Eight Reasons You Should Build Your Early Career at AIMR
The Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) at Tohoku University offers a world-class research environment in a safe and comfortable city, and also provides you with comprehensive support. Early-career researchers benefit from not only a salary, but also affordable living costs, supportive administrative services, and ample opportunities for international exchange. Together, these make AIMR an attractive place to advance your early career.
Living Environment
1Living Area Where Nature and the City Coexist
AIMR is located in central Sendai, a compact and comfortable city of about one million people in the Tohoku region of northern Japan. Sendai lies roughly 300 km north of Tokyo, about a 1.5-hour ride on the Tohoku Shinkansen. The city can also be conveniently accessed from nearby regions via expressways and connected to international destinations from Sendai International Airport.
You can enjoy hot springs, mountains, the sea, and ski resorts, all just 30–60 minutes away, making it easy to balance work and leisure. Seasonal festivals and professional sports also contribute to Sendai’s vibrant lifestyle. Government offices, medical facilities, commercial areas, and universities are concentrated around Sendai Station, making daily life highly convenient.
Building on its designation as the first University for International Research Excellence in 2024, Tohoku University is further strengthening its collaboration with Sendai City to enhance support for international researchers and students.
2Cost of Living
Living costs in Sendai remain comparatively modest. Additionally, Tohoku University offers staff housing at rates lower than those of typical private rental apartments. All prices indicated below are per month: 2DK units are under JPY 10,000, 1LDK units cost around JPY 20,000, 3DK units range from approximately JPY 10,000 to 25,000, and 3LDK units range from about JPY 16,000 to 40,000 (as of January, 2026).
3Research and Family Life in Harmony
In Japan, child allowances are provided nationwide, and early childhood education and care are offered free of charge. In Sendai, children’s healthcare is almost free of charge. Full-time international researchers at Tohoku University may be eligible for tuition support at Tohoku International School for their children.
Above all, Tohoku University’s International Support Center (ISC) provides comprehensive assistance for school and childcare arrangements, including enrollment support and interpretation services, helping international researchers with families balance work and family life.
4Smooth Kick-off for International Researchers
In addition to the university-wide support provided by the ISC, AIMR has its own International Affairs Center (IAC) to assist international researchers. The IAC provides support, such as pre-arrival visa procedures, post-arrival orientation, language and culture classes, and general living information. With this hands-on and flexible support, AIMR enables researchers to settle in quickly and focus on their research. In addition, the weekly “Friday Tea Time” provides opportunities for informal interaction between researchers and staff, fostering a sense of community across the institute.
Research Environment
5International Research Environment
and Comprehensive Support
AIMR has a highly international community—more than half of all researchers are from overseas—and English is widely used in operations. Administrative teams coordinate closely to minimize researchers’ administrative burdens.
6Programs that Promote Cross-Disciplinary Research
AIMR promotes collaboration among different disciplines through unique programs, including the AIMR Fusion Research Proposal, AIMR-INSPIRE, Overseas Dispatch Program for Young Researchers, and AIMR Seminars. These programs provide research funds and overseas opportunities, helping young researchers become internationally active from an early stage.
7Support for External Funding
In Japan, even postdoctoral researchers can apply for their own research funding. At AIMR, URAs (University Research Administrators) and dedicated coordinators provide strategic support for these applications, including proposal planning and review, for programs such as KAKENHI (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research) and selected international programs.
8Research Infrastructure
AIMR maintains a Common Equipment Room with essential instruments and technical coordinators who offer hands-on guidance and help minimize any burdens. Collaboration with Tohoku University’s Core Facility Center provides access to shared facilities, aiming to enable researchers to focus on cutting-edge experiments and computational work.
