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 academically deserving 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.

Outline

Duties NIMS offers NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship to excellent students in the doctoral course of Materials Science and Engineering. The assistantship carries a monthly stipend to assist academically deserving 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.
Eligibility

Admission to the Doctoral programs of the NIMS - Yokohama National University joint Graduate Program is a prerequisite for the assistantship. NIMS Junior Researchers 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.

＊ 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 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
Insurance Coverage by 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 Groupnims-graduate@nims.go.jp by email, with a subject line of [Yokohama-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.

    - 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 ( Please be sure to use the designated Curriculum Vitae 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

 October 2025 / April 2026 Application

<OPEN>  Applications are now open for October 2025 / April 2026 entry. The application deadline is 1 May, 2025. 

* University Application guideline will be open mid-April.

 

2 April, 2025 - 1 May,  2025 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
mid-April, 2025 Distribution of the university admission guidelines
early May, 2025   
Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantshi
mid- May 
Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications
late May- early June  University application period (online and postal delivery)
mid-/late- August  Interview at NIMS (may be arranged online)
 mid-/late- August University entrance exam at university (may be arranged individually)
early September Result announcement of the university exam
early September 2025

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 2025 or
April 2026		 University enrollment and Start of the employment as NIMS Junior Researcher

 

April 2026 Application

Applications for April  2026 entry will be open on September 2025. Schedule below is for 2024 version as your reference.

* University Application guideline will be open mid- October.

 

18 September - 7 November, 2024 Application period of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
Mid October Distribution of the university admission guidelines
Mid November Pre-assessment of Applicants' Qualifications
Late November Document screening result announcement of the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
Late November - Early December University application period (online and postal delivery)
10 January, 2025 Interview at NIMS (may be arranged online)
Mid January 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 2025 University enrollment and Start of the employment as NIMS Junior Researcher