Aim & Purpose
Tohoku University (TU) and the University of Washington (UW) in the United States have promoted research cooperation and student exchanges across various fields, including materials science, aerospace engineering, and disaster science, through the TU-UW Academic Open Space (AOS). Since Phase 2 of AOS was launched in 2022, new collaborative initiatives have been expanded, such as startup support and the promotion of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Furthermore, in FY2026, student dispatches will also be carried out under the framework of UPWARDS (University Partnership for Workforce Advancement and Research & Development in Semiconductors), an industry-government-academia partnership involving 11 U.S. and Japanese universities alongside semiconductor leaders Micron and Tokyo Electron (TEL) to cultivate semiconductor human resources.
For FY2026, the following three short-term overseas dispatch programs will be conducted between February 2027 and around March 2027 [3 nights, 5 days itinerary].
Please refer to the application guidelines below for details and application procedures.
Program Details
| 1 | Duration of Stay | between February 2027 and around March 2027 [5 days and 3 nights] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Location | Seattle, Washington, USA | |
| 3 | Program(Selected applicants are free to determine their specific itinerary and program content; however, anticipated activities for each program are outlined below.) | Humanities/Social Science | Data and materials collection required for research, fieldwork, interaction with UW researchers, participation in symposia, seminars, and research meetings at UW, etc. |
| Natural Sciences | Interaction with female researchers at UW, visits to science and technology fields/facilities at UW, participation in symposia, seminars, and research meetings at UW, etc. | ||
| UPWARDS Faculty Mentorship Program | Research discussions and guidance (mentorship) by local UPWARDS Faculty, interaction with researchers in fields related to the applicant’s specialization, laboratory tours and research introductions, interaction with the local female researcher community and graduate students (UPWARDS Fellows), visits to relevant facilities in Seattle, etc. | ||
| 4 | AOS staff may also propose opportunities for interaction with UW researchers and specific program components. Participants are expected to join these activities as much as possible. | ||
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet all of the conditions listed in items 1–3 below.
Humanities and Social Sciences
- Graduate students in humanities and social sciences enrolled at Tohoku University, regardless of major, gender, or nationality
- 4th-year undergraduate students who are admitted to graduate school for the next academic year are also eligible to apply.
- The research theme must be related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), such as gender, sexuality, diversity, or multiculturalism, and the applicant’s research is expected to yield outcomes through local data collection, fieldwork, interaction with researchers, etc.
- Applicants who can present DEI-related research outcomes in both English and Japanese after completing the program.
- Since an exchange program with UW is scheduled at Tohoku University in the next academic year, applicants who can participate in the event are preferred (it is desirable to maintain student status as a graduate student at Tohoku University in the next academic year).
Natural Sciences
- Female graduate students in natural science fields enrolled at Tohoku University.
(4th-year undergraduate students who are admitted to graduate school for the next academic year are also eligible to apply.) - Any research theme is acceptable, but applicants must engage with a female researcher at UW as a mentor (limited to faculty members at the University of Washington’s Seattle campus), deepen their understanding of the future role and success of women in science, and be expected to produce outcomes leading to Gendered Innovations.
- Applicants who can present DEI-related research outcomes in both English and Japanese after completing the program.
- Applicants who can participate in the exchange program with UW if held at Tohoku University in the next academic year (it is desirable to maintain student status as a graduate student at Tohoku University in the next academic year).
UPWARDS Faculty Mentorship Program
- Affiliation: Regular female graduate students enrolled in the Graduate School of Engineering or the Graduate School of Science at Tohoku University (Master’s or Doctoral programs).
- Research Field: Interest or research relevance in fields promoted by the UPWARDS program (or foundational science and engineering fields), such as memory technology, semiconductor materials/processes, energy-efficient devices, computational science, etc.
- Language Proficiency: Sufficient English language proficiency to engage in research discussions with local faculty and researchers.
- Commitment:
- Promptly contact the Global Strategy Office once the travel itinerary is confirmed after selection.
- Submit a report (free format, approx. 1 page A4) to the Global Strategy Office within 1 week after returning.
- Contribute an article to the DEI Center newsletter and deliver a presentation at an internal reporting session after returning.
- Possess strong motivation toward the participation and retention of female talent in next-generation STEM fields.
- Obtain approval from their academic advisor to participate in this dispatch program.
Selected Applicants
Application Form
You need to apply from Google Form and submit all the documents below.
Deadline
Selection will primarily be made based on document screening, but an interview screening (including a short presentation in English and Q&A) may also be conducted.
Travel Period
Contact
＜Regarding Applications＞
Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Tohoku University
UPWARDS Dispatch Program Coordinator
- Email: dei-center*grp.tohoku.ac.jp
- Subject: (Name of Program) 応募（Applicant’s Name）
＜Regarding Travel Procedures＞
Global Strategy Office, Tohoku University
- Email: kokusai-r*grp.tohoku.ac.jp
- Subject: (Name of Program)（Applicant’s Name）問い合わせ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can students in the School/Faculty of Medicine apply for the TU → UW AOS Support Program (Limited to Female Graduate Students in Natural Sciences)?
A. Yes, students in the School/Faculty of Medicine are eligible to apply.
Are 4th- to 6th-year undergraduate students in 6-year degree programs (such as Medicine) and doctoral students also eligible?
A. Yes, they are eligible. We encourage you to apply.
Can I apply if I am currently not a student at Tohoku University or will not be a Tohoku University student in the next academic year?
A. No. This program is strictly for current Tohoku University students, and only those who will remain enrolled at Tohoku University in the next academic year are eligible to apply.
I plan to complete my doctoral program this academic year and work at an institute/organization within Tohoku University after graduation. Is it possible to apply even if I will no longer hold student status next academic year?
A. Applying itself is possible. However, please note that applicants who maintain student status next academic year may be prioritized during selection, or your application may not be selected if there are many applicants. We kindly ask for your understanding that selection cannot be guaranteed.
Is it acceptable if my research theme is not directly related to DEI?
A. Yes, it is acceptable. However, please clearly state in your application documents how DEI relates to your current or future research, or how you intend to apply DEI perspectives to your work.
What does “Mentoring” at UW mean? Moreover, is it possible to visit faculty members, students, or facilities outside my own field of specialization?
A. In this program, “Mentoring” refers to discussing research content with researchers and students at UW, as well as consulting on research environments, research careers, and life plans. You may visit faculty members or facilities in any specialization, not limited to your own. However, each program has mandatory target contacts to visit, as outlined below:
- TU-UW AOS DEI Student Exchange Program (TU → UW AOS Support Program: Limited to Female Graduate Students in Natural Sciences): Female researchers affiliated with the Seattle campus of the University of Washington.
- TU-UW AOS DEI Student Exchange Program (TU → UW AOS Support Program: Limited to Graduate Students in Humanities and Social Sciences): DEI-related researchers and facilities affiliated with the Seattle campus of the University of Washington.
- UPWARDS Faculty Mentorship Program: Faculty members or student members listed under UPWARDS Participating Faculty (UPWARDS Faculty).
In addition to these required visits, you are also welcome to visit other male researchers, students, or facilities.
Which researchers have past program participants met? Are there activity reports or feedback available?
A. Reports written by former participants are published in the Center for DEI Newsletter available on this website (e.g., Issues No. 2, 4, 5, etc.). Please take a look!