IRES: Summer Biology Research Program in Japan

2025-2026 Dates

Application Deadline: Monday November 9, 2025 11:59 PT
Interview of Finalists: late November, 2025
Final selection of participants and alternates: December, 2025
Travel Dates: Saturday, May 9 to Saturday, July 11, 2026

Information Sessions

Wednesday October 8, 2025, 8-9pm ET

Thursday October 30, 2025, 4-5pm ET

About the Program

This grant funded program allows students to engage in scientific collaborations at top biology institutes in Japan. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF Project #2505377), this summer program will provide students with invaluable research and intercultural experiences while working with an international team of biologists to perform advanced neurobiology research on how visual information is processed to drive behavioral responses.

The program consists of full-time research in a Japanese laboratory, mentored by a faculty member from a top Japanese institute. This competitive fellowship is open to Montclair State University and non-Montclair State University advanced undergraduate and graduate students interested in neurobiology.

After the online sessions during the spring semester, the six students will spend one week in Okazaki for on-site orientation and then eight weeks at one of the following sites:

Riken Institute, Aoyama Gakuin, and the National Institute of Basic Biology (NIBB)

Accepted students are provided:

$7200 stipend
Roundtrip airfare between a U.S. airport and Nagoya, Japan
Ground transportation between Nagoya airport and site
Domestic travel in Japan to mid-program retreat
Housing during the program in Japan
Laboratory supplies

Accepted students are NOT provided:

Passport fees
Ground transportation to/from US airport
Meals
Ground transportation not related to program. Other personal expenses.
Travel insurance

Application

The application period for the Summer 2026 program will be from September 1, 2025 to November 9, 2025. For Summer 2026 the program will run from January to late July (report will be due after return to U.S.) with the program running in Japan from May 10th through July 11th.

Please read the application instructions carefully before applying. The online application can be submitted through the “Apply Now” button on this page, and will require uploading essays, a transcript and two letters of recommendation.

Important Dates

Course Dates: Program will begin in January remotely with bi-weekly pre-program language and culture seminars.
On-site Dates: Saturday, May 9, 2026 to Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Leave US Saturday, May 9 with arrival on Sunday, May 10 and return Saturday, July 11); One-week on-site orientation at the National Institute of Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan from Monday, May 11-Friday, May 15; Eight-week research experience at one of the three institutes from Monday, May 18 – Friday, July 10

*Participants must commit to all elements of the program

Apply for Summer 2026

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled in good standing in a degree program at a U.S. Institution of higher education with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and minimum GPA of 3.0 in science courses.
Graduate students (Masters or PhD) and upper-level undergraduate students in sciences. Bachelor’s level applicants must have completed their sophomore year by the start of the program and students planning to graduate in Spring 2026 must be accepted to a graduate school program in science for Fall 2026 by time of program.
Applicants are expected to have taken a molecular and cellular biology course or equivalent by time of application and have basic knowledge of molecular laboratory techniques. Applicants must have worked previously on a laboratory research project outside of class.
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident (as per NSF requirements) and must have a passport valid through February 2027 (six months past program end) at time of selection.

** Acceptance into the program is competitive. A total of 6 participants will be selected, with alternates. The members of the “NSF IRES-US Japan Collaboration” program committee are responsible for all final decisions.