International Programs

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Invitation Fellowship (Short-Term) 2013-14

The call for applications for travel in FY2013-2014 has now closed. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of this grant
in late-April.

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) offers the JSPS Invitation Fellowship for Research in Japan (Short Term) to promote international scientific cooperation and exchange. The Fellowship allows researchers employed at designated Japanese research institutions and universities to invite fellow researchers from Australia to Japan to participate in discussions, attend seminars, give lectures, or perform similar functions at their research institutions. These visits presuppose the existence of contacts between scientists in Japan and Australia, a condition considered favourable to the promotion of future scientific cooperation and exchange.

Fields of research:

Applications are invited from suitably qualified researchers in any field of natural sciences, including technology, engineering and medicine.

Host researchers and host institutions in Japan:

To be eligible, host researchers in Japan must be employed full time at an institution of the types listed in Table 1. Fellows must conduct their research at the host's affiliated institution. An official letter of invitation from the host researcher should be attached to the application form.

Table 1- Host institutions

Eligibility:

1. Senior scientists, university professors, and other persons with substantial professional experience.
2. Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents living in Australia at the time of application. (If you were not born in Australia, please provide proof of Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency).

• Note:Persons of Japanese nationality are not eligible to apply, nor are those of dual nationality if one is Japanese.
• Note: Researchers who have already visited Japan under the JSPS Invitation Fellowship Programs (Short Term) may not reapply for the same fellowship until three years have elapsed. Therefore, researchers who were awarded an invitation fellowship in FY 2010, 2011 or 2012 are not eligible to apply for the same fellowship in FY2013 (i.e. this current round).

Duration and commencement of fellowships:

1. Fellowships are awarded for a period of 14 to 60 days.
2. Successful candidates must start the Fellowship in Japan between: 1 August 2013 and 31 March 2014.

Terms of award (Fellows only):
The amounts of the Awards indicated above are subject to change.

1. A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS regulations)
2. A daily maintenance allowance of ¥18,000
3. Domestic research travel allowance of ¥150,000
4. Overseas travel accident and sickness insurance coverage

Note:

• The amounts of the Awards indicated above are subject to change
• If the Fellow resides in Japan on the date his/her award letter is issued, the air ticket to Japan and settling-in allowance will not be provided
• Host's cooperation allowance of ¥50,000 yen is paid to hosts

Reporting obligation:

1. Fellows are expected to devote themselves full time to their research during the term of the Fellowship, and may not accept employment in Japan with or without remuneration.
2. The fellowship awardees and their host researchers must submit a research report within one month of the competition of the fellowship tenure to JSPS and a copy to the Australian Academy of Science.

Note

• The names of the awardees and their host researchers as well as their research themes and reports are subject to public disclosure.
• The awardees will also be asked to participate in surveys aimed at improving the fellowship program.
  

Materials to be submitted (in the following order)

1. An original hand-signed and dated application form (Format 2-Invitation) – single sided. No digital signatures please.
2. A certified copy of a document detailing Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency status (for applicants not born in Australia) e.g. Certificate of Citizenship, passport or visa.
3. An original hand-signed letter of acceptance/invitation from the candidate’s prospective host researcher in Japan, stating that he/she accepts the candidate at his/her institution. No digital signatures please.
4. An original hand-signed Referee Report (see Notes for Referee and Referee Report Form) – single sided. No digital signatures please.

Referees should not be from the applicant’s department or division, or from the host institution. Only one written reference is required. Please provide the name, address and contact details of one referee (Australian or overseas) who will provide the Academy with a written report.

Please provide the names, address and contact details of two additional referees (Australian) who may be contacted by the selection committee if further information is required.

5. Supplementary documents (if necessary)

Note:

• All documents except those confirming Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency status must be the original.
• All documents must be in English.

Notification of outcome: It is expected that the Academy will be able to notify applicants of its nominations by late-April 2013. Please note that JSPS will then need to approve the Academy’s nominations. This process can take up to 4 months from the time the Academy submits their nominations. Please take this period into consideration when arranging your proposed travel dates.

Applications are considered carefully against the selection criteria by a committee of scientists with diverse expertise. The decisions of the committee are based upon the assessed competitiveness of the proposal. The Academy is not able to enter discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons why an application is successful or not.

This project is supported by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education