Research Opportunities in Japan: The Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowships

Posted 2:55 PM, March 19, 2007, by jaruiz

Like our National Science Foundation (NSF), the JSPS is one of the largest funding agencies in Japan with an annual budget of $1.8 billion. Of this amount, approximately $1.5 million was awarded to 50,000 scientific projects in 2006. From the total JSPS budget, foreign researchers received $100 million through international science cooperation programs. These JSPS programs provide opportunities for foreign researchers to conduct collaborative research activities at Japanese universities and research institutions. There are five JSPS programs open to U.S. scientists: the JSPS Invitation Fellowships for Research in Japan (1. short term and 2. long term); the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs for Foreign Researchers (3. short term and 4. standard); and the JSPS Summer Program. Almost all Japanese universities and institutions participate in these programs.

In 2005, 73 U.S. scientists (4.3% of the total 1,704 fellows) participated in JSPS international programs. Of the total 1,704 international scientists, 30.5% (519) were from the biological, agricultural, and medical sciences while 35.3% (601) were from the mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences.

For more information about JSPS opportunities, please contact the Director, Dr. Seishi Takeda, at the JSPS San Francisco Office (510) 665-1890, by email (webmaster@jspsusa-sf.org), or through the JSPS website (http://www.jspsusa-sf.org). A condensed overview of each fellowship follows.

A) JSPS Invitation Fellowships for Research in Japan (1. short term and 2. long term)

1. JSPS Invitation Fellowships for Research in Japan: short term (2007-2008) (14 days to 60 days)

STIPEND: $153 (daily allowance); $1,271 (domestic research travel allowance); round trip air ticket

QUALIFICATIONS: for senior scientists, university professors, and other persons with substantial professional experience

STATISTICS: approximately 235 awarded/year; for FY 2007: 34 (applied)/12 (selected)--medical sciences; 94 (applied)/33 (selected)--engineering sciences; and 92 (applied)/33 (selected)--math/physical sciences

APPLYING: Japanese researchers wishing to host a U.S. fellow apply to JSPS, OR U.S. researchers apply to the NIH; application period: Sept. 4-8, 2006 (first recruitment)/May 7-11, 2007 (second recruitment)

FOR MORE INFO.: http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-inv/main.htm

2. JSPS Invitation Fellowships for Research in Japan: long term (2007-2008) (61 days to 10 months)

STIPEND: $3,127 (monthly allowance); $847 (domestic research travel allowance); $339 (research expenses); round trip air ticket

QUALIFICATIONS: for postdoctoral researchers, assistant professors, professors, or research associates, or for those with equivalent experience; PhD holders must have held a doctoral degree for a period of six years or longer as of April 1, 2007; non-PhD holders must be a university professor, associate/assistant professor, research associate, OR other person without a doctoral degree, who holds an academic position at an equivalent level, but does not have a PhD (and will not receive one in FY2007)

STATISTICS: approximately 70 awarded/year; for FY 2007: 20 (applied)/6 (selected)--medical sciences; 58 (applied)/16 (selected)--engineering sciences; and 50 (applied)/14 (selected)--math/physical sciences

APPLYING: Japanese researchers wishing to host a U.S. fellow apply to JSPS, OR U.S. researchers apply to the NIH; application period was Sept. 4-8, 2006

FOR MORE INFO.: http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-inv/main.htm

B) JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs for Foreign Researchers (3. short term and 4. standard)

3. Short-Term JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (2007-2008) (16 days to 11 months)

STIPEND: Research grant: $686/month; $3,237 (monthly allowance for PhDs) and $2,966 (monthly allowance for non-PhDs); $496 (travel $); $1,695 (settling in); round trip air ticket

QUALIFICATIONS: for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty; all applicants must hold a doctorate degree, which must have been received within six years prior to April 2, 2007, OR be enrolled in a doctoral course at a university outside of Japan and be scheduled to receive a Ph.D. within two years of the fellowship going into effect

STATISTICS: approximately 60 awarded/year; for FY 2006: 15 (applied)/ 8 (selected)--medical sciences; 46 (applied)/13 (selected)--engineering sciences; and 42 (applied)/14 (selected)--math/physical sciences; of U.S. applicants: 26 (applied)/10 (selected)

APPLYING: U.S. researchers apply through the JSPS San Francisco Office or the NIH: Nov. 2, 2006 (first recruitment); Jan. 4, 2007 (second recruitment); Mar. 2, 2007 (third recruitment); April 4, 2007 (fourth recruitment); July 4, 2007 (fifth recruitment); and Sept. 5, 2007 (sixth recruitment); OR, find a Japanese researcher to apply on your behalf: Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2006 (first recruitment); Feb. 5-9, 2007 (second recruitment); April 2-6, 2007 (third recruitment); May 7-11, 2007 (fourth recruitment); Aug. 6-10, 2007 (fifth recruitment); Oct. 9-12, 2007 (sixth recruitment)

FOR MORE INFO.: http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/postdoctoral.html

4. Standard JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (2007-2008) (12 to 24 months)

STIPEND: Research grant: $12,712; $3,237 (monthly allowance); $496 (travel $); $2,695 (settling in); round trip air ticket

QUALIFICATIONS: for postdoctoral researchers and faculty; all applicants must hold a doctorate degree, which must have been received within six years prior to April 2, 2007

STATISTICS: approximately 400 awarded/year; FY2007: 173 (applied)/35 (selected)--medical sciences; 373 (applied)/76 (selected)--engineering sciences; and 117 (applied)/24 (selected)--math/physical sciences

APPLYING: U.S. researchers apply through the NIH or the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), OR have a Japanese host researcher apply on your behalf through JSPS; Sept. 4-8, 2006 (first recruitment)/May 7-11, 2007 (second recruitment)

FOR MORE INFO.: http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/postdoctoral.html

C) JSPS Summer Program (2007-2008) (2 months)

STIPEND: Travel grant and stipend: approx. $4,525

QUALIFICATIONS: for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers

APPLYING: Contact Ms. Akiko Chiba, at the Tokyo Regional Office of the NSF: http://www.nsftokyo.org/spmenu.html; tel: +81 (0)3 3224 5502; fax: +81 (0)3 3224 5507; e-mail: achiba@nsf.gov

FOR MORE INFO.: http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-summer/index.html