Purpose: Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Research Center, located in Nara city, Japan, is eager to contribute to a development of medicine and promotion of health level from an international perspective. We provide training opportunities for international clinical researchers’ (and future clinical researchers), who wish to contribute to their local development of medicine and promotion of health level in a field of pediatric infectious diseases. In this program, applicants are expected to join our research project(s) in Japan (onsite training) AND plan/implement at least one project in a field of pediatrics or infectious diseases in their local places (we remotely support your local project(s)).
- Training program details
(1) Position: Short-term clinical research trainee
(2) Number of applicants: A few per year
(3) Scheduled date of employment: 2025-2026 season. Applicants must apply at least 3 months before their desired start date.
(4) Place: Nara Prefectural General Medical Center (2-897-5 Shichijo Nishi-machi, Nara City) and applicants’ local places
(5) Qualifications
(1) Ideally, applicants hold a valid qualification associated with healthcare (e.g., medical doctor, nurse, pharmacist) or research achievement (e.g., academic degree, publication to peer-reviewed journals). Students in a field of healthcare, who meet the other requirements may apply as student short-term research trainees.
(2) Strongly enthusiastic to contribute to clinical research or promotion of healthcare in the field of pediatrics and/or infectious diseases in their local place in the future.
(3) Proficiency in reading and writing English. A proof of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, GRE) is preferred. Applicants who have written manuscripts and published in peer-reviewed journals may be waived to submit a proof of English language proficiency).
Other Applicants who fall under any of the following categories are not eligible to apply. Persons who have been sentenced to imprisonment or severer punishment until the end of the execution of the sentence or until the person is no longer subject to the execution of the sentence. or persons who has joined such a party or organization.
Training contents:
Onsite
Joint and implement clinical and epidemiological research project(s) in the field of infectious diseases (most of the projects are in pediatrics, but projects involving adults are also possible upon consultation). You will be responsible for one of these research programs (two or more may be considered upon consultation if you have the time, availability, and ability).
(Upon request) Observership of clinical field may be possible; however, execution of medical practice without holding a corresponding Japanese medical or healthcare license is not allowed by Japanese legislation: Nara General Medical Center mainly handles general pediatrics and general pediatric infectious disease cases.
Remote
Applicants are encouraged to plan/implement at least one research project, including quality improvement project, in a field of pediatrics or infectious diseases at their local place. Academic support from staff of Nara Prefecture General Medical Center will remotely be provided. However, a financial support to implement the project in applicants’ local place is limited. Applicants are encouraged to start planning their local project(s) before initiation of onsite training in Japan.
- Application
(1) Send an email (tkitano@nara-hp.jp) with the following documents. If no response from us in a week after your initial email, please send a reminder email.
(2) Required documents
Motivation letter: Describe why you are interested in our training program, what you want to achieve in the program, including your research plan at your local place, and what you want to do after the program
Curriculum Vitae: Free format
(3) Selection Method [Preliminary Selection]
First round: Applicants will be screened based on the submitted application documents.
Second round: Individual interviews (web-based interviews) will be conducted sequentially for those who pass the document screening.
(4) Inquiries: Taito Kitano, Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Research Center, Nara Prefectural Hospital Organization, 2-897-5 Shichijo Nishi-machi, Nara City, Nara 630-8581, Japan Telephone: 0742-46-6001 FAX: 0742-46-6011
(5) Others: If any false information is found in the application, the applicant may be disqualified from employment.
- Financial support
(1) Based on applicant’s visa requirement and status, selected applicants receive financial support either by (A) travel/accommodation support or (B) wage per hour.
(A) Support of travel and accommodation costs. Applicants are expected to travel to and from Japan with a travel route with the lowest possible. If we purchased the flight ticket and accommodation, applicants cannot cancel the travel, and if applicants need to cancel the travel, applicants need to pay all costs for the cancellation.
(B) Approximately 1,200-2,500 yen per hour for onsite training. Financial support is only provided for the hours of implementing our research projects in Japan (onsite training). Increase in financial support may be considered in special circumstances for highly outstanding applicants. Hours of clinical observership is excluded from onsite training hours.
Japanese law may affect the financial supports.
We are not responsible for any negative consequences of applicants during travel and stay in Japan. We do not provide any insurance support while applicants’ stay in Japan. Applicants are encouraged to obtain insurance in case of any unforeseen events during their stay.
- Duration of training program:
Onsite training in Japan: 1 weeks to 6 months. Extension may be warranted in special circumstances. VISA requirement to enter into Japan for your country may affect the duration of onsite training.
Remote training: Variable. Typically, 6 months to 2-3 years.
