OIST Internship Program 2024 in Japan | Fully Funded. Students enrolled in undergraduate or Masters’s programs in universities, colleges, junior colleges, and vocational schools in Japan or overseas, or recent graduates of such institutions.
Table of Contents
OIST will provide an internship allowance (JPY 2,400 per working day), a commuting allowance, a round-trip air ticket, and accommodation.
OIST Research Internship Program Description
The OIST Graduate School offers education and research opportunities through our Research Intern program in STEM fields. The duration of the internship is typically from 2 to 6 months. These short-term placements give 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.
Internships may begin and end at any time during the year, with two application periods. For details about the application process and deadlines, please see the section “Apply to Research Internship.”
Availability of Faculty & Project for Hosting Research Internship Program
Please note: Acceptance to any research unit at OIST is at the discretion of the faculty. For each application round only a limited number of interns will be admitted. Not all available faculty will be able to accept an intern. Projects listed below are subject to change. OIST Faculty will assign work to research interns as appropriate, in discussion with each intern.
| Professor | Unit Name | Starting between October 2023 to March 2024 | Starting between April 2024 to September 2024 | Faculty Research Interests and Project Information Click here for more information on Research Activities at OIST. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ugur Abdulla | Analysis and Partial Differential Equations Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | The aim of the Analysis and Partial Differential Equations (PDE) unit is to reveal and analyze the mathematical principles reflecting natural phenomena expressed by partial differential equations. Research focuses on fundamental analysis of PDEs, regularity theory of elliptic and parabolic PDEs, with special emphasis on the regularity of finite boundary points and the point at ∞, its measure-theoretical, probabilistic and topological characterization, well-posedness of PDE problems in domains with non-smooth and non-compact boundaries, global uniqueness, analysis and classification of singularities, asymptotic laws for diffusion processes, regularity theory of nonlinear degenerate and singular elliptic and parabolic PDEs, free boundary problems, optimal control of free boundary systems with distributed parameters. Current areas of interest include Potential Theory, Harmonic Analysis, Probability Theory, Calculus of Variations and Optimal Control, Optimization, Mathematical Biosciences and Quantum Biology. Some of the current research projects in Applied Mathematics include laser ablation of biomedical tissues; preventing aerodynamic stall by in-flight ice accretion in the aerospace industry; cancer detection through Electrical Impedance Tomography and optimal control theory; identification of parameters in large-scale models of systems biology; optimal control of reactive oxygen species in quantum biology. |
| David Armitage | Integrative Community Ecology Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Our unit studies ecological and evolutionary processes at population, community, and ecosystem scales. Potential projects could include field, lab, or modeling studies of biotic interaction, community-ecosystem linkages, species coexistence, community assembly, landscape genetics, plant-microbe interactions, and experimental evolution. |
| Mahesh Bandi | Nonlinear and Non-equilibrium Physics Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Our group works in experimental nonlinear, non-equilibrium, and soft matter physics, broadly defined. We currently focus on four strongly overlapping themes: (1) Statistical Hydrodynamics, (2) Mechanics of Disordered Media, (3) Fluctuations in Renewable Energy, and (4) Quantitative Life Sciences. There are several projects for an interested intern in all these four themes. |
| Thomas Bourguignon | Evolutionary Genomics Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | The topic of the project will be determined according to the research interest of the intern. Examples of research projects are: comparative genomics of termites, coevolution between termites and the intracellular parasites Wolbachia and Cardinium, coevolution between termites and their gut prokaryotes. |
| Thomas Busch | Quantum Systems | 3 positions maximum | 3 positions maximum | Projects of theoretical nature in the area of ultra cold atoms, quantum information and quantum engineering. Students should have a background in physics and during their time with us will get an overview of the current state of the area, and do analytical or numerical work on a project related to a currently ongoing research project, depending on their interest. |
| Pinaki Chakraborty | Fluid Mechanics Unit (Unit Video) | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Projects in turbulent flows in many applications. |
