IMS Internship Program

IMS Internship Grants

Call for FY2026

RIKEN IMS is currently accepting applications for the FY2026 RIKEN IMS Internship Program, from talented students/postdoctoral fellows who would like to experience RIKEN's research activities.

Program Description

The RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences was established in 2013 with the aims of creating innovative medical science and contributing to the future of human health. To accomplish these goals, IMS applies interdisciplinary approaches to create a new research area of integrative medical sciences, which includes genome-wide medical science, immunology and physiology, bioinformatics, and molecular, biochemical and quantitative sciences.

In April 2018, we launched a new internship grant program to host young distinguished international scientists who carry out research activities in IMS laboratories. This program was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we resumed from April 2024.

The duration of this program is between 1 to 3 months. There are two support categories: Category 1 is for students and Category 2 is for young postdocs. IMS provides the following support to conduct an internship at IMS.
– Category 1: Lodging, travel expenses, and an internship allowance (3,000 yen/working day).
– Category 2: Lodging and travel expenses. No daily allowance is provided.
* Lodging: up to 11,600 yen/day for stays of 1 to 30 days, up to 10,440 yen for stays continuing from 31 to 60 days, and then up to 9,280 yen for 61 days and more)

Eligibility

Applicants in Category 1 must be students in a Master's or PhD program or medical students at a level equivalent to that of a Master's student in Japan. Applicants in Category 2 must be young postdocs within three years of obtaining their PhD.
All applicants must be enrolled in an academic institution during the proposed internship period.

Selection policy

1) The applicant shows a desire to develop their future abilities as a researcher by placing themselves in a new research environment in RIKEN IMS.
2) This internship program will contribute to the applicants'career development.
3) The purpose and research topics of the applicant are appropriate to RIKEN IMS.
4) The applicant cannot come to RIKEN IMS without this internship program.

Number of openings

Around 8

Location

RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences
1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan

The address and work location are basically as given above, but may differ depending on the host laboratory. Please confirm the host laboratory's location on the RIKEN IMS website.

Application procedures

1. Find the RIKEN IMS laboratory where you would like to work.

Here is the list of laboratories participating in the program.

2. Research topic

After you find a laboratory that you would like to be hosted, you should explain the research topic you propose to carry out at RIKEN. Your research topic proposal should be suitable for the host laboratory.

3. Application

Send an email to the IMS internship committee application address < ims_intern_apply@ml.riken.jp > attaching the following materials written in English. (This application address is only for applications.) Given the selection schedule, please send the application no later than four months before your desired start date.
When composing an email, please use the following subject line:
"your name(affiliation)/ host lab name". (ex) John TANAKA(RIKEN IMS)/ Lab for Skin Homeostasis

– Curriculum vitae
– Purpose (A4 size 1 page)including the research topics you plan to pursue at RIKEN IMS
– Research background (A4 size 1 page)
– Agreement form (Agreement_IMS-Internship_2026.docx)
– GDPR Consent form (EU and UK residents only)
– *A recommendation letter must be sent directly from the applicant's supervisor to host team leader.

Notification

Applicants will be notified of their results about one month after their documents have been submitted to RIKEN by their requested host laboratory's PI only when you are accepted.

Cancellation policy

Successful applicants should note that they will be responsible for any applicable cancellation fees related to their travel and accommodation arrangements should they withdraw from the internship program. There are no exceptions to this policy for any reason, including personal emergencies.

Inquiries

We will notify you if you are accepted. We will not notify you if your application is rejected. We will not give you the reason why your application has been rejected.
For questions regarding the program, please contact IMS laboratory PIs.

Additional information

1. The list of laboratories participating in this program (Lab_list_for_IMSintern2026.pdf).
2. Incomplete or incorrect applications may be rejected. Please note that applications written in Japanese will not be accepted.
Please check the following points.
– Program trainees MUST be enrolled in an academic institution during the program period.
– This program does NOT qualify for a long stay VISA (over 90 days).
– No salary will be paid.
3. Submitted application documents cannot be returned or changed.
4. Submitted documents will be handled in accordance with RIKEN rules concerning personal information, and only used for screening applications for this position. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred, or lent to any third party without a justifiable reason.
5. Intellectual property issues will be handled in accordance with RIKEN regulations.
6. The provisions for this position are premised on RIKEN IMS's current budget and are subject to change with any change in the budget.
7. Please note that RIKEN IMS Internship Program participants must be enrolled in an academic institution (university, research institute, etc.) during the internship period.