Tohoku University Advanced Graduate School
Next-Generation AI Expert Development Project
Application Guidelines for October 2024
Tohoku University provides support to PhD students in Tohoku University's Advanced Graduate
School Next-Generation AI Expert Development Project (hereafter, "NEXT-AI” or “project”) as partof JST's “Support for Broadening Opportunities for Outstanding Young Researchers and Doctoral
Students in Strategic Areas", for which the university has been selected.
NEXT-AI aims to increase the number of doctoral students with a strong desire to pursue researchand development in emerging and converging areas within the field of next-generation Artificial
Intelligence (hereinafter referred to as "next-generation AI field"). It provides sufficient financial
support equivalent to living expenses, allocation of research grants, and training programs. It aims
to foster more advanced research experts in the next-generation AI field, thereby increasing thenumber of doctoral students who will lead the next generation.
Those who wish to apply for the support through this project are encouraged to apply via thedesignated Google Form.

1. Recruitment Quota
Approximately 6 students
2. Period of Award
From October 2024 until the end of the standard course term for the curriculum.
3. Stipend
1) Incentive Stipend (covers living expenses) JPY 260,000/month※The stipend is considered "miscellaneous income." Recipients must report it when they file their income
tax declaration.

2) Research grant: JPY 780,000/year (JPY390,000 for half a year in FY2024)
4. Eligibility
This project is open to those who understand its objectives; have the ambition and ability topioneer and lead the next-generation AI field in Japan in the future; and will be enrolled in the
1st year of 3-year doctoral curricula, or the 1st year of medical, dental, or pharmaceuticalcurricula in October 1, 2024.
※Students who plan to take a leave of absence from October 2024 or long-term students are
not eligible to apply.
※ No specific expertise is required, but applicants must have acquired sufficientknowledge in mathematics, data science, and AI-related fields, as well as researchexperience and computer skills, by the time of completing their master’s coursework.
They should also have a highly feasible research plan, including proficiency in English
suitable for conducting international collaborative research.
※ For international students, it is required that they possess a strong determination tocontribute to the next-generation AI field within universities, research institutions, orindustries in Japan even after completing the doctoral program.
※For students affiliated with degree programs, it is necessary to be able to balance theactivities of this project with the activities of their degree programs.
5. Restriction on Simultaneous Awards
Those who are receiving any of the following types of financial aid cannot receive support
from this project.
11. Those who are receiving other scholarships from Tohoku University or other public
institutions.
2. Those who are receiving a scholarship from Tohoku University's Academia-Industry
Collaborating Graduate Programs.
3. Those who are receiving the JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists.
4. Those who are receiving the stipend from Pioneering Research Support Project.
5. Those who are receiving a salary as per the Guidelines for the Japanese Government(MEXT) International Student Scholarship System (March 31, 1954, ruling by the Ministerof Education).
6. Those who are receiving the JASSO Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed
International Students.
7. International students who are receiving a scholarship from their own country.
8. Those who receive salary income, executive compensation, or stable non-repayable
scholarship or other support equivalent to this project from a company, university, or privateorganization (the total of all income of 2.4 million yen per year or more (the total monthly
amount of more than 200,000 yen equivalent), excluding this project).
9. Those who are deemed to be equivalent to any of those listed in the preceding items.
※Even if you are receiving a scholarship or have income, etc. that falls under the abovementioned restrictions on receiving multiple scholarships at the time of application, you may
still apply if you are able to decline that scholarship or income after being selected for thisproject.
※Recipients are permitted to receive scholarships to cover tuition fees, but the amount will becounted towards the JPY 2.4 million limit mentioned in section 8 above.
※This project aims to provide an environment where students can devote themselves to theirresearch. Therefore, students who are employed (regardless of whether their employment on
a fixed term basis) or hired part-time (including Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant(RA), and Administrative Assistant (AA)) and if they have estimated income for one year fromthe time of employment or hiring exceeds 2.4 million yen, they must withdraw from this projectat the time of employment or hiring. In addition, regardless of the annual income, etc., if thestudent is unable to devote themselves to research activities, they must withdraw from thisproject. In some cases, it may be necessary to ask for the retroactive return of incentive
stipends, etc., so please keep this in mind.
※Recipients of Tohoku University's Global Hagi Scholarship may apply to the project but if
selected will be required to decline the Global Hagi Scholarship.
※The Tohoku University President Fellowship can be received simultaneously with this project.
※Those who are members of WISE programs should inquire at the office of the affiliated program
before applying. There is a restriction set by the WISE program, which is not listed in thisdocument.
※If the scholarship you are receiving does not allow you to receive the other financial aid, youneed to follow the rules of that scholarship. When you are selected to this project, you will berequired to follow the necessary procedures, which may include withdrawing from the current
scholarship. *Recipients are permitted to receive scholarship loans from JASSO.
※Scholarships etc., for the purpose of supporting travel expenses etc., for overseas study,
available regardless of the amount, can be received simultaneously with this project. Pleasealso check the restrictions on receiving duplicate scholarships on the scholarship side.
※Teaching Assistant (TA) and Research Assistant (RA) employment of up to 19 hours per week
is permitted to the extent that it does not interfere with research activities. However, it must
be included in the recipient’s income as per section 8 above, including salary, pension, etc.,
and the recipient must decline the support from the project if their total income etc., exceeds
JPY 2.4 million. Recipients must report their annual income status.

