Independent Researcher

Independent Researcher is a younger researcher who can conduct its own research independently in the 3D system. (As of April 1, 2024; in Japanese order)

Independent Researcher

Only Young Researchers with Remarkable Research Results Can Become "Independent Researchers"

MANA hires young researchers who have produced outstanding research achievements as “MANA Independent Researchers”.

MANA uses the 3D System to train these future leaders, and as the title suggests, Independent Researchers are granted "independent" authority over their research. MANA provides these researchers with special support, providing them with an environment in which they can freely pursue independent research projects and opportunities to spend long periods of time at foreign research institutions as well as actively assisting them with interdisciplinary research and assigning them world-class researchers as mentors.

Independent Researchers do not merely receive support from MANA, they also actively approach companies and government institutions to secure external research subsidies and must manage their own research funding. In this way, the top-tier research environment at MANA creates research leaders for the world. It is no overstatement to say that Independent Researchers are the future of humankind.

What is “Independent” About Independent Researchers?

Independent Research Authority

Just as the name implies, researchers are given independent discretion over their research. In Japan, there are almost no other research institutes that give this much authority and discretion to researchers in their 30s or early 40s. Thanks to this authority, Independent Researchers can decide their own intention and take action related to their own research themes. With this as one way to speed up research, the number and quality of publications by Independent Researchers is increasing year after year. With researchers in charge of managing their own research, the quality of their research is also enhanced.

Independent Research Funding

Independent Researchers receive some funding from MANA, but not much. Independent Researchers must approach corporations and federal institutions on their own and take the initiative to acquire their own funding. In this way, they secure funding to enable them to conduct research freely and of their own accord. MANA proactively supports them in these endeavors, however, pulling in research funding from external sources is no easy task. That’s why the network of renowned researchers from all different fields and overseas research institutes that MANA can introduce to Independent Researchers is of great assistance.

Independent Actions

Meeting directly with the Researchers who set the world standard getting to know them personally and listening to what they have to say might just be the most stimulating thing there is for researchers with future potential. Since the activities of Independent Researchers are very free, it is possible for them to conduct research abroad when and for as long as they require. In order to step up onto the world stage, it is paramount to proactively engage diverse cultures and different fields so that one’s horizons can be expanded and one can grow, both as a scientist and as a person.

3D System

MANA has a unique human resource development system called the "3D System." This innovative training framework encourages young researchers at MANA to have one mentor within NIMS and another mentor outside NIMS, particularly overseas (Double-Mentor). It also supports their research across two distinct disciplines (Double-Discipline) and involvement with two research institutions (Double-Affiliation).This system, known as the "3D (Triple Double) System," aims to foster internationally and academically advanced researchers by promoting collaborative research with world-class researchers at overseas institutions and advancing interdisciplinary research.