| Carlos Cid | Applied Cryptography Unit | No availability | No availability | My main interest and area of expertise is cryptography. I lead the “applied cryptography unit”, which investigates the design and analysis of modern cryptographic primitives and schemes used to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data – at rest, being communicated or computed upon – both in the classical and the quantum settings. Specific areas of interest include the algebraic cryptanalysis of symmetric and asymmetric key algorithms, design and analysis of primitives for privacy-preserving cryptographic mechanisms (eg secure computation schemes), as well as the design and analysis of quantum-safe cryptographic constructions. Another area of interest is cyber-economics: the intersection between cyber security / cryptography and economics. |
| Keshav Dani | Femtosecond Spectroscopy Unit | 3 positions maximum | 3 positions maximum | Projects available in two-dimensional materials and energy materials using techniques in ultrafast spectroscopy, photoemission spectroscopy and computational data analysis (e.g. using Matlab). Students with a prior background in these fields will be competitive. |
| Erik De Schutter | Computational Neuroscience Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | We use computational, data-driven methods to study how neurons and microcircuits in the brain operate. We are interested in the interaction between fundamental properties like morphology or excitability and neural functions like information processing or learning. Most of our models are about the cerebellum or hippocampus because they have been studied extensively, allowing for detailed modeling at many different levels of complexity. More recently our focus shifted to nanoscale modeling of neurons, astrocytes and synapses. |
| Ulf Dieckmann | Complexity Science and Evolution Unit | 3 positions maximum | 3 positions maximum | We welcome interns enthusiastic about getting to know research in complexity science and evolution, including links with theoretical physics, applied mathematics, computer science, ecology, socio-economics, and game theory. Projects can be co-designed according to mutual interests in the following research areas and beyond:Social dilemmas and governance of common goodsBiodiversity dynamics and speciationSustainable fisheries management and fishing-induced evolutionSystemic risk and network dynamicsEvolutionary community ecology and eco-evolutionary vegetation dynamicsAdaptive dynamics theory and modelsSimplifying spatial complexityDisease ecology and evolution |
| Kenji Doya | Neural Computation Unit (Unit Video) | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Projects in computational neuroscience and brain-inspired artificial intelligence. |
| Evan Economo | Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit (Unit Video) | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Projects are related to evolution, ecology, biodiversity: population genetics, morphological evolution, biogeography, 3D imaging and modeling, community ecology of ants. |
| Artur Ekert | Quantum Information Security Unit | No availability | No availability | |
| David Elkouss | Networked Quantum Devices Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Looking for enthusiastic students from computer science, mathematics, and physics. The projects can be in different areas of theoretical quantum computer science such as quantum cryptography, quantum error correction, or quantum information theory. Projects will be part of our larger research agenda and can be part of collaborations with experimental groups. |
| Dmitry Feichtner-Kozlov | Applied Topology Unit | No availability | No availability | |
| Yejun Feng | Electronic and Quantum Magnetism Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Along the direction of materials development of single crystal quantum magnets, I will have several intern positions available for the next two years (AY2023 and AY2024). |
| Eliot Fried | Mathematics, Mechanics and Materials Unit | No availability | No availability | Theory, simulation, and simple experiments focused on physical and biological processes with interesting geometrical or topological features, including the formation of holes during the growth of the “Swiss cheese plant” (genus monstera), the water driven erosion of stone, the formation of ridges and cracks on the bark of growing trees, and the healing of punctured soap films. |
| Tom Froese | Embodied Cognitive Science Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | swarm robotics to study the self-organization of social complexity; human-computer interaction studies to investigate how digital technology becomes incorporated into our behavior; EEG hyperscanning experiments to study the neural underpinnings of social interaction; sensory substitution studies to investigate the dynamics of perceptual learning. |
| Tomoki Fukai | Neural Coding and Brain Computing Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | computational neuroscience models of cognitive function.mathematical/biological mechanisms of learning.analysis of neural activity data for exploring neural code. |
| Izumi Fukunaga | Sensory and Behavioral Neuroscience Unit | No availability | No availability | |
| Gustavo Gioia | Continuum Physics Unit | No availability | No availability | Mechanics of solids and fluids |
| Yukiko Goda | Synapse Biology Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Projects are available to studyThe organization and signaling of astrocytes that shape synaptic circuit functionMechanisms that implement synapse homeostasis |
