Applications Invited for 2025 JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme

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About the Organization

Based in Tokyo, Japan, UNU-IAS serves the international community by producing evidence-based knowledge and solutions to inform policymaking and address priority issues for the UN system. It applies innovative approaches and research methods to challenge conventional thinking and develop creative solutions to emerging issues of global concern.

Our research, education and training engage a global network of scholars and partner institutions, driving connections between policymakers and the science and academic communities to realize sustainable solutions. UNU-IAS integrates expertise across four thematic areas: governance for climate change & sustainable development, biodiversity & society, water & resource management and innovation & education. Through field-based research, including an operating unit in Kanazawa City (Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan), we are developing models for localizing the SDGs and other global agendas by building multi-stakeholder partnerships.

UNU-IAS postgraduate education advances the broader transformation towards sustainability in society — producing the policymakers and researchers of tomorrow, who will be at the forefront of global efforts for sustainability. We offer master’s and doctoral degrees, postdoctoral fellowships, and innovative short courses, in close collaboration with leading universities in Japan and other countries.

About the Fellowship

UNU offers Postdoctoral Fellowships to provide young scholars and policymakers, especially from the developing world, with a multidisciplinary context within which to pursue advanced research and training that are of professional interest to the successful applicant and of direct relevance to the research agenda of their selected thematic programme. Since the start of the Fellowship Programme at UNU-IAS in 1996, more than 250 young researchers – 70% of whom are from the developing world – have benefited from collaboration with UNU and Japanese scholars.

Jointly organized by the UNU and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), the JSPS–UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme is designed to provide promising, highly qualified young researchers with the opportunity to conduct advanced research in sustainability under host researchers at domestic universities and research institutions across Japan in cooperation with UNU-IAS.

This fellowship is aimed at candidates who have completed their doctorates in the past six years (with the period of maternity/paternity leave subtracted) and have professional and/or research experience. UNU-IAS Tokyo acts as the nominating authority for the JSPS–UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme. Nominated fellows will be considered members of their host institutions and are required to carry out their research under the supervision of their host researcher. It is possible for fellows to conduct research at UNU-IAS if mutually agreed upon by the host university.

Terms of the Award:

• Airfare: a round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS regulations)
• Maintenance allowance: JPY 362,000 per month
• Miscellaneous: a settling-in allowance of JPY 200,000 and overseas travel insurance

A research grant (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application for these grants is made by the host researcher through the host institution.

Duration of the Fellowship:

Fellowships are awarded for a period of 24 months in full-month units starting from the date of initiation. Fellows must start their fellowship in Japan by 30 November 2025 and reside in Japan continuously over the duration of the fellowship.

UNU will contact successful candidates by April 2025 and the candidates will then submit an official application to JSPS through UNU-IAS. It might take up to three months for JSPS to process its award decisions after receiving the applications.

Research Areas:

Under this programme, fellows are expected to conduct research in one of the thematic areas listed below under the supervision of the host researcher. The proposed research must be policy-relevant and incorporate gender issues within the research agenda.

• Governance for Sustainable Development (GSD)
• Biodiversity & Society (BDS)
• Water & Resource Management (WRM)
• Innovation & Education (IVE)

Eligibility

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree at the time of application (received on or after 2 April 2019 with the period of maternity/paternity leave subtracted, counting 4 weeks as a month) or be scheduled to receive a doctoral diploma by the end of July 2025 after passing the dissertation defense. Applicants must be citizens of countries that have diplomatic relations with Japan. 

Japanese nationals (including dual citizenship holders) and permanent residents of Japan are not eligible to apply. Those who have previously been awarded a Standard or Pathway Fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan are also not eligible.

How to Apply

Interested and eligible candidates are invited to fill out the application form by 31 January 2025 (23:59 JST). The form must be filled out in English.

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Research Post Doctorate / PhD Others