NIMS Junior

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 the 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.


* This research assistantship is only available for Doctoral students. If you plan to apply for the Master's program, please find the scholarship information on the university website.

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 one of the following Doctoral program at Waseda Unviersity is a prerequisite for the assistantship. NIMS Junior Researchers are required to have sufficient research ability to be involved in the research.


＊ Applicants first have to pass the pre-screening and the interview. Only successful applicants can submit the Waseda University application. Please read through the university application guideline before you apply.

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

＊ 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 period is one year (renewable annually, for a maximum of three years). Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress or withdrawal from the program will result in the contract being terminated.
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

    • [important note]
    This is not a scholarship but an employment. Admission fee, tuition fee and miscellaneous fees must be paid on your own expenses during the enrollment procedure.
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 [Waseda-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 14th item (questions for Master's candidates) and 15th item (travel grant) on the application form do not apply to NIMS Junior applicants for this program. Please submit them without description.
  • Curriculum Vitae (No specific format required. You may use this format if necessary.)
  • Academic transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate
  • 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.

Schedule

2024-2025

1 July – 8 August, 2024 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
late August Document screening result announcement
late September Online interview by NIMS
24 October Closing date of the university application submission
* those with or expected to obtain a Master's degree outside Japan
5 December Closing date of the university application submission
** those with or expected to obtain a Master's degree from Japan
13 December Result announcements of the university exam and NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship selection
* those with or expected to obtain a Master's degree outside Japan
11 January, 2025 Waseda University entrance exam
** those with or expected to obtain a Master's degree from Japan
17 January Result announcements of the university exam and NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship selection
** those with or expected to obtain a Master's degree from Japan
April 2025 University admission and Start of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship employment