The National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan announces the opening of applications for the 2025 Research Internship Program, which aims to provide undergraduate and graduate students with practical experience in the field of materials science through participation in cutting-edge research projects using world-class facilities.
This program is a unique opportunity to explore an international research environment that brings together researchers and students from all over the world. Since its launch in 2006, NIMS has welcomed about 100 students each year from more than 60 countries, with the total number of participants exceeding 2,000 students to date.
Program Details
- Host Institution: National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan
- Target Group: Undergraduate and graduate students (Master’s/PhD) from Japanese and international universities
- Internship Duration: Up to 90 consecutive days (from October 2025 until March 31, 2026)
- Application Deadline: Friday, August 29, 2025
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be currently enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students for the entire internship period.
- The program does not guarantee acceptance of all applicants nor the provision of financial support to everyone.
- Students receiving Japanese government-funded scholarships (such as MEXT, JSPS, or JST) must confirm compatibility of their scholarships with this program.
- For internship requests exceeding 90 days, applicants must contact the host researcher at NIMS directly.
Funding & Benefits
- Financial support includes: a daily allowance and subsidized accommodation.
- Supervised research training under experienced specialists.
- The opportunity to join an international research network of students and researchers from various countries.
- Access to advanced research facilities and participation in pioneering projects in materials science.
- A multicultural environment that enriches both academic and practical experience.
Application Procedures
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Search for a host researcher
- Applicants must first identify a suitable host researcher through the NIMS Researchers Directory “SAMURAI”.
- It is strictly prohibited to contact multiple researchers simultaneously
- Certain positions, such as ICYS Research Fellow or NIMS Postdoctoral Researcher, are not eligible to host interns.
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Direct communication with the host researcher
- Applicants must send the required documents via email to the researcher they wish to work with.
- After reviewing the documents, the researcher may request a reference letter from the applicant’s academic supervisor.
- If the researcher agrees to host the applicant, they will submit the application to the Academic Collaboration Office at NIMS.
- Applicants will then be notified of the result and discuss the internship start and end dates with the host researcher.
Required Documents
Applicants must send the following documents to their NIMS host researcher via email:
- NIMS Internship Program Application Form (in English).
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English.
- Recent certificate of enrollment/registration (in English, issued within the last 3 months; scanned copy acceptable).
- Note: A diploma or master’s degree certificate is not considered sufficient.
- Note: A diploma or master’s degree certificate is not considered sufficient.
- Official academic transcript(s) (in English, scanned copy acceptable).
- Only officially issued transcripts are accepted.
- Master’s and doctoral students must submit both undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- Only officially issued transcripts are accepted.
