National Institute of Genetics (NIG)/ Genetics Program, SOKENDAI offers a research internship program for undergraduate and postgraduate students who wish to gain research experience in genetics and related fields in life sciences. Interns will conduct independent research under the mentorship of a host investigator at NIG.

At the end of the program, interns will give a presentation on their experience at the “NIGINTERN Reports Symposium”. NIG will issue a certificate to those who have successfully completed the program. Interns can also participate in various activities such as graduate program lectures, journal clubs, and seminars by outstanding researchers from inside and outside NIG. Japanese language classes are also provided.

Who can apply?

Applicants must be interested in life sciences and be in the prefinal-year at the time of application, i.e.  in the 4th year of a 5-year program, in the 1st year of a 2-year master’s program.

·         The selection is highly competitive. 9 highly-qualified students out of over 740 applications were selected for 2023. The number of successful applicants varies from year to year.

How to apply?

Please read the “Application guideline” below https://www.nig.ac.jp/jimu/soken/intern/2024/application.html carefully and follow the instructions.

Requirement:

·            Letter of Motivation / Self advertisement

Within 500 English words

·            Curriculum Vitae

In English. Includes education records starting from high school. Be sure to indicate your current academic year.

·            Scanned Academic Transcript

Submit a latest undergraduate or postgraduate transcript that you can obtain. Please scan it and then upload. In case your Academic Transcript is prepared in languages other than English, attach an English or a Japanese translation to each document. Please combine them into a single file when you upload multiple documents on the online application system.

·            Two recommendation letters of your teachers

Must be entered by your recommenders through the recommender page of the online application system.

The online application system opens on November 27, 2023 and closes at noon on January 9, 2024 (Japan standard time, JST).

Financial Support

NIG will cover a round-trip airfare between the intern’s place of residence (location of school) and Japan, a round-trip transportation fare between the airport in Japan and NIG, accommodation fees at the institute's guesthouse, and travel insurance during the program. Living and miscellaneous expenses other than the above will not be provided by NIG and the interns must pay these costs by themselves.

Internship Period: June 13– July 24, 2024

You can find more detailed information at the following link: https://www.nig.ac.jp/jimu/soken/intern/2024/index.html.