Are you a student or young researcher eager to experience world-class biomedical research in Japan? The RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) is now accepting applications for its prestigious 2026 Internship Program. This fully funded opportunity allows international students and postdoctoral fellows to immerse themselves in cutting-edge research, develop their skills, and contribute to innovative medical science in a top-tier Japanese institute.
About the RIKEN IMS Internship Program 2026
- Host Country: Japan
- Duration: 1 to 3 months
- Dates: Earliest start in April 2026, latest in January 2027 (application deadlines are rolling, but apply at least four months before your preferred start date)
- Benefits: Lodging, travel expenses, and daily allowance for students; lodging and travel expenses for postdocs
- Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but must be submitted at least four months before your intended start date
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Financial Benefits
- Category 1 (Students):
- Lodging allowance (up to 11,600 yen/day for the first 30 days, 10,440 yen/day for 31–60 days, 9,280 yen/day for 61+ days)
- Travel expenses covered
- Internship allowance of 3,000 yen per working day
- Category 2 (Young Postdocs, within 3 years of PhD):
- Lodging allowance (same as above)
- Travel expenses covered
- No daily allowance
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Program Theme
The RIKEN IMS Internship Program focuses on integrative medical sciences, blending fields such as genome-wide medical science, immunology, physiology, bioinformatics, and molecular, biochemical, and quantitative sciences. Interns will join one of the participating IMS laboratories, working on research topics that align with the host lab’s expertise and the intern’s academic interests.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: Open to international students and postdoctoral fellows
- Age: Not specified, but postdocs must be within three years of obtaining their PhD
- Background:
- Category 1: Students enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program, or medical students at a level equivalent to a Japanese Master’s student
- Category 2: Young postdoctoral researchers within three years of PhD completion
- Requirements:
- Must be enrolled in an academic institution during the internship
- Application materials must be in English
- Research proposal must fit the host laboratory’s scope
- Recommendation letter from supervisor (sent directly to RIKEN)
- Agreement and GDPR consent form (for EU/UK residents)
How to Apply for the RIKEN IMS Internship Program 2026
To apply, first identify a suitable host laboratory at RIKEN IMS and propose a research topic relevant to their work. Prepare your application documents (CV, research proposal, background, agreement form, and, if applicable, GDPR consent form) in English. Email your application to ims_intern_apply@ml.riken.jp at least four months before your desired start date. Your supervisor must send a recommendation letter directly to the same address. For full details and the list of participating labs, visit the official RIKEN IMS Internship Program website.
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