Postdoctoral Fellowship

1-1. JSPS postdoctoral fellowship for research in Japan (Standard program)

The program provides an opportunity to conduct collaborative research for young overseas researchers under the guidance of their hosts in universities and other research institutions in Japan.

History
JSPS launched the “Postdoctoral invitees from the United Kingdom and West Germany” in 1979. 10 people from each country were invited for two years based on recommendations from the Royal Society in the UK and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in West Germany.
The main idea of this invitation program was stated in the “Overview of FY 1979 JSPS Projects” as follows: In the view of many of our country’s brilliant young researchers have gained valuable experiences by courtesy of the developed countries, such as the UK, the U.S., France and other nations since the end of the WW-II, we initiate the government-funded program to contribute to the international academic exchange. The program begun to include France as an invitation subject country in 1983 and changed the program name into the “Postdoctoral invitees from the United Kingdom, West Germany and France”. They invited 179 young researchers from 1979 to 1987.
Based on the success of the nine years of the program, it was decided to accept young researchers from the U.S.in 1988 as well as to renew the effort to improve the program by giving grantees the eligibility to apply for the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, and renamed the program as the “JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Overseas Researchers”.
It began accepting applications once a year submitted individually by Japanese host researchers who belong to universities and other research institutions in Japan and wish to invite overseas colleagues (the domestic recruitment system).
The number of public recruitment from subject countries was up to 12 countries in 1989 and 25 countries in 1991. As a result of continuous expansion, the eligibility was broadened for countries that have diplomatic relation with Japan in 1994. Additionally, it established a more flexible invitation system that issued a domestic public recruitment twice a year.
Owing to the transfer of the “STA Fellowship”, which had been carried out by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), to JSPS in 2001, more research laboratories and institutions have joined as host institutions. At the same time, the number of the overseas nominating authorities increased to 35 and that of the recruit subject countries became 25.
Moreover, the “JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Overseas Researchers” was merged with the “Invitation Fellowship for Research in Japan” and have been offered as the “JSPS International Fellowship for Research in Japan” since 2015. It has been implemented by providing the varied programs that enables an applicant to select the program that suits their career stage and desired invitation tenure.

Fields of Research
All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

Duration
12 to 24 months

Fellow Eligibility
(1) Be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan (JSPS treats Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers in this manner).
(2) Hold a doctorate degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received within the past 6 years, or be scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the Fellowship goes into effect.
Note 1: Those who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Research in Japan ([Standard] , and [Pathway to University positions in japan]) are not eligible.
Note 2: Persons who are Japanese citizen and foreigners who are permitted permanent residence in Japan are not eligible.
Note 3: A person who are selected as a fellow needs to submit an original copy of the doctors degree certificate or a copy of the degree by the commencement date (Not required when submitting the application).

Host Eligibility
The applicant (host researcher) must, in principle, be a researcher who is employed full-time at a university or research institution as specified in Article 2* of the Procedure for the Handling of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi), issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). However, there are cases when a researcher not employed in a full time position may be eligible. Such persons must be eligible to apply for a KAKENHI grant–in-aid and his/her affiliated institution must judge them able to implement the project and to provide an appropriate research environment (e.g., laboratory, equipment, personnel) for it.
Each host researcher can submit up to three applications. If more than one overseas researchers apply as candidates for the fellowship at the same time, priorities should be given to them.
*Eligible host institutions specified under the above MEXT Procedure are as follows:
1) Universities and inter-university research institutes
2) MEXT-affiliated institutions engaged in research
3) Colleges of technology
4) Institutions designated by the Minister of MEXT

Term of Award
(1) Airfare: A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS’s regulations. See the “Program Guidelines”. )
(2) Maintenance Allowance: ¥362,000 per month
(3) Miscellaneous: A settling-in allowance of ¥200,000, Overseas travel insurance, etc.
[Note] For the fellow who has been living in Japan (and has a mailing address) before the fellowship starting date, the “traveling expense” of outbound flight and a “settle-in allowance” will not be paid.
A Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Tokubetsu Kenkyuin Syoure-hi) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application for these grants is made by the host researcher through his/her institution.
Link for Application through Open Recruitment in Japan for FY2018:
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/application-18.html
Link for Application through Open Recruitment in Japan for FY2019:
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/application-18.html

1-2. JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Pathway to University Positions in Japan)

The purpose of this program is to promote the employment of overseas researchers in full-time position at Japanese universities and research institutions. It offers the institutions a funded means of inviting postdoctoral researchers from other countries to do pre-employment research in their institutions.
The applicant must be the head of a university or research institution which must have a clearly defined vision for achieving the internationalization of its research and education programs by promoting the employment of overseas researchers.

