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/master’s students who aspire 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.
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 one of the following 3 graduate programs at University of Tsukuba is a prerequisite for this assistantship. NIMS Junior Researchers are expected to have sufficient research capability to be involved in the research activities.
* Employment is contingent upon the student’s active enrollment in a graduate program, without a 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. * No part-time jobs are permitted during the Graduate Research Assistantship. Please see FAQ on the NIMS Student Program website for the details. |
| Contract | The contract is for one year and may be renewed annually, up to three years for doctoral student and two years for master’s student. It will be terminated if you fail to engage in activities as an NIMS Junior Researcher, or withdraws from the program. |
| Probation Period | 3 months |
| Monthly Stipend |
It will be determined based on the candidate’s evaluation and the actual number of working days.
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| Start-up Support System | The Start-up Support Grant of 300,000 JPY will be provided to newly hired NIMS Junior Researchers in addition to the salary at the first payday. The amount is almost equivalent to 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 by email to NIMS Graduate Program Group ( nims-graduate@nims.go.jp ), with a subject line of [Tsukuba-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.
- If you write more than one name as prospective supervisor, please list up the professor names in order of preference.
- The 15th item (travel grant) on the application form does not apply to NIMS Junior applicants for the University of Tsukuba (Materials Innovation)- 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
Subprogram in Materials Science and Engineering (Doctoral students), Materials Science and Engineering Class (Master's students)
A: April 2025 application
Applications are closed. Applications for April 2027 entry will be open on April 2026. Schedule below is for 2025 version as your reference.
| 1 April - 29 May , 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Mid-April, 2025 | Announcement of the university application guidelines |
| mid-late June, 2025 | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| July9-22, 2025 | University application period |
| August 20-21, 2025 | University entrance exam at University of Tsukuba |
| September 11, 2025 | - Result announcement of the university exam | September, 2025 February, 2026 |
- Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship (for partial) - Final Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship (for all) |
| April 2026 | University enrollment and Start of the employment |
B: September 2025 Application
Applications for April/October 2026 entry will be open on September 2025.
| 1 September - 23 October, 2025 |
Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Late November, 2025 | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| 1-11 December, 2025 | University application period |
| 27-28 January, 2026 | University entrance exam at University of Tsukuba |
| 13 February, 2026 | - Result announcement of the university exam - Final result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| April 2026 or October 2026 | University enrollment and Start of the employment |
Materials Innovation (Master's and Doctoral students)
C: March 2025 Application (MI)
Applications are closed.
March 2026 selection round for the October 2026 / April 2027 entry will be open on March 2026.
| 3 March – 22 April 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| Mid-April, 2025 | Announcement of the university application guidelines |
| beginning of May, 2025 | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| 23 May - 3 June, 2025 | University application period |
| 26 June 2025 | NIMS Internal Exam ( NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship interview) (Result will be announced within a week.) |
| 3-8 July, 2025 | University entrance examination |
| 18 July, 2025 | - Result announcement of the university exam - Final result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| April 2026 | University enrollment and Start of the employment as a NIMS Junior Researcher |
D: July 2025 Application
<OPEN> Application for April / October 2026 entry is open. Application deadline is on August 20.
| 1 July – 20 August 2025 | Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
|---|---|
| beginning of September, 2025 | Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| 1-11 September 2025 | University application period |
| late September 2025 | NIMS Internal Exam (NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship interview) (Result will be announced within a week.) |
| 14-16 October 2025 | University entrance examination |
| 31 October, 2025 | - Result announcement of the university exam - Final result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship |
| April 2026 or October 2026 |
University enrollment and Start of the employment as a NIMS Junior Researcher |