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JAPAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN JAPAN AWARDS FOR 2008

This program closed on 8 February 2008.
The next round of applications are expected to be called in October 2008.

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The Japan Society for the promotion of Science (JSPS), in association with the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Research Council, offers postdoctoral fellowships annually for Australian researchers to work in institutes affiliated with JSPS.

The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers provides opportunities for Australian postdoctoral researchers to conduct, under the guidance of their Japanese hosts, cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions. The program aims to help such researchers advance their own research while contributing to the advancement of research in Japan and the counterpart countries.

Fields of research:

Applications are invited from suitably qualified Australian researchers in any field of natural sciences (including technology, engineering and medicine), the humanities and social sciences.

Host researchers and host institutions in Japan:

Host researchers in Japan must be employed full-time (excluding research assistants). To be eligible, host researchers in Japan must be affiliated with an institution of the types listed at the end of the application form. 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.

Eligibility:

Each candidate for the Fellowship must:

1. Be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident at time of application. (If you were not born in Australia, please provide proof of Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency).
   
2. Hold a doctorate degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received within six years prior to April 2, 2008 (i.e. awarded on or after April 2, 2002) or be scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the Fellowship goes into affect.
   
3. If the doctorate degree has not yet been awarded, a letter is required form the candidate’s institute stating the date that he/she will officially receive the degree. Note: At time of application, PhD thesis needs to have been submitted.
   
4. Have arranged in advance a research plan with his/her Japanese host.
5. Those who have previously been awarded a fellowship under JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers or an STA Fellowship Program are not eligible.

Number of fellowships awarded: Twenty (20)

Duration and commencement of fellowships:

1. Fellowships are awarded for a period of 12 to 24 months.
2. Successful candidates must start the Fellowship in Japan between: 1 July 2008 and 30 November 2008

Terms of award (Fellows only):

* The amounts of the Awards indicated below are subject to change.

1. A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS regulations)
2. A monthly maintenance allowance of ¥367,000
3. A settling-in allowance of ¥200,000
4. An annual domestic research travel allowance of ¥58,500
5. 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.
• A research grant, 'Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research' (Tokubetsu Kenkyuin Shorei-hi) or 'Research Grant' (Shiken Kenkyu-hi) of up to 1,500,000 yen per year (total of 3,000,000 yen for two years) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application for these grants is made by the host researcher through his/her institution.

Materials to be submitted

1. Application form (research data) written by each candidate (Format 2 – Postdoc)
   
2. A letter of acceptance/invitation from the candidate's prospective host researcher in Japan, stating that he/she accepts the candidate at his/her institution.
   
3. A document detailing Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency status (for applicants not born in Australia).
   
4. A letter of reference/recommendation from the candidate's current or previous supervisor (not from his/her prospective host researcher in Japan) – (see Notes for Referees at back of application form)
   
5. A copy of the candidate's doctoral degree certificate. If the degree has not yet been awarded, a letter is required from the candidate's institution stating the date that he/she will officially receive the degree. Note: At time of application, PhD thesis needs to have been submitted.
   
6. Supplementary documents (if necessary)
   
7. All documents except degree certification and those confirming Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency status must be the original.
   
8. All documents must be in English.

Reporting obligation:

The fellowship awardees and their host researchers must submit to JSPS two research reports: (1) an interim report at the 12 month juncture of the fellow's tenure, and (2) a final report within one month of the completion of his/her tenure. Successful applicants are also required to submit copies of the above reports to the Academy.

* The awardees will also be asked to participate in surveys aimed at improving the fellowship program.

* The names of the awardees and their host researchers as well as their research themes and reports are subject to public disclosure.

This project is supported by the Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research’s International Science Linkages - Science Academies Programme established under the Australian Government’s innovation statement, Backing Australia’s Ability.