History
The “JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Pathway to University Positions in Japan)” has been started to provide a step in preparing overseas researchers to become full-time researchers at Japanese universities and other research institutions since 2013.

Fields of Research
All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

Duration
12 to 24 months

Fellow Eligibility
(1) Be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan (JSPS treats Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers in this manner).
(2) Hold a doctorate degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received within the past 10 years, or be scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the Fellowship goes into effect.
(3) Have a desire to continue engaging in research and education at the host institution in a full-time employment capacity.

Host Eligibility
The host researcher must be a researcher who is employed full-time at a university or research institution as specified in Article 2 of the Procedure for the Handling of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi), issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). (Jokyo, assistant professor, and Joshu, research assistant, are excluded.) However, there are cases when a researcher not employed in a full time position may be eligible. Such persons must be eligible to apply for a KAKENHI grant–in-aid and his/her affiliated institution must judge them able to implement the project and to provide an appropriate research environment (e.g., laboratory, equipment, personnel) for it.

Term of Award
(1) Air ticket (payment in kind, economy class)
(2) Overseas travel insurance
(3) Monthly maintenance allowance of ¥387,600
(4) Settling-in allowance of ¥200,000
(5) "Grant-In-Aid for JSPS Fellows" (Tokubetsu Kenkyuin Shorei-hi) of up to ¥1,500,000 per year (total of ¥3,000,000 for two years)
Link for Application through Open Recruitment in Japan for 2018:
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-teicyaku/appliguidelines.html
The recruitment of the Postdoctoral Fellowship (Pathway to University Positions in Japan) in the FY2018 has been suspended. The program will be reviewed. The time and date of restarting this program is undecided.

2. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency is an Independent Administrative Institution formed on October 1, 2005 by a merger of two previous semi-governmental organizations. While it inherited the activities of both PNC and JAERI, it also inherited the nickname of JAERI, an abbreviated word for "nuclear research".
Postdoctoral fellowships
https://www.jaea.go.jp/english/news/index.html

3. Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)

Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) has the main objective to contribute to the advancement of academic research in addition to the improvement of marine science and technology by proceeding the fundamental research and development on marine, and the cooperative activities on the academic research related to the Ocean for the benefit of the peace and human welfare.
Postdoctoral fellowships
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/about/recruit/

4. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was born through the merger of three institutions, namely the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL) and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). It was designated as a core performance agency to support the Japanese governments overall aerospace development and utilization. JAXA, therefore, can conduct integrated operations from basic research and development, to utilization.
JAXA International Top Young Fellowship (ITYF)
JAXA offers scientists and engineers in aerospace an opportunity to conduct research into the scientific and technical aspects of space. Link for application: http://global.jaxa.jp/about/employ/index.html

5. National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS)

National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) is a world-leading radiological research institute with outstanding research levels and facilities. NIRS was established in 1957 as the Japan’s only one institute of radiology, has been driving force for the advancement of radiation science in decades.
NIRS has fundamental and clinical radiation research core centers, and a radiotherapy-specialized hospital; we promote the most influence research and development of diagnostics and therapy with radiological applications, and investigation of the adverse effects and the protection of radiation exposure for the human health and the natural environment. Moreover, we provide our comprehensive education/ training programs of radiation to trainees and professionals. In addition, we respond to various types of disasters with kinds of radioactive contaminations.
Especially, we have been taking the initiative to support Fukushimas future since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident occurred in 2011.
Our diverse research programs as a Center of Excellent at NIRS innovate a better quality of life with radiological science.

Postdoctoral fellowships
Link for application: http://www.qst.go.jp/ENG/career/career.html

6. Postdoctoral fellowships at RIKEN

RIKEN strives to provide the best and most exciting opportunities for young scientists in the crucially important early stages of their career. One manifestation of this support comes in the form of RIKEN-funded short and long-term programs for those wishing to join RIKEN in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, medical science or engineering.
Special Postdoctoral Researchers Program
About new SPDR program
The Foreign Postdoctoral Researcher (FPR) program launched in 2007 has provided talented young foreign scientists with the same kind of opportunities as the Special Postdoctoral Researcher (SPDR) program which was primarily targeted at young Japanese scientists. Starting from 2016, the two programs will be merged into a new SPDR program. Qualified candidates of all nationalities are welcome to apply.
Please refer to the 2019 Call for SPDR Applicants for detailed information on application deadlines and schedule.
http://www.riken.jp/en/careers/programs/spdr/career2019/