Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology OIST

Research and Faculty

OIST has no academic departments. Researchers from more than 50 countries collaborate across and combine scientific disciplines to pioneer new approaches to discovery and problem-solving.

Research at OIST

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Faculty and Research Units

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A researcher in a red OIST t-shirt on the stage in front of a mostly full auditorium, dramatically illuminated by the spotlight.

Institutional News

What is “normal”? Exploring the diversity of individual traits rooted in the brain and nervous system

OIST hosted a Science Talk on ADHD, inviting the community to think about neurodiversity.

Winning teams of OIST Innovation Accelerator 2025

Institutional News

New startups join the OIST Innovation Accelerator

Okinawa attracts four new deep-tech teams to its expanding startup ecosystem

Graphical illustration of a natural scene viewed through a video camera viewfinder, with the focus indicator on a fish. Next to the fish is an energy meter. Other, small animals are visible in the background: squirrels in a woodland and birds in the sky.

Research Update

Animal energy usage made visible through video

Pairing video with simple, lab-based oxygen measurements vastly expands the study of movement energy in ecology, physiology, and beyond.

ATP prevents proteins associated with Parkinson’s disease and ALS from aggregating and becoming harmful

Research Update

ATP prevents harmful aggregation of proteins associated with Parkinson’s and ALS

ATP, the ‘fuel’ of our cells, has been found to make the cytosol in axons more liquid, stopping proteins from clustering and causing harm.

A group photo of students in red OIST t-shirts and organizers, holding their certificates of completing the Science Challenge 2025.

Institutional News

Taking ideas from “0 to 1” at Science Challenge 2025

Students from universities across Japan joined OIST for a 4-day workshop to develop their scientific ingenuity.

Research Events

13 May 2025

Research

[Seminar] MLDS Unit Seminar 2025-1 by Mr. Niklas Muennighoff, Stanford University

13 May 2025

Seminar

Evolution Seminar - On intracellular structure and disease

13 May 2025

Seminar

OIST Representation Theory Seminar

14 May 2025

Seminar

[Seminar] "An energetic view of life on earth" by Prof. Yadvinder Malhi

15 May 2025

Seminar

[Seminar] How was group transfer potential used in emerging metabolism? by Prof. Shawn McGlynn

15 May 2025

Seminar

[OCQT Seminar] Architectures and algorithms for early FTQC

Study at OIST

Apply for our 5-year PhD program in Science. We also offer short-term Research Internships. Both programs are competitive, cross-disciplinary, fully funded, and taught entirely in English by world-class international faculty.

Science Without Boundaries

A university with no departments, OIST has no artificial barriers between people working in different fields, thus encouraging innovation. With a state-of-the-art research environment, OIST attracts outstanding students and faculty around the world.

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PhD and Research Internship Program

OIST offers an individualized, cross-disciplinary PhD program that funds students up to 5 years. The Research Internship program offers financial and travel support for 2 to 6 months of experience working in an OIST research lab under OIST faculty.

Student Life

OIST offers a first-class postgraduate experience – both inside and outside the classroom. A wide range of educational, recreational, social, and cultural activities provide many opportunities to explore your passions and master something new.

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Driving Innovation Toward Impact

OIST connects world-leading research and global business to co-create solutions to society’s most pressing challenges – attracting talent to Okinawa’s emerging innovation ecosystem.

Corporate partnerships and collaborations
Technology development and licensing
Entrepreneurship and startups

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Public Events

17 Jun 2025

Culture

Okinawa Memorial Day Lecture 2025

Outreach

OIST was established in and for Okinawa. Take advantage of local education, science, and culture programs or tour the campus.

Science outreach and cultural exchange activities for audiences in

elementary school
junior high school
high school
college
the general public

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SDGs

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address some of the most pressing global challenges we face today. 

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Our Contribution to Okinawa

OIST is leading educational initiatives, providing employment opportunities, building and sustaining strong partnerships, and driving research and innovation to benefit Okinawa and Japan.

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