Graduate Research Assistant    

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 academically deserving students in fulfilling their academic objectives. Appointed Graduate Research Assistants will gain valuable hands-on experience by contributing to cutting-edge research projects, while being financially supported throughout their studies.

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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 the Doctoral programs of the NIMS - Yokohama National University joint Graduate Program is a prerequisite for the assistantship. The Graduate Research Assistants are required to have sufficient research ability to be involved in the research.

* The employment occurs when the students are enrolled in the graduate programs without 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. Please see the FAQ 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 salary 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 [Yokohama-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: Yokohama-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 (questions for Master's candidates) and 15th item (travel grant) on the application form do not apply to Graduate Research Assistant applicants. 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 score certificate
        The certificate must meet the following conditions.
        • - The result score from the exam taken within 2 years is valid.
        - IELTS Academic will be accepted for the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship application. However, the university only recognize TOEFL iBT / TOEIC L&R.
        - TOEFL ITP (Institutional Test Program), TOEIC IP (Institutional Program) and IELTS (General Training Module) are not acceptable.

    • Schedule

    March 2026 Application

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

    12 March, 2026 - 22 April, 2026 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    mid-April Distribution of the university admission guidelines
    late April - early May Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantshi
    mid-May Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualification at university
    mid-/ late- May Interview at NIMS * Result will be announced within a week.
    late May - early June University application period (online and postal delivery)
    mid-/late August University entrance exam at university
    early September Result announcement of the university exam
    early September

    early February 2026

    - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship

      (for October 2025 entry)
    - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship

     (for April 2026 entry) 
    October 2026 or
    April 2027    		 University enrollment and Start of the employment as a Graduate Research Assistant

     

    September 2026 Application

    Applications for the April 2027 intakes are now open.

    The application deadline is 20 October 2026.

    3 September - 20 October, 2026 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    mid-October Distribution of the university admission guidelines
    early November Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    mid-November Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications
    mid-/late November Interview at NIMS (may be arranged online)
    late November - early December University application period (online and postal delivery)
    mid-January, 2027 University entrance exam at university (may be arranged individually)
    early February - Result announcement of the university exam
    - Result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
    April 2027 University enrollment and Start of the employment as a Graduate Research Assistant