Result announcement of the university exam - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| April 2026 | University enrollment and Start of the employment |
Graduate School of
Science
E: March 2025 Application
| 3 March - 24 April 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Early May | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| Early June | Distribution of the university admission guidelines |
| Early June | Interview at NIMS * Result will be announced within a week. |
| mid-June | Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable) |
| Late June - early July |
University online application period (International student admission, for residents outside of Japan) |
| early July | University application period (General admission, for residents in Japan) |
| Late July - Early August |
University entrance exam at Hokkaido University (Possibly arranged individually) |
| Late July - early September | - Result announcement of the university exam - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| October 2025 or April 2026 | University enrollment and Start of the employment |
F: August 2025 Application
Application for April 2026 entry is open. Application deadline is on September 18.
| 1 August - 18 September 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Early October | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| Late October | Distribution of the university admission guidelines |
| Early November | Interview at NIMS * Result will be announced within a week. |
| Late November | Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable) |
| Early December | University online application period (International student admission, for residents outside of Japan) |
| Early January 2026 | University application period (General admission, for residents in Japan) |
| January - early February | University entrance exam at Hokkaido University (Possibly arranged individually) |
| Late January - late February |
- Result announcement of the university exam - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| April 2026 | University enrollment and Start of the employment |