JSPS–UNU 2020 Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme for study in Japan

Published: 23 Dec 2019 1,389 views

Applications are now being welcome by the JSPS-UNU for its 2020 Postdoctoral fellowship programme which is to be taken in Japan at the United Nations University.

Jointly organized by the United Nations University and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), the JSPS–UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme is designed to provide promising, highly qualified, young researchers with the opportunity to conduct advanced research in sustainability in co-operation with host researchers at Japanese universities and research institutions.

The UNU Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS, Tokyo) acts as the nominating authority for the JSPS–UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme. This fellowship is aimed at candidates who have completed their doctorates in the past six years and also have professional and/or research experience. UNU-IAS will assist in securing acceptance from host researchers for shortlisted candidates.

JSPS-UNU PostDoctoral

Benefits of JSPS-UNU PostDoctoral

1. A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS regulations)
2. A monthly maintenance allowance of JPY362,000
3. A settling-in allowance of JPY200,000 (based on JSPS regulations)
4. Overseas travel, accident, and sickness insurance coverage, etc.

Notes:

• The amounts of the awards indicated above are subject to change by JSPS.
• In the case that a Fellow is already residing in Japan before his/her fellowship starts or obtains resident status before his/her fellowship is designated to begin, the above-mentioned air ticket to Japan and settling-in allowance will not be provided. A research grant, “Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research”, is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application for these grants is made by the host researcher through his/her institution.

Requirements for JSPS-UNU PostDoctoral

Fellowships are awarded for a period of 24 months. Applicants must:

1. Hold a doctoral degree (received on or after 2 April 2014) when the fellowship begins, or be scheduled to receive a doctoral degree before the fellowship begins.
2. Japanese nationals are not eligible, nor are those of dual nationality if one is Japanese.
3. Also those who have permanent residency in Japan are not eligible.
4. Those who have previously been awarded a Standard or Pathway Fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan are not eligible.

Selection Process

UNU will act as the nominating authority of the programme, and applications should be submitted to UNU-IAS. UNU-IAS nominates candidates to JSPS based on the following criteria:

1. the research objectives of the applicant and the quality of his/her research proposal,
2. the relevance of the research proposal to the ongoing or planned research activities of the applicant’s indicated research programme at UNU-IAS, and
3. the applicant’s academic merit and his/her potential for successful research while in Japan.

UNU intends to inform successful candidates of the results of the nomination in May 2020. JSPS takes up to 3 months after receiving the nominations to process its award decisions.

Review of applications by the Fellowship Committee will begin immediately after the application deadline. Short-listed candidates will be contacted for a telephone interview and to provide reference letters.

Application Deadline

How to Apply