NIG Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025-2026 National Institute of Genetics

Exciting news! Applications are now being accepted for the NIG Postdoctoral Fellowship. In this article, you will find full details about the fellowship program, the financial support offered, and the complete application procedure.

The NIG Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 is a fully funded program for international researchers. The fellowship is offered for a maximum of three years from the initial appointment, with renewals considered annually. Successful candidates will receive an annual salary of about 4,100,000 JPY (tax included), health insurance through the mutual aid association, travel or commuting allowance (if eligible), and work-related accident coverage.

The National Institute of Genetics (NIG) invites highly motivated young scientists to join as postdoctoral fellows and contribute to its research activities. These positions are time-limited and are designed to advance the institute’s research output while developing the professional skills of promising scholars in genetics and related sciences.

Established in 1949 by Japan’s Ministry of Education, the National Institute of Genetics serves as the country’s central hub for genetics research and training. It has played a leading role in theoretical and applied genetics, fostering academic growth and promoting international collaboration in this important scientific field.

Scholarship Summary

Level of Study: Postdoctoral
Institution(s): National Institute of Genetics (NIG)
Study in: Japan
Opportunity Focus Areas:
Program Duration: Up to 3 years, renewable annually
Deadline: July 07, 2025

Courses Offered

Genome Informatics
Biological
Plant Genetics
Evolutionary Genetics
Ecological Genetics
DNA Data Analysis
Population Genetics
Symbiosis and Cell Evolution
Model Fish Genetics
Multicellular Organization
Brain Function
Molecular and Developmental Biology
Cell Dynamics and Signaling
Plant Cytogenetics
Mammalian Neural Circuits
Microbial Physiology
Mouse Genomics Resource
Epigenomics
Molecular Cell Engineering
Genome Dynamics
Cell Architecture
Invertebrate Genetics
Quantitative Mechanobiology
Systems Neuroscience
Chromosome Biochemistry

For more information click here.

Program Period:

Period of employment is up to 3 years from the initial date of hire with reappointment on an annual basis.

Scholarship Coverage

NIG Postdoctoral Fellowship provides

Annual salary approx. 4,100,000 JPY including tax will be paid.
Mutual society of health insurance,
Commuting allowance (conditional),
Employment insurance will be covered.
Compensation insurance

Eligibility Criteria for NIG Postdoctoral Fellowship

To qualify for NIG Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Institute of Genetics in Japan, the candidate must fulfill all of the following requirements below:

Required Language: English
Eligible Countries: All World Countries
Those who have sufficient research skills to pursue research projects in genetics.
Those who have obtained PhD degree (or equivalent) or are expected to obtain it. The degree must be obtained before the date of arrival at the post.
Applications by those who have been enrolled in NIG in the past as of 2025 March 31 are not eligible to apply. A current/former postdoc, technical staff at NIG, or graduate student (at Dept. of Genetics, SOKENDAI) cannot apply. Temporal visits, such as internships, do not count.
NIG postdocs are expected to positively contribute to the vitalization of the entire NIG research. (For example, they are expected to actively participate in NIG Poster Sessions, NIG Retreats, and in NIG colloquia.). For this reason, research plans requiring a long-term stay at an institute/ university outside NIG are generally not accepted.
NIG postdocs are required to make a presentation of their achievement at the NIG colloquium at the end of the employment period.
Publications must include an acknowledgment of the support from NIG postdoc grant.

How to Apply for NIG Postdoctoral Fellowship?

Please follow the following instructions to avail NIG Postdoctoral Fellowship at National Institute of Genetics in Japan:

(1) PDF files of the following documents should be sent via e-mail after consulting with your prospective PI about your research project.
Please refer to our website for contact details and research outlines of PIs who are recruiting postdocs. NIG Website:
https://www.nig.ac.jp/nig/research/organization-top/organization

(2) Prepare the following documents Form 1 to 4 in the specified forms which can be downloaded from the link. The following points should be kept in mind when you prepare the documents.