NIMS provides research assistantship to students who aspire to a career as researchers in materials science.
NIMS Junior Researcher
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.
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| 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
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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
2025-2026
| 3 March - 24 April 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Around mid-May 2025 | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| Around late April - early June 2025 | - Interview at NIMS (will be conducted online) - Distribution of the university admission guidelines - Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable) |
| Around mid- to late June 2025 | University application period (International student admission, for residents outside of Japan) |
| Around mid- to late June 2025 | University application period (General admission, for residents in Japan) |
| Around early August 2025 | University entrance exam at Hokkaido University |
| Around late August | Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| October 2025 or April 2026 | University enrollment and Start of the employment |
2025-2026
| 3 March - 24 April 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Around mid-May 2025 | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| Around early June 2025 | - Interview at NIMS (will be conducted online) - Distribution of the university admission guidelines |
| Around late June - early July 2025 | - Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable) - University online application period (International student admission, for residents outside of Japan) |
| Around mid July 2025 | University application period (General admission, for residents in Japan) |
| Around early August or early September 2025 | - University entrance exam at Hokkaido University (Possibly arranged individually) - 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 |
2025-2026
| 3 March - 24 April 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Around mid-May 2025 | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| Around early June 2025 | - Interview at NIMS (will be conducted online) - Distribution of the university admission guidelines |
| Around mid-June 2025 | Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable) |
| Around early July 2025 | University online application period (International student admission, for residents outside of Japan) |
| Around early July 2025 | University application period (General admission, for residents in Japan) |
| Around early August or early September 2025 | - University entrance exam at Hokkaido University (Possibly arranged individually) - 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 |