The call for applications is currently closed
Applications for the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships are now closed. The submission deadline was 9 AM (AEDT) Monday 4 November 2024.
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), in association with the Australian Academy of Science, offers postdoctoral fellowships for Australian researchers to undertake collaborative projects with Japanese host researchers at JSPS-affiliated institutes in Japan for between 12 and 24 months.
The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan provide the opportunity for Australian postdoctoral researchers to conduct cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions, under the guidance of their Japanese hosts.
The program aims to help such researchers advance their own research while contributing to the advancement of research in Japan and the counterpart countries.
To facilitate a smooth process of research in Japan, sufficient consultation should be made in advance between the candidate and their prospective host researcher.
Mutual agreement regarding the research plan, conditions at the host laboratory and the candidate’s status under the fellowship should be established prior to application.
As a rule, the fellowship awardees (fellows) shall stay in Japan continuously during the tenure of their fellowships and concentrate on their research at the host institution. Fellows must not engage in other work, either paid or unpaid, during their tenure.
Host researchers in Japan must be employed full time or classified as being employed full time at a listed research university or research institution.
Applications are invited in any field of the physical sciences, life sciences, engineering, technology and medicine.
Proposals that address one or more of Australia's National Science and Research Priorities will be given preference. The priorities are listed below, with research subfield examples included.
Please note that although the JSPS accepts applications in the humanities and the social sciences under its broader program, the Academy is unable to accept applications in these two areas for this current round.
Candidates must be Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens with a Special Category visa (subclass 444) and must be living in Australia at the time of application.
Australian permanent residents need to be citizens of countries that have diplomatic relations with Japan. People of Japanese nationality, or dual nationality where one is Japanese, are not eligible to apply.
Candidates who have permanent residency in Japan are not eligible to apply.
Candidates must hold a PhD degree, which must have been received on or after 2 April 2019 or be scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the proposed fellowship commencement date.
As per section 5 (note 3) of the JSPS application guidelines, maternity or parental leave can be deducted from the time since receiving the PhD degree, should this reduce the time to less than the eligible period of within six years.
For this career interruption to be included, please note that a different application form must be completed. This can be requested through the Academy's International Programs Officer (grants@science.org.au).
If the PhD degree has not been conferred at the time of application, the candidate must obtain a letter from their institution stating that—at the time of application—the applicant has met all the conditions required for completion of the degree.
The letter must also include the specific date on which the degree will be conferred. This must be before the proposed fellowship commencement date.
Please note that specific completion requirements may vary between institutions. Candidates are strongly encouraged to clarify the requirements with their awarding institution prior to submitting the fellowship application. This may involve seeking advice from the institution's Office of the Registrar, for example.
Candidates who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard – P, and Pathway to University positions in Japan – PU) are not eligible.
If it becomes known before or after selection that a candidate does not meet the application eligibility, their selection may be cancelled, or the fellowship terminated. If the fellowship has already commenced, the candidate may be required to reimburse the JSPS any paid allowances.
Fellowships are awarded for a period of between 12 and 24 full months (minimum 365 days; maximum 730 days). Successful candidates must start the fellowship in Japan between 1 May and 30 November 2025.
The amounts indicated below are subject to change.
If the fellow resides in Japan on the date their award letter is issued, the air ticket to Japan and settling-in allowance will not be provided.
A Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grants-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Applications for this grant are made by the host researcher in Japan through their institution.
For details, please see the application guidelines for the Grants-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows.
Applications are to be submitted online and must include the following attachments as PDF files:
Note: all documents must be in English.
The application submission deadline is 9 AM (AEDT) Monday 4 November 2024.
Applications are considered carefully against the selection criteria by a committee of scientists with diverse expertise. The decisions of the committee are based on the assessed competitiveness of the proposal.
The Academy is not able to enter into discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons an application is successful or unsuccessful.
The fellow and their host researchers must submit a final report to the JSPS within one month of the completion of the fellowship tenure. A copy of the fellow’s report to the JSPS must also be submitted to the Academy, together with an additional report to the Academy within three months of completing the fellowship.
The Academy will provide a template to the fellow for the second report. Awardees will be asked to participate in surveys aimed at improving the fellowship program.
The Academy’s quota for nominations under the 2025 round has not yet been confirmed by JSPS and is expected to be advised in October 2024. However, in 2024 the Academy was able to nominate 12 postdocs from Australia to the JSPS. The Academy will assess and rank the applications and provide the JSPS with a nomination list of recommended applicants, but the final selection of successful applicants will be made by JSPS.
It is expected that the Academy will notify applicants of its nominations in late December 2024. The JSPS will then need to approve the Academy nominations.
Approximately three months after receiving the nominations, the JSPS will advise the final selection decision to both the candidate and the Academy.
Please take this period into consideration when arranging your proposed travel dates.
For further information contact:
Program Delivery Unit
Australian Academy of Science
GPO Box 783
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6201 9412
Email: grants@science.org.au
This project is supported by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
© 2025 Australian Academy of Science