| Igor Goryanin | Biological Systems Unit | No availability | No availability | See unit website for details. |
| Shinobu Hikami | Mathematical and Theoretical Physics Unit | No availability | No availability | Random matrix theory, conformal bootstrap method, modular form and knot polynomials. |
| Philipp Höhn | Qubits and Spacetime Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Research on quantum reference frames, relational quantum dynamics, edge modes in gauge theory and gravity, finite region thermodynamics, interplay of quantum correlations and geometry (see website for more details on unit’s research). |
| Filip Husnik | Evolution, Cell Biology, and Symbiosis Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Projects related to genomics and evolutionary cell biology of diverse symbioses (in deep sea protists, insects, corals, etc.) are available depending on interests of the intern. Please see our unit website for details [https://groups.oist.jp/ecbsu/members] |
| Hiroki Ishikawa | Immune Signalling Unit | No availability | No availability | Identification and analysis of key regulators of immune responses that are relevant to various diseases. |
| Ryota Kabe | Organic Optoelectronics Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Development of organic glow-in-the-dark systems including organic synthesis and optical measurements. |
| Julia Khusnutdinova | Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Organometallic chemistry, homogeneous catalysis, stimuli-responsive polymers containing coordination compounds. |
| Hiroaki Kitano | Integrated Open Systems Unit | No availability | No availability | My unit will focus on general areas of AI for Scientific Discovery, Aging, and Microbiome. |
| Tomomi Kiyomitsu | Cell Division Dynamics Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | See unit website (https://groups.oist.jp/cddu) for details. In addition, we have several unpublished results and potentially interesting projects. Please contact Tomomi Kiyomitsu if you are interested. |
| Fyodor Kondrashov | Evolutionary and Synthetic Biology Unit | 3 positions maximum | 3 positions maximum | All students are encouraged to design and create their own project, or choose among many in the lab. We are interested in the study of fitness landscapes, marine, fungal and avian genomics, population genetics, conservation biology, bioinformatics and synthetic biology. |
| Keiko Kono | Membranology Unit | No availability | No availability | See unit website for details. |
| Denis Konstantinov | Quantum Dynamics Unit | 1 position maximum | 2 positions maximum | Experimental projects related to quantum state detection in electrons on superfluid helium for quantum computing applications. |
| Bernd Kuhn | Optical Neuroimaging | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Project involves training in animal surgery, in vivo two-photon imaging, and/or data analysis dependent on the interest and background of the applicant. Applicants who might want to join the OIST Graduate Program in the field of Neuroscience are specifically encouraged to apply. |
| Akihiro Kusumi | Membrane Cooperativity | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | See unit website for details. |
| Vincent Laudet | Marine Eco-Evo-Devo Unit | No availability | 1 position maximum | |
| Paola Laurino | Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Different projects on enzymes evolution and design, e.g. protein engineering for biocatalysis or reconstruction of ancient folds. Requires some experience in organic chemistry or molecular biology or biochemistry. |
| Qing Liu | Geometric Partial Differential Equations Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | We adopt the viscosity solution theory and other related methods to study nonlinear partial differential equations such as surface evolution equations, Hamilton-Jacobi equations, p-Laplace equations for applications in optimal control, game theory, image processing and so on. We also have research projects on differential equations in general metric spaces in connection with topics in optimal transport and data science. |
| Christine Luscombe | pi-Conjugated Polymers Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Projects will be in the general area of semiconducting polymer synthesis and their applications. Please refer to unit website (https://groups.oist.jp/picpu) for more details. |
| Nicholas Luscombe | Genomics and Regulatory Systems Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | See unit website for details. |
| Ichiro Masai | Developmental Neurobiology | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Our unit have investigated molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate cell differentiation and organogenesis during development, using zebrafish as an animal model. Four research projects below are ongoing.Mechanisms that regulate retinal neurogenesis and neural circuit formationMechanisms that regulate retinal cell death including photoreceptor degenerationMechanisms that regulate lens fiber differentiationMechanisms that regulate social behavior in zebrafish |
