JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists, 2024, Japan
Deadline for applications: 15 May / 7 June 2023
Purpose
Awarded to excellent young researchers in Japan, these fellowships offer the fellows an opportunity to focus on a freely chosen research topic based on their own innovative ideas. Ultimately, the program works to foster and secure excellent researchers.
Features
(1) Core program for fostering young researchers
This fellowship program is Japan’s core program for cultivating young Japanese researchers.
(2) Values the independence of young researchers
Excellent young researchers are allowed to focus on a freely selected research topic at an independently chosen research institution.
(3) Supplying Research-Encouragement Funding and Disbursing Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
Funding is provided to doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers to encourage their research under the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)’s Research Fellowships for Young Scientists. These researchers may also apply for the Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows.
(4) Leave for childbirth and childcare
Fellows are allowed to suspend their research for childbirth and childcare and are offered a path back into the laboratory. They can also choose to work short hours while on such leave.
* Under this fellowship program, fellows are not employed by JSPS.
Framework
(1) Target fields
Young researchers in all fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are eligible to apply. When recognized as necessary to advance their research, they may spend part of their tenure at another research institution, including one located overseas.
(2) Fellowship categories
This program offers four categories of fellowships:
- Doctoral Course (DC) Research Fellowships
- Postdoctoral (PD) Research Fellowships
- Restart Postdoctoral (RPD) Research Fellowships
- Cross-border Postdoctoral (CPD) Fellowships
Fellowship Categories
| Category | Eligibility | Tenure | Monthly Stipend/Financial Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC *2 | · Enrolled in a doctoral course in Japan *1 ·DC1: Enrolled in the first year or the equivalent of a doctoral course *3 ·DC2: Enrolled in the second or third year or the equivalent of a doctoral course *3 | DC1: 3 years DC2: 2 years | ¥200,000 |
| PD | · Hold a doctoral degree *3 ·Within 5 years after receiving a doctoral degree *3 ·Transferred to another research institution from where an applicant was conferred a doctoral degree ・A citizen or permanent resident of Japan *4 | 3 years | ¥362,000 |
| RPD | · Hold a doctoral degree *3 ·Suspended research for 3 months or longer for childbirth and/or childcare due to at least one of the following reasons: (1) Researcher who is raising pre-school child(ren) *5 (2) Researcher who has given birth to child(ren) or cared for child(ren) with illness or disability within the past five years *5 ・A citizen or permanent resident of Japan*4 ・No gender or age restrictions | 3 years | ¥362,000 |
| CPD | ・Researchers who are in the first year of Postdoctoral (PD) Fellowships | 5 years (including PD Fellowships’ tenure) | \464,000 Round-trip international airfare |
・Research grant (Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows): Up to ￥1.5 million/year
・Research grant (Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows): Up to ￥3 million/year (CPD)
*1 For further details, please see the application guidelines for this fellowship program.
*2 No nationality requirement for DC applicants.
*3 As of April 1 of the first fiscal year of the fellowship.
*4 The permission date of permanent residency must be before the submission of application.
*5 As of April 1 of the year that is one year prior to the first fiscal year of the fellowship.
- PhD holders without Japanese nationality or permanent residency status in Japan may apply for JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan.
See the details.
Starting date of fellowship tenure
- DC and PD Research Fellowships: April 1
- RPD Research Fellowships; April, July, October or January of next year (optional)
- CPD Research Fellowships: October 1 of the first year of PD fellowships
How to apply
JSPS is not in a position to introduce prospective host institutions to applicants.
Applicants must find their own host research institution and host researcher by themselves before applying. It is highly recommended to establish close contact with a prospective host researcher and institution in advance.
Application Period (From applying organizations to JSPS)
- DC (FY2024) From mid-April to June 7, 2023 at 5 p.m. (JST)
- PD (FY2024) From mid-April to June 7, 2023 at 5 p.m. (JST)
- RPD (FY2024) From mid-March to May 15, 2023 at 5 p.m. (JST)
- CPD (FY2023) From late May to June 22, 2023 at 5 p.m. (JST)
・Deadline for the submission of the application documents from the applicant to the applying organization varies, depending on the institution.
・Please make sure to confirm the deadline with the applying organization in advance.
Screening Process
A fair and transparent screening process is carried out by JSPS’s Screening Committee for Young Researcher Fellowships, comprising frontline Japanese researchers.
See the outline of the screening process.
Screening policy
(i) That the applicant provides the background leading to the establishment of the research theme, and that the approach is significant; that the method of research is unique, and that the future prospects of the research project are described.
(ii) That the applicant has great potentials to become an outstanding researcher who will shoulder the future of science.
(iii) [Only for PD applicants] That the applicant is presumed to be highly motivated to take on the challenge of further enhancing their research capabilities in a new environment, rather than just continuing a series of research they conducted in the doctoral course.
(iv) [Only for PD applicants] Except for unavoidable circumstances, applicants are not awarded the fellowships if they choose (1) the institution at which they obtained the doctoral degree as their host institution and (2) their academic advisor in the doctoral course as their host researcher.
・See here for the screening policy for CPD Research Fellowships (Japanese)
Obligations and Compliance Rules (main items)
- JSPS Research Fellows must observe the conditions stipulated in the JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientist’s compliance rules and procedural guidelines (“Guidelines”) during the fellowship tenure.
- Except in cases of suspension of fellowship for childbirth/childcare or due to illness/injury, fellows must focus on their research based on the research plan stated in their application form during the fellowship tenure.
- Fellows must submit required reports by the stipulated deadlines.
- In principle, fellows may not have any status other than a JSPS Research Fellow with a few exceptions. If they accept a full-time position or an equivalent job, JSPS may disqualify the fellow and terminate the fellowship.
- Fellows may receive a salary or a wage, or obtain other equivalent financial assistance under the conditions JSPS stipulates.
- JSPS has a set of requirements for research funding support other than the monthly stipends and Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows that Fellows may receive during their fellowship tenure. Fellows are not allowed to receive certain funds, including those provided by the national government for the purpose of supporting living expenses, and student loans from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), during their fellowship tenure. For details, see III-14 in the Guidelines.
Source / More information: Official Website HERE.