JSPS–UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme 2021 for International Researchers – Japan

Published: 07 Feb 2021 2,041 views

The JSPS–UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme is designed to provide promising, highly qualified, young researchers with the opportunity to conduct advanced research relevant to the main thematic focus areas of the UNU Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS, Tokyo) in cooperation with host researchers at Japanese universities and research institutions. 

Under this programme fellows conduct research relevant to one or more of the main thematic focus areas of UNU-IAS: sustainable societies, natural capital & biodiversity, and global change & resilience.

Research proposals for JSPS–UNU Postdoctoral Fellowships should relate clearly to one of the specific research areas of UNU-IAS listed below. The proposed research must be policy-relevant and incorporate gender issues within the research agend

JSPS–UNU Postgraduate Scholarship

Benefits of JSPS–UNU Postgraduate Scholarship

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.

Duration of Program: Fellowships are awarded for a period of 24 months.

JSPS–UNU Postgraduate Scholarship Courses

• Biodiversity and Society
• Innovation and Education
• Strategic Programme
• Water and Resource Management

Requirements for JSPS–UNU Postgraduate Scholarship

1. Applicants must 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. Also, those who have permanent residency in Japan are not eligible.
3. Those who have been previously awarded a Standard or Pathway Fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan scheme are not eligible.
4. Applicants with at least 10 months research and/or professional experience are especially encouraged to apply.

Selection Process

Nomination of candidates

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 2021. JSPS takes up to 3 months after receiving the nominations to process its award decisions.

Application Deadline

How to Apply