| Franz Meitinger | Cell Proliferation and Gene Editing Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | The Cell Proliferation and Gene Editing Unit aims to understand molecular mechanisms of cell division and mitotic quality control in normal and cancer cells to determine tumor-suppressive mechanisms and cancer-specific vulnerabilities that can be exploited in chemotherapeutic approaches (https://groups.oist.jp/cellpro). Current Projects:Investigating the consequences of mitotic memory on cancer cell proliferation.Pan-cancer studies to identify cancer-specific vulnerabilities using genetic screens. |
| Jonathan Miller | Physics and Biology | No availability | No availability | Machine learning: Squid camouflage and genomics. |
| Satoshi Mitarai | Marine Biophysics | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | The Marine Biophysics Unit (MBU) investigates biophysical coupling in the ocean at varying spatial scales, from micrometers for microbes to thousands of kilometers for biogeographic events, by incorporating physical, mathematical, and biological approaches. The MBU supports students with a variety of backgrounds; however, fluid dynamics and physical oceanography are fundamental to all of the Unit’s research. In particular, MBU welcomes students who are interested in employing physical and mathematical approaches to understand marine ecological systems. |
| Gene Myers | Algorithms for Eco And Evo Genomics Unit | No availability | No availability | |
| Akimitsu Narita | Organic and Carbon Nanomaterials Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Projects involve organic synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and completion of organic chemistry lab courses or equivalent experiences are required. |
| Yasha Neiman | Quantum Gravity | TBD | TBD | See unit website for details of the group’s research. |
| Kae Nemoto | Quantum Information Science and Technology Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Projects are available in the following fields:Quantum computation (applications and hardware design)Quantum devicesQuantum communicationsQuantum complex systems |
| Síle Nic Chormaic | Light-Matter Interactions For Quantum Technologies Unit | 3 positions maximum | 3 positions maximum | Experimental work (with some simulations) in cold atoms, Rydberg atoms, laser cooling, atomic spectroscopy, optical nanofibre mode propagation, optical trapping of submicron particles, nonlinear optics in whispering gallery resonators. The work is usually mainly experimental and preference given to students who can commit to longer internships (more than 3 months). |
| Yoshinori Okada | Quantum Materials Science | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Epitaxial thin film growth of quantum materials. |
| Gerardo Pao Chan | Biological Nonlinear Dynamics Data Science Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Our unit uses data science based on nonlinear dynamics to discover the intrinsic geometry of data to infer causal relationships that we test with wet lab experiments whenever possible. We work primarily in the areas of systems neuroscience and gene expression/epigenetics. Secondarily we also work on pluripotent stem cells, virology, ecology, climate change. In addition we work on cephalopod specific behavior and molecular biology. Internship projects can be wet or dry lab. Projects are mainly centered but not limited to the following topics:Zebrafish larvae systems neuroscience at single neuron resolutionNovel causal inference and dimensionality reduction algorithm developmentCausal inference for single cell data and experimental verificationDownloading brains into computers or robotsCepaholopod reflectin proteins for optical applicationsCephalopod behavior and molecular biologyIdemtification of early warning signals for catastrophesCharacterization of low dimensional manifolds through live imaging |
| Svante Pääbo | Human Evolutionary Genomics Unit | No availability | No availability | |
| Simone Pigolotti | Biological Complexity Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Our main research activity is in theoretical and computational modeling of biophysical systems, ranging from stochastic molecular kinetics to population dynamics. Projects in non-equilibrium statistical physics and stochastic thermodynamics are also available. Candidates with background in these areas and interested in medium to long stays (i.e. more than three months) will be given preference. |
| Yabing Qi | Energy Materials and Surface Sciences Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Research projects related to energy materials and surface sciences. |
| Timothy Ravasi | Marine Climate Change Unit | No availability | No availability | Effect of Climate Change on Coral Reef fish communities. |
| Sam Reiter | Computational Neuroethology Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Cephalopod neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and behavior |
| Daniel Rokhsar | Molecular Genetics Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | My Unit is currently working on diverse projects related to the evolution of cephalopod and other genomes, neuronal cell types in cephalopods, and RNA editing in these species. We also have a long-standing interest in the diversity of Ryukyuan and other citrus species. |
| Marco Edoardo Rosti | Complex Fluids and Flows Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Numerical simulations of laminar and turbulent complex flows. |