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※Recipients of this project may be eligible for tuition waiver. However, please keep in mind that
if they withdraw from this project, they will also be disqualified from tuition waiver eligibility.
※Be sure to review the "Handbook for Incentive Stipend Recipients" and " Next-Generation AI
Expert Development Project, Q&A" after being selected for this project.

6. Application Documents
Prepare the following application documents and submit them via the designated Google
Form, by the August 29 (Thu.), 12:00 noon, 2024.
1) Research Plan (doctoral program research plan, list of achievements, career paths plan)2) Recommendation letter from your prospective academic advisor
Google Form for Submission:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexEzzxHZxf3zEoiANCSyB4qG6EBiPEFynWsrgl0XbIiZcpaQ/viewform

7. Selection Method
Applicants will be evaluated on their research plans, content, achievements, evaluations fromprospective academic advisors, by documents review. If necessary, interviews will beconducted (September 13 (Fri.)).
8. Announcement of Selection Results
Selection results will be announced by the end of September 2024.
However, formal acceptance into this project is conditional upon being enrolled in thegraduate school of Tohoku University as of October 1, 2024.
Students selected for the project will belong to the "Pioneering Research Program Unit" ofthe Advanced Graduate School.
9. Obligations
1)

In addition to devoting themselves to their research activities, as outlined in theirresearch plans, project recipients are expected to understand the program's purpose
and commit to their studies/research with a suitably sober attitude. If a recipient engages
in inappropriate behavior or misconduct, the payment may be withdrawn.

2)

Students must complete designated training programs.

3)

Students are required to publish their academic achievements, such as papers orpresentations, in the field of next-generation AI, by the end of their doctoral course (bythe end of this support period).

4)

Students must submit a monthly attendance report. They must also promptly report theirprogress in their studies and research to the director of the Center for Graduate School
Innovation at the end of each fiscal year.

5)

As the stipend is considered "miscellaneous income," recipients must pay income tax.
The stipend may disqualify recipients from being claimed as dependents byparents/guardians (for health insurance, dependent allowances, etc.). Recipients should
check with their parents/guardians or parents'/guardians' workplaces and perform any
necessary procedures.

6)

The deadline for using the research grant (delivery of goods, completion of businesstrips, etc.) is the last day of March of the relevant fiscal year. Please follow the3

instructions of the accounting section of your affiliated department regarding thedeadlines for payment procedures, etc.
7)

To ensure appropriate use of the research grant, recipients are required to carefully readthe "Use of Research Funds Handbook," undergo compliance education on improperuse of research funds, attend classes on ethical research, research ethics education elearning designated by JST etc., and manage the budget appropriately for your ownresearch.

8)

The academic advisors will oversee matters related to handling intellectual property andconfidential materials to ensure that the recipients' research is conducted appropriately
and yields usable results.

9)Students are required to answer the follow-up surveys conducted by the Advanced
Graduate School's Center for Graduate School Innovation.

10) Students are asked to participate in the JST's "PhD Students Exchange Meeting" andfollow-up surveys.
Students who are selected to this project are required to address all the contents below.
[1st year of doctoral course]
1. Engaging in research and development to generate new AI systems from scratch.
2. Students from both foundational and applied AI fields build a team to engage incompetitive and collaborative Project-Based Learning (PBL).
3. Being involved in the planning and operation of international symposiums, seminars, andsimilar events.
nd year of doctoral course][24. Compile and publish the results of the above-mentioned 1 and 2 in a paper.
5. Take on an educational role in the activities of the above-mentioned 1 and 2.
6. Conduct international joint research for more than 6 months in principle at overseas
research institutions related to the AI research field.
7. Compile the results of above-mentioned 6 into an international co-authored paper.
※For students enrolled in degree programs, completing the above-mentioned activities may
be considered as fulfilling part of the curriculum of their respective degree programs.
※Travel and accommodation expenses related to 6 above are to be paid from recipients’
own research fund.
※If a student is delayed in arriving in Japan or frequently misses the in-person training
programs without valid reasons, their acceptance into this project may be revoked.
※Since the project is carried out with assistance from government funding, the support
period and content may change depending on national policy.

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