Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Visiting Scholars Programme 2026 (TSVP)
- Omran Aburayya
- Aug 17
- 3 min read
If you're an independent researcher (e.g., a senior postdoc, junior group leader, or early career faculty) seeking a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment for a mid- to long-term research visit, the OIST Visiting Scholars Programme in Japan for FY2026 is now accepting applications! Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Programme Summary
Location: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, Japan
Target group: Independent researchers holding a Ph.D., with standing equivalent to senior postdoc, junior group leader, or faculty; interdisciplinary across all fields (e.g., math, physics, computational sciences, chemistry, engineering, life sciences)
Visit duration: Typically 3 to 12 months, with intended start between April 2026 and March 2027
Coverage: Travel (round-trip airfare), on-campus housing, daily per diem, office space, access to facilities (computing, library), administrative/logistical support
Application deadline: September 15, 2025 (applications submitted by this date are guaranteed full consideration)
Notification: Selection results expected by December 31, 2025
Positions available: Up to 30 Visiting Scholars
⭐ Programme Overview
The OIST Visiting Scholars Programme (TSVP), launched in June 2021, aims to attract outstanding researchers globally for collaborative, independent research visits that foster interdisciplinarity and cross-unit interaction . Participants do not have formal teaching duties but are expected to:
Deliver a general-audience lecture within the first month
Conduct research seminars or graduate-level lectures
Ideally, propose additional outreach: such as short courses, career talks, or school/children’s activities
Applicants may be on leave or sabbatical from their home institutions. Under exceptional circumstances—such as lack of salary—they may request salary support with appropriate justification .
OIST champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and a family-friendly environment through policies such as support for dual-career couples, gender-neutral facilities, “stop-the-clock” options, bilingual childcare, on-site after-school programs, health center, relocation and post-arrival support . Applications from women and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged .
🎁 Benefits
Comprehensive support: Airfare, housing, per diem, office space, and facility access ensure you can focus fully on research
Interdisciplinary environment: OIST’s structure eliminates departmental silos, encouraging innovative cross-disciplinary interactions
Flexible and inclusive culture: Strong family and equity-support policies make it a welcoming campus for diverse backgrounds
Public and professional engagement: Opportunity to share your work with broader audiences via lectures, seminars, and outreach initiatives
Eligibility Criteria
Hold a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline
Be an independent researcher—equivalent to a senior postdoc, junior group leader, or faculty at a research-focused institution
Capable of crafting and delivering a general-audience talk; proposing outreach and science communication activities enhances applications
Demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement
📝 Application Procedure
Submit the following via Interfolio (apply.interfolio.com/170800) by September 15, 2025 :
CV with a full list of publications
Research proposal (1–2 pages) including brief background, proposed research during visit, and specific OIST Research Units you'd like to engage with
Title and abstract for a general-audience lecture; optional proposals for outreach, seminars, short courses, or career talks are welcomed
ℹ️ Informal inquiries can be addressed to Dr. Jonas Fischer at tsvp@oist.jp . Selection decisions will be communicated by December 31, 2025 .
🔍 Evaluation Criteria
Scientific quality and expected impact of the proposed research
Benefit to OIST, e.g. through interactions with and across OIST Units
Interdisciplinarity, i.e. contribution to dialogue between different research fields
Considerations of diversity and spread of academic career stages
Planned outreach and teaching activity, e.g. general-audience lectures, seminars, (mini) courses, career talks, activities for children/at schools
💡Extra Insights
The Visiting Program includes other formats like Experimental Visiting Scholars (for lab access) and Domestic Visitors (for researchers already in Japan)
Evaluation criteria include scientific excellence, benefit to OIST, interdisciplinarity, diverse representation of career stages, and outreach activities
OIST regularly shares news and experiences of its visitors through blog posts, podcasts, lectures, and webinars—valuable for understanding the campus culture and expectations