| Lauren Sallan | Marine Macroevolution Unit | 3 positions maximum | 3 positions maximum | The Marine Macroevolution Unit investigates how marine biodiversity evolved on timescales outside human observation using approaches from fields such as phylogenetics, biomechanics, comparative anatomy, community ecology, modeling, and large-scale data analysis. Potential project topics include, but are not limited to, the effects of mass extinction and global environmental change, the diversification of fish and early vertebrate groups, the origins of key ecological traits, species interactions and coevolution, fossil description and phylogenetic placement, and the evolution of fish functional morphology. Projects will be assigned based on intern interest. |
| Noriyuki Satoh | Marine Genomics Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | |
| Hidetoshi Saze | Plant Epigenetics Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Projects in epigenome analysis of plant genomes. |
| Nic Shannon | Theory of Quantum Matter Unit | No availability | No availability | Many different projects are available within the broad area of the theory of quantum matter (including statistical physics, machine learning and some aspects of quantum computing). Details of project will be developed together with individual students, depending on their interests and experience. |
| Amy Shen | Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit (Unit Video) | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Both 3D printing and micro/nano-fabrication have the potential to revolutionize the way we create and use structures and devices. However, they are used for different purposes and have different capabilities. 3D printing is used to create large structures and devices, while micro/nano-fabrication is used to create small, precise structures and devices. The internship project will be focused on developing micro/nanofabrication protocols to make pillar structures, and eventually integrate these structures inside a microfluidic device. |
| Tsumoru Shintake | Quantum Wave Microscopy Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Crystal structure analysis (CdTe, exotic materials) using holography on high resolution Electron Microscope, collaboration with Siemens.OIST invention 3D crystal precession Cryo-TEM for Drug discovery, collaboration with Osaka University.OIST invention the laser interferometric particle detection, R&D for nano-impurity in silicon process, and virus in airways.OIST invention the telecentric optical microscope R&D for biology and nano-fab wafer alignment in optical lithography.R&D on therapeutic EtOH inhalation treatment for infection prevention and cure on Influenza and SARS-CoV-2, collaboration with Ishikawa-Unit.Ocean wave renewable energy R&D collaboration with YAMAHA Motor Co. Japan. |
| Liron Speyer | Representation Theory and Algebraic Combinatorics Unit | No availability | No availability | Projects in group theory/combinatorics. |
| Greg Stephens | Biological Physics Theory Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | See https://groups.oist.jp/bptu for an overview of our current interests and publications. Available projects include theoretical work in dynamical systems and information theory, especially using operator approaches to construct slowly-varying collective states, as well as quantitative approaches to behavior including social interactions in squid and zebrafish, and the colony dynamics of honeybees. |
| Hiroki Takahashi | Experimental Quantum Information Physics Unit | 3 positions maximum | 3 positions maximum | Experimental work concerning ion trapping and/or laser physics, or spins in diamonds. Potential research projects are,Design, fabrication, and testing of a novel ion trapIntegration of a micro optical resonator in an ion trapUltra-narrow linewidth laser and its application to spectroscopyCoupling a spin in diamond to an optical cavity |
| Tomoyuki Takahashi | Cellular and Molecular Synaptic Function Unit | 1 position maximum | No availability | Functional studies on synaptic dysfunctions in human iPSC-derived neuronal culture models, using imaging and electrophysiological techniques.Proteomic-based studies of synaptic proteins regarding their brain regional differences and differences between diseased and healthy humans. |
| Fujie Tanaka | Chemistry and Chemical Bioengineering Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Projects in synthetic organic chemistry related to the development of chemical transformation methods, the development of organocatalysts, and the synthesis of functionalized molecules. |
| Kazumasa Tanaka | Memory Research Unit | No availability | 1 position maximum | The Memory Research Unit aims to understand how memories are stored and used in the mammalian brain. Towards this goal, we combine genetic interventions, including optogenetic manipulation of neuronal activity, and electrophysiology/calcium imaging in freely moving mice. Successful applicants will learn one or more of these approaches and conduct a small research project. See unit website for details. |
| Jun Tani | Cognitive Neurorobotics Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Free energy priciple and active inference framework applied to cognitive neurorobotics. |
