OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University) - Research Internship Program (sping 2025)

Short-term Research Internship Program gives students the opportunity to gain experience in a particular laboratory or to learn a specific technique. Interns will work under the direction of a Professor and contribute to the research activities of OIST.

Apply to Research Internship

Students in Bachelor and Master program or recently graduated interested in joining the OIST PhD program may undertake educational activity at OIST as a Research Intern. A research internship at OIST provides students with experience working in a research environment under the direction of OIST faculty.

Research Intern places are awarded twice a year on a competitive basis. Selection is highly competitive, and depends on suitability of the intended research, academic background, available funding and space. Not all available positions will necessarily be filled.

OIST strives to create and maintain an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment that does not discriminate against gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, medical condition, race, ethnicity, ancestry, culture, national origin, religion, or marital status. Applications from women and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

Application Procedure

1. Applications to the program must be made through the online form.
2. You can only submit your application after at least one recommendation letter is received in the application system.
3. You will receive an auto-notification that your application has been received. (Please check your settings to ensure you can receive emails from @oist.jp domain.)
4. Following the application period, applications will be screened and selection will be completed.
5. The result announcement will be posted on your application platform 3 months after the application deadline. You will receive a notification when the result is posted. (In some cases, applicants' email services/settings prevent receipt of our notifications. Please confirm that your inbox is able to receive emails from @oist.jp domain.)
6. Following final confirmation of internship offers, all necessary arrangements will be made, in cooperation with the interns. Your cooperation is required for timely completion of logistics to begin the internship, including possible visa preparations and other necessary Japanese government documentation.

Important dates for the Spring 2024 Internship

• Internship period - Between April 1st, 2025, – September 30th, 2025
• Application Deadline - October 15th, 2024, 23:59 (JST UTC+9)
• Result Announcement - Late December 2024

Message from the president

One of the goals for establishing the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), which started as a promotion corporation in 2005, is to advance science and technology in Japan and the rest of the world. We firmly believe that our students are integral to achieving this goal. Recruitment of the top international students and providing them with an educational and research environment in which they can flourish is one of our primary objectives as a university. The future of our university relies on the success of our students.

The OIST Graduate University offers an academic program that reflects the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of science. Throughout their PhD studies, students are exposed to the different fields of research in which our faculty have expertise. At OIST, we provide students with the opportunity to work side-by-side with world-class faculty in modern, well-equipped laboratories that supports our wide variety of scientific interests.

The diversity of our faculty, in both scientific background and nationality, provides a unique environment that fosters the creativity and individuality of students. Nearly half of all students, faculty and research staff come from outside of Japan. The location of Okinawa, equidistant from mainland Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines, is rapidly allowing us to become a hub for an international network of world-class scientists, as evidenced by our strong partnerships with leading universities and research institutions worldwide.

The university offers an internationally competitive stipend package as well as on-campus student housing. Our small, highly competitive student intake allows us to select the very best students in their fields who will thrive in an atmosphere of discovery and innovation.

I hope to be working with you at OIST.

Peter Gruss

President, OIST