NIMS Junior

NIMS offers the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship to doctoral students who aspire to a career as researchers in materials science. The assistantship carries a monthly stipend to assist academically deserving students in fulfilling their academic goals. Those students appointed as NIMS Junior Researcher will enable to gain insight into their research career by "hands on" experience of working on latest research projects, without financial hardship.

* Application schedule are different by courses ([Chemistry] Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, [Life Science] Graduate School of Life Science and [Physics] Graduate School of Science)

Outline

Duties Duties prescribed by the hosting professor/researcher are attributed to the NIMS employment regulations. The 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 required to have sufficient research ability to be involved in the research.

* The employment occurs when the students are enrolled in the graduate programs without leave of absence or withdrawal.

* NIMS Junior Researchers are not permitted to receive a concurrent scholarship, such as JSPS or governmental scholarship, and any part-time jobs. Please see the FAQ for the details.

Contract The contract is for one year, and is renewable every year up to three years. The assistantship will be terminated if the student failes to engage in activities as NIMS Junior Researcher, or leaves the program.
Probation Period 3 months
Monthly Stipend

It will be determined by the assessment of the candidate and the actual working days.

  • Doctoral student : approx. 200,000 JPY for 14 days work per month
  • Monthly Stipend has been revised.
Insurance Coverage NIMS Junior Researchers will be covered by the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance.
Name of Recruiter National Institute for Materials Science
Document screening result By email in English. If you successfully obtain the financial support grant to travel to NIMS and Hokkaido University, the information will be included to the notification email.

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
    - Please refer to the sample application form.
    - Please include the contact details of at least two references. We may directly contact the references regarding the application.
  • Curriculum Vitae (No specific format required. You may use this format if necessary.)
  • 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.

Schedule

2023-2024

3 April - 25 May, 2023 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
Early June Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
26 May - 1 June Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable)
20-27 June University application period
4 August Interview at NIMS (will be conducted online)
9-10 August University entrance exam at Hokkaido University
Early September Result announcement of the university exam
October 2023 entry
Mid September Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
October 2023 University enrollment and Start of the employment
April 2024 entry
March 2024 Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
April 2024 University enrollment and Start of the employment

2023-2024

3 April - 25 May, 2023 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
Early June Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
Mid June - Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable)
- University online application period (International student admission, for residents outside of Japan)
Early July University application period (General admission, for residents in Japan)
Early-mid August - Interview at NIMS (will be conducted online)
- University entrance exam at Hokkaido University (possibly arranged individually)
Early September - Result announcement of the university exam (International student admission, for residents outside of Japan)
- Result announcement of the university exam (General admission, for residents in Japan)
October 2023 entry
Mid September Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
October 2023 University enrollment and Start of the employment
April 2024 entry
February 2024 Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
April 2024 University enrollment and Start of the employment

2023-2024

3 April - 25 May, 2023 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
Early June Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
Mid June - Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable)
- 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 Result announcement of the university exam (International student admission, for residents outside of Japan)
Early-mid August - Interview at NIMS (will be conducted online)
- University entrance exam at Hokkaido University (General admission, for residents in Japan. Possibly arranged individually)
October 2023 entry
Late August - Result announcement of the university exam (General admission, for residents in Japan)
- Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
October 2023 University enrollment and Start of the employment
April 2024 entry
Mid February Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
April 2024 University enrollment and Start of the employment