Graduate Research Assistant

NIMS offers a NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship to doctoral students who aspire to pursue careers in materials science research. This assistantship provides a monthly stipend to support students in achieving their academic objectives.  Appointed Graduate Research Assitants  will gain valuable hands-on experience by contributing to cutting-edge research projects, while being financially supported throughout their studies.


* This Research Assistantship is available exclusively to doctoral students. If you are planning to apply for a master's program, please refer to   the scholarship information provided on the university's website.

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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 Doctoral program at Waseda University is a prerequisite for this assistantship. Graduate Research Assistants are expected to have sufficient research capability to be involved in the research activities.


* Applicants must first pass a pre-screening process and an interview. Only those who are  successful in both stage will be eligible to  submit the Waseda University application. Please make sure to carefully review the university's application guideline before applying.

* Prospective supervisor must be the professor of the Waseda University - NIMS Joint Graduate Program.

* 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.
Contract The contract is for one year and may be renewed annually, up to a maximum of three years. It will be terminated if you withdraw from the program or fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Probation Period 3 months
Monthly Stipend

The stipend amount will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and the actual number of working days.

  • Doctoral student : approx. 200,000 JPY for 14 days work per month

    • IMPORTANT NOTE:
    This is not a scholarship but a form of employment. Accordingly, admission,  tuition,  and miscellaneous fees must be borne by the applicant during the enrollment process.
Start-up Support System

The Start-up Support Grant of 300,000 JPY will be provided to newly hired Graduate Research Assistants in addition to their salary at the first payday. The amount is almost equivalent to the entrance fees to the university.
Insurance Coverage Graduate Research Assistants will be covered by the 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 [Waseda-NIMS] Application as a 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: Waseda-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.
      • Curriculum Vitae ( Please be sure to use the designated Curriculum Vitae form.)
      • Academic transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate
      • Scanned copy of a valid TOEFL iBT / TOEIC L&R /IELTS Academic score certificate
        The certificate must meet the following conditions:

        - The test must have been taken within the past two years.

        - TOEFL ITP (Institutional Test Program), TOEIC IP (Institutional Program) and IELTS General Training certificates  are not acceptable.

    • Schedule

    January 2025 Application

    [Closed] The next call for applications is scheduled to begin in January 2027.

    7 January – 2 February, 2026 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    mid-late February Document screening result announcement
    late February -

    early March

    		 Online interview by NIMS (Result will be announced within a week.)
    10 - 26 March, 2026 Period for the university application submission
    * those who have, or are expected to obtain, a Master's degree outside Japan

    [ for reference ]

    8 - 24 April, 2025    		 Period for the university application submission
    ** those who have, or are expected to obtain, a Master's degree from Japan

    [ for reference ]

    7 June, 2025    		 Waseda University entrance exam
    ** those who have, or are expected to obtain, a Master's degree from Japan
    22 May, 2026

    Announcements of the university exam and NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship selection results
    ** those who have, or are expected to obtain, a Master's degree outside Japan

    [ for reference ]

    20 June 

    Announcements of the university exam and NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship selection results
    ** late June for those who have, or are expected to obtain, a Master's degree from Japan
    September 2026 University admission and Start of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship employment

    July 2026 Application

    [Closed] The next call for application is schedued to begin in July 2027.

    1 July –  6 August, 2026 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    late August Document screening result announcement
    mid September Online interview by NIMS
    10 October -23 October University application submission
    * those who have, or are expected to obtain, a Master's degree from outside Japan
    24 November -
    3 December    		 University application submission
    ** those who have, or are expected to obtain, a Master's degree from Japan
    12 December Announcements of the university exam and NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship selection results
    * those who have, or are expected to obtain, a Master's degree from outside Japan
    10 January, 2026 Waseda University entrance exam
    ** those who have, or are expected to obtain, a Master's degree from Japan
    15 January Announcement of the university entrance exam and NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship selection
    ** those who have, or are expected to obtain, a Master's degree from Japan
    April 2027 University admission and Start of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship employment