Application Deadline: January 5, 2021
Applications are open for the SSRC/JSPS Fellowship Program for ABDs and Recent PhDs 2021. The Fellowship provides promising and highly qualified researchers with opportunities to conduct research at leading universities and other research institutions in Japan for 1-12 month or 12-24 month terms. Projects need not be explicitly related to the study of Japan, but must propose work with colleagues and resources in Japan.
The program especially encourages proposals for cooperative research with colleagues in Japan under the guidance of a senior host researcher. The Social Science Research Council serves as the nominating authority for US-based applicants in the social sciences and humanities only. Researchers in the field of medicine or natural sciences should contact the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health.
Fellowship
JSPS currently provides:
• Round-trip international airfare for fellows originating in the U.S.;
• Insurance coverage for accidents and illness;
• A monthly stipend of ¥362,000 for fellows with a PhD at the start of their tenure and ¥200,000 for fellows without it.
• A settling-in allowance of ¥200,000 for fellowships over three months in duration;
• Additional research expenses may be made available for long-term fellows only. Applications for these grants are made by the researcher through their host institution.
Eligibility
• Scholars who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers are not eligible. However, previous short-term fellowship recipients may apply for the long-term fellowship.
• JSPS does not extend fellowships to scholars employed in institutions under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Defense.
• Japanese nationals are not eligible.
• Japanese permanent residents are not eligible.
• Those who have resident cards with mailing addresses in Japan at the application deadline are not eligible for the short-term fellowship.
Additionally:
Candidates for the Long-Term Fellowship must:
• Possess US citizenship or permanent residency status. Permanent residents should upload an image of their permanent resident card (“green card”).
• Have received a PhD diploma from a university outside Japan dated no more than six years prior to April 1, 2020 (on or after April 2, 2015) or be scheduled to receive a doctoral degree before their fellowship tenure begins.
Candidates for the Short-Term Fellowship must:
• Possess US citizenship or permanent residency status. Permanent residents should upload an image of their permanent resident card (“green card”). Citizens of other countries may be eligible if they have completed a masters or PhD course at a US university and, upon completing the course, have for at least three continuous years conducted research in the US. Scholars residing in Japan at the time of application are not eligible.
• Either hold a PhD from a university outside Japan dated no more than six years prior to April 1, 2020 (On or after April 2, 2015) or be within two years of receiving a PhD from the start date of the fellowship.
• Those still working towards the PhD at the time of application must have their advisors submit through the portal a letter detailing that the applicant is in good academic standing and specifying their expected PhD date.
Selection Process
Fellows are selected by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) based on nominations made by the SSRC Japan Advisory Board. The SSRC Japan Advisory Board recommends to JSPS up to 11 candidates annually from the social sciences and humanities. Award offers are made by JSPS in early summer for fellowships that must commence between June 1 and November 30 (long-term) or June 1 and March 31 (short-term).
Application
The application cycle for the 2021 JSPS Fellowship competition will close 11:59pm EST January 5, 2021. Announcements will be made in mid February.
For more information, visit SSRC/JSPS Fellowship.
