Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology OIST

News

A scientist stands next to a giant water tank and looks at waves on the water’s surface.

Making waves: water simulation of famous quantum effect reveals unexpected patterns

A new study reveals how a spinning vortex causes system-wide, counter-rotating wave patterns, mimicking effects that occur, but cannot be seen, in the quantum realm.

Research Update

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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How to build a quantum computer

A beautiful gold machine with lots of wires in the foreground, at which a man in the background stares intently.

Quantum technology holds the potential to tackle complex problems across a wide range of applications. Yet today’s systems still face major limitations. Explore the fundamentals of quantum computing, the challenges for practical, large-scale quantum computing, and hear directly from the OIST experts developing the future of this field.

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Research Events

10 Apr - 12 Jun 2026

Research

Mini Course: Okinawa Lectures on Entropy

22 Apr 2026

Seminar

[CAEE] "Network approaches for thinking about early metabolic evolution" by Prof. Shawn E. McGlynn, ELSI, Institute of Science Tokyo

22 Apr 2026

Seminar

[Seminar] Prof. Henrik M. Rønnow "Neutron studies of SrCu2(BO3)2 under extreme conditions – a fruit fly for quantum many body physics"

22 Apr 2026

Seminar

[CAEE] "Integration of phylogenetics-independent tools for brainstorming evolution of metabolism" by Dr. Masaru K. Nobu, JAMSTEC

22 Apr 2026

Lecture

TSVP Talk: "Playing With Magnets, Geometry and Bacteria." by Andrés Concha

22 Apr 2026

Seminar

[CAEE] "Horizontal gene transfer in eukaryotes: Reconstructing and deconstructing the Tree of Life" by Dr. Eduard Ocaña-Pallarès, UOC-TECH, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

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.