| Marco Terenzio | Molecular Neuroscience Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | |
| Emile Touber | Shocks, Solitons and Turbulence Unit | No availability | No availability | See unit website |
| Reiko Toriumi | Gravity, Quantum Geometry and Field Theory Unit | No availability | No availability | The available potential projects are related to random geometry (e.g., random tensors). The tools useful may be topology, combinatorics, quantum/statistical field theories, critical phenomena, renormalisation group (perturbative and non-perturbative). |
| Gail Tripp | Human Developmental Neurobiology Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Our unit conducts research on the nature and causes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We are currently conducting studies on: reinforcement sensitivity (reward and punishment), including emotional reactivity, in children with and without ADHD; structural and pragmatic language skills in ADHD; social functioning in children with ADHD; and a range of parenting programs to manage ADHD. The lab also has the ability to undertake research on neuropsychological functioning in children with and without ADHD. |
| Jason Twamley | Quantum Machines Unit | 3 positions maximum | 3 positions maximum | In the Quantum Machines Unit we focus on developing devices that use quantum mechanics which have the potential to be useful. Such machines include developing precision sensors, through to protocols and devices to help quantum information processing e.g. quantum memories etc. Such machines can involve many different physical phenomena including optomechanics e.g. the interaction of light and moving mechanical objects, optofluidics – the interaction of light with the mechanical motion of fluids, magneto-mechanics – the control of mechanical system by magnetic forces, and quantum version of these. The unit does research on all of these topics both theory and experiment and this can involve developing interesting control and analysis strategies which can sometimes require sophisticated levels of control e.g. machine learning – both in theory and experiment. |
| Marylka Yoe Uusisaari | Neuronal Rhythms in Movement Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Projects involve kinematic analysis of rodent behavior, establishing metrics for measuring social activity and wellbeing using vocalization analysis, 3d image processing and reconstruction. |
| Hiroshi Watanabe | Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | |
| Jeff Wickens | Neurobiology Research Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Focussed ultrasound effects on the brain.Mouse behavior in virtual reality. |
| Matthias Wolf | Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | Cryo-electron microscopy |
| Yamada Makoto | Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS) Unit | 3 position maximum | 3 position maximum | Projects in machine learning and data science. Interns will work on developing machine learning algorithms and applying them to real-world problems. After the internship period, we aim to submit the intern work to top machine learning venues. The following papers are written by recent interns:GraphLIME: Local Interpretable Model Explanations for Graph Neural Networks, TKDE 2022Feature Robust Optimal Transport for High-dimensional Data, ECML 2022Post-selection inference with HSIC-Lasso, ICML 2021Semantic Correspondence as an Optimal Transport Problem, CVPR 2020More Powerful Selective Kernel Tests for Feature Selection, AISTATS 2020 |
| Tadashi Yamamoto | Cell Signalling Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | NA biology: functional and structural analyses of RNA metabolizing proteinsSignal transduction-based cancer biology |
| Yoko Yazaki-Sugiyama | Neuronal Mechanisms for the Critical Period Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | We are trying to understand how neuronal circuits are shaped and modified to have specific funcrtions over development by using bird song learning models. We have been using, electrophysiology, anatomy, optogenetics and viral tools as our major gears. Besides, we are developing more genetical tools such as in situ and RNAseq. |
| Yohei Yokobayashi | Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Engineering Unit | 2 positions maximum | 2 positions maximum | Experimental projects on functional nucleic acids that function in cells (mammalian, bacterial), or purely chemical systems (test tubes, artificial cells). Requires some experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, or synthetic chemistry experiments. Some projects may require basic programming skills (e.g. Python) to analyze large sequencing datasets. |
| Yutaka Yoshida | Neural Circuit Unit | 1 position maximum | 1 position maximum | We study neural circuits to control motor behaviors using a variety of techniques such as molecular biology, mouse genetics, optogenetics, behavioral assays, Ca imaging, electrophysiology, and others. |
| Xiaodan Zhou | Analysis on Metric Spaces Unit | 1 position maximum | 2 positions maximum | Projects related to various notions of convexity and geometric inequalities in the Heisenberg group; Geometric function theory and equations in metric measure spaces |
Support
OIST will provide the following support for successful applicants.
