Graduate Research Assistant　

NIMS offers the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship to doctoral/master’s 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 Graduate Research Assistants will gain insight into their research career by “hands on” experience of working on latest research projects, without financial hardship.

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Outline

Duties NIMS offers NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship to excellent students in the doctoral course of Materials Science and Engineering. The assistantship carries a monthly stipend to assist academically deserving students in fulfilling their academic goals. Those students appointed as Graduate Research Assistants will gain insight into their research career by "hands on" experience of working on latest research projects.
Eligibility

Graduate Research Assistants are required to have sufficient research ability to be involved in the research.

Applicants are expected to have a Master's degree in materials science, metallurgical engineering, physics or chemistry prior to the admission. Admission to the Course of Advanced Nanotechnology and Engineering, Kyushu University is a prerequisite for the assistantship.

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

＊ Graduate Research Assistants are not permitted to receive a concurrent scholarship, such as JSPS or Japanese governmental scholarship.

Please see FAQ on the NIMS Student Program website for the details.
Contract The contract is one year, and is renewable every year up to three years. The contract will be terminated if the student fails to demonstrate his/her excellence in research 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
Start-up Support System

The Start-up Support Grant of 300,000 JPY will be provided to newly hired Graduate Research Assistant in addition to the salary at the first salay payday. The amount is almost equivalent of the entrance fees to the university.
Insurance Coverage by Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance
Name of Recruiter National Institute for Materials Science

How to Apply

　　　　　
  • 【Application Procedure】

    (1)Place all the Required Documents in a single folder, compress the folder into a ZIP file, and upload it to the BOX Submission Folder (click here) by the application deadline.

    (2) After completing the upload, please send an email to NIMS Graduate Program Section ( nims-graduate@nims.go.jp ) with the file name and applicant's name.

    Please use [Kyushu-NIMS] Application as an email subject.
    * If there is anything you would like to inform us about regarding your application documents, please include it in the email. 　　

    (3)After receiving your email, we will confirm your file and will reply to you within a week. If you do not receive a confirmation email from NIMS, please be sure to contact us. If we do not hear from you, we may not be able to accept your application.

      【Important Notes for Uploading】

      (1) Please name the ZIP file as follows: Kyushu-NIMS_Applicant's Name

      (2) Please be sure to enter the applicant's email address on the upload page.

        【Required Documents】

      • 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.
        - If you write more than one name as prospective supervisor, please list up the professor names in order of preference.
        - The 14th item (For Master's course students ) on the application form does not apply to Graduate Research Assistant applicants for the Kyushu University - NIMS Joint Graduate School Program. Please submit them without description.
      • Curriculum Vitae ( Please be sure to use the designated form. )
      • Academic transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate
      • Scanned copy of the valid TOEFL iBT / TOEIC L&R / IELTS academic score certificate
        - The test must have been taken within the past two years.
        - TOEFL ITP (Institutional Test Program), TOEIC IP (Institutional Program) and IELTS (General Training Module) are not acceptable.

    • Schedule

    April 2026 Application

    [Closed] The next call for applications is scheduled to begin in April 2027.
    2 April - 14 May, 2026 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    late May Distribution of the university admission guidelines ( General Selection )
    mid June Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    mid/late June Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for universyt application, if applicable)
    late June Interview at NIMS  *Result will be announced within a week.
    early July University application period
    late August University entrance exam at Kyushu University (Basically, it will be held in person)
    early September  Result announcement of the university exam
    early September

    early February/March  2027     		 - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship (for October 2026 entry)
    - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship  (for April 2027 entry)
    October 2026 or
    April 2027    		 University enrollment and Start of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistant employment

     

    September 2026 Application

    Application for April 2027 entry is now open. The application deadline is November 12, 2026.
    25 September - 12 November, 2026 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    early  November Distribution of the university admission guidelines ( General Selection )
    late November Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    early December Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications (for university application, if applicable)
    early - mid December Interview at NIMS    * Result will be announced within a week.
    early-mid January, 2027 University application period
    mid February niversity entrance exam at Kyushu University (Basically, it will be held in person)　
    early March - Result announcement of the university exam
    - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    April 2027 University enrollment and Start of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistant employment