1. Introduction
The JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme was launched in 2002 and is jointly organised by UNU and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
It is designed to provide promising, highly qualified, young researchers the opportunity to conduct advanced research relevant to the main thematic focus of UNU-IAS (Institute of Advanced Studies), located in Yokohama, or UNU-ISP (Institute for Sustainability and Peace), located in Tokyo, and in co-operation with their host researchers at Japanese universities and research institutions. UNU acts as the nominating authority for the JSPS-UNU Programme, and UNU-IAS administers the programme on behalf of UNU in the nominating process.
This fellowship is aimed at candidates who have completed their PhD in the past six years and also have professional and/or research experience.
UNU will assist in securing acceptance from the host researchers for short-listed candidates. After the host researcher is secured for each short-listed candidate, UNU will make formal nominations to JSPS, which funds this programme. The final award decision will be made by JSPS and Awards Letters will be issued by JSPS to the fellowship awardees. An advisor for each fellowship awardee will be selected for the period of research in Japan from among the UNU (UNU-IAS or UNU-ISP) faculty members.
2. Fields of Research
UNU conducts research on all fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Yet, research proposals for JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowships should relate clearly to one of the current research areas of UNU-IAS and UNU-ISP as well as aim to be policy-relevant.
The following Research Programmes and Projects at UNU-IAS in Yokohama are accepting applications for JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellows:
- Science and Technology for Sustainable Societies
- Sustainable Urban Futures
- Biodiplomacy Initiative
- Sustainable Development Governance
- Traditional Knowledge Initiative
The following Research Programmes at UNU-ISP in Tokyo are accepting applications for JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellows:
- International Cooperation and Development
- Global Change and Sustainability
- Peace and Security
3. Eligibility
Citizens of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. Japanese nationals are not eligible.
Holders of a doctoral degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received on or after 2 April 2007, or those scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the Fellowship goes into effect.
Applicants with at least 10 months research and/or professional experience are especially encouraged to apply.
Those who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the "JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers" (excluding Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (Short-term) for North American and European Researchers and Summer Program) are not eligible.
4. Duration of the Fellowship
Fellowships are awarded for a period of 24 months.
5. Terms of Award
A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS regulations). A monthly maintenance allowance of JPY362,000. A settling-in allowance of JPY200,000, Overseas travel accident and sickness insurance coverage, etc.
Note: The terms of the Awards indicated above are subject to change by JSPS. If the Fellow resides in Japan on the date his/her award letter is issued, the above-mentioned air ticket to Japan and settling-in allowance will not be provided. A research grant, "Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research", of up to JPY1,500,000 per year (total of JPY3,000,000 for two years. The amount varies depending on the areas/disciplines of research.) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application for these grants is made by the host researcher through his/her institution.
This award is provided by JSPS, and the JSPS program guidelines will be available on JSPS' website in January 2013 .
6. Nomination of Candidates
UNU will act as a nominating authority of the Programme, and application should be submitted to UNU-IAS. UNU-IAS nominates candidates to the JSPS based on the following criteria:
(i) the research objectives of the applicant and the quality of the research proposal,
(ii) the relevance of the research proposal to the ongoing or planned research activities of the applicant's indicated Research Programme at UNU-IAS or UNU-ISP, and
(iii) the applicant's academic merit and the potential for successful research while in Japan.
UNU will try to inform the successful candidates of the results of the nomination in May 2013. JSPS takes up to 3 months after receiving the nominations to process its award decision.
7. Starting Date and Deadline for Applications
The JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme begins on 1 September and the selected Fellows are required to be in Japan by this date. The deadline for applications for the 2013 Fellowships is 28 February 2013.
8. To Apply
Interested and eligible candidates are invited to complete the online-application form. If you do not have access to the Internet, please contact us (see the contacts below). The online form and the required documents indicated in the form must be in English. If the supporting document is in another language, please also attach an English translation.
Short-listed candidates will be contacted for a telephone interview.
Contacts :
JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme
United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies
6F, International Organizations Center
Pacifico-Yokohama, 1-1-1 Minato Mirai
Nishi-ku, Yokohama 220-8502, Japan
Email:
fellowships@ias.unu.eduFax: +81-45-221-2302