Internship Allowance
- JPY 2,400 per working day (Non-taxable and weekends excluded)
Commuting Allowance
- OIST Shuttle Bus Pass
Travel Expenses
- One direct round-trip air ticket (travel date will be closest date to the term of placement)
Accommodation
- Furnished apartment on or off campus
Support
OIST will also assist in visa acquisition, insurance procedures, and local registration. This will only be provided for the student. Therefore, this does not pertain to the dependents and family members of the student.
Regulations
Applicants who intend to import biological or hazardous material for their research are urged to insure that such import is in compliance with all regulations of their home country, any country of transit, and of Japan, and to complete all necessary paperwork for importation well ahead of time.
Detailed regulations pertaining to matters of payment, intellectual property rights, attendance, health and safety, and other matters have been drawn up and will be made available to successful applicants.
Deadline: October 15th, 2023.
Download OIST Research Internship program flyer.
FAQs
1. Is it possible to do research in my area of interest at OIST?
This table lists information about research units and their projects available for interns. Additionally, you can learn about more of the research going on at OIST here. Please have a look and see if there is anything suitable to your interests. As we continue to grow new areas of focus will be added, but main fields represented at OIST are in the areas of science and technology.
2. I don’t have an official transcript since I have not graduated yet. Can I submit a different document?
For students who have not yet graduated, we are able to accept an unofficial transcript or other official university document showing your courses and grades.
3. Must the recommendation letter be from my current supervisor?
We accept recommendation letters from any supervisor/ professor who is familiar with your work and your character. It is not required that the recommendation be from your current supervisor, but it is in your best interest to request a recommendation from someone who is able to comment on your abilities and potential relevant to research for your proposed internship.
4. Should I contact the unit and/or the professor that I am interested in applying?
Students are accepted to the OIST program and will go through lab matching process, therefore it is important to list the Faculty of Interest, but it is not necessary to contact faculty to get their approval or support prior to applying. In general, please consider the relevance of your message prior to contacting the faculty.
5. I don’t know how to enter my name in the form as the concept is different in my culture.
If you don’t know which are your family name/last name and given name/first name, that’s OK. Some countries don’t have that concept. So please enter “,” comma to the family name field and put all your name in the given name field.
6. There is a problem uploading my documents/ I am having technical problems with the application.
To minimize the chance of technical problems, please be sure to have all of the correct documents (as PDF files), your photo (as a JPEG file) and all text answers prepared in advance, and complete the application in one brief session. If your internet connection is not strong, it would be best to minimize the number of tabs open in your browser window(s) while completing the application.
7. I am having problems with submitting the application, and it is showing that there is an error.
A common reason for submission issues is the format of the entered e-mail address. Following are the most common causes of e-mail errors:
1. Space in front or end of the email
2. Invisible 4 byte unicode character inserted in the email address. This often happens when you copy and paste email address from other document files. Please clear the column and re-type the email address using the keyboard
3. Please also check your email address field too. You need to have both email addresses(yourself/referee) in correct format to avoid the error message.
8. I have submitted my application, but I would like to make some changes. What should I do?
You can no longer make any changes to the application once it is submitted, and you cannot withdraw it yourself. If you really must make some changes to your application, you may request us to reverse the status of your application to “In Progress” by submitting a Contact Us form. However, it is your responsibility to submit your application again before the deadline. Please take enough time to revise your application and make final submission. There are no advantages by submitting the application earlier.
9. I got accepted. What is the Enrollment Process?
If you receive an offer from the OIST Graduate School, please refer to this link for details. If you receive and offer directly from the hosting unit, visa application process would mostly be similar, but the unit will be in charge. In the case of Unit-funded internship, please communicate directly with the unit for arrangements.
10. Is it possible to change the dates of my internship if I am accepted?
Minor changes to timing of internships is to be expected, and does not present a problem. For accepted intern candidates, final steps include confirming dates with both the accepting faculty member and the intern. Major changes to internship dates are strongly discouraged and can lead to the cancellation of an internship offer. Please consider timing in advance and apply during the appropriate round for your dates.
11. There is no class rank system in my institution. Can I leave it blank?
Yes, leaving this field blank will not affect your application in any way, as we understand many universities do not share class rank information with students.