JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship (Short-term) for Young Researchers in the US "Oubei Tanki" 2008 - 2009 [Application to JSPS Washington Office] 　 Outline of the Fellowship Fields of Research Eligibility Host Researchers and Host Institutions in Japan Number of Fellowships Awarded Duration and Commencement of Fellowships Terms of Award Application Procedure for the Program Selection Criteria Obligation of the Fellows Handling of Personal Information 　 ◆ OUTLINE OF THE FELLOWSHIP The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities to young pre- and post-doctoral researchers from the United States to conduct, under the guidance of their hosts, cooperative research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions. In so doing, the program is designed to provide researchers with firsthand experience of the research and living environment in Japan, whilst expanding academic exchange between Japan and the US. 　 ◆ FIELDS OF RESEARCH All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are included under this program. 　 ◆ ELIGIBILITY (1) Be a citizen or permanent resident of the US (However, citizens of other countries are eligible if they have completed a master's or PhD course at an institution of higher education in one of the eligible countries and, upon completing the course, have for at least three continuous years conducted high-level research at a university or research institution in an eligible country.) (2) Hold a doctorate at the time the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received on or after April 2, 2002; or be enrolled in a doctoral course and be scheduled to receive a Ph.D. within two years. (3) Have arranged in advance a research plan with a host researcher in Japan. Note: Those who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers are not eligible. This Oubei-Tanki Fellowship is only awarded once per researcher. 　 ◆ HOST RESEARCHERS AND HOST INSTITUTIONS IN JAPAN (1) Host researchers in Japan must be a researcher (excluding research assistants) employed full-time at one of the following institutions (see the List of Host Institutions): (a) Japanese national, public or private universities or inter-university research institutes (b) National laboratories or other organizations actively engaged in research, including independent administrative institutions, public research corporations, nonprofit organizations, and prefectural research institutes. (2) Applicants must have arranged in advance a research plan for their stay in Japan with their prospective host researcher. It is the applicant's responsibility to search for and contact a suitable Japanese Host from the Japanese Institutions. JSPS is not permitted to aid an applicant with this process. Evidence of correspondence with your host should be sent with your application form. Evidence of correspondence usually takes the form of e-mails and/or faxes and letters. The evidence should demonstrate the following: o the host researcher in Japan accepts to act as host for the applicant o the project has been thoroughly discussed and developed with the host researcher o both the host and the applicant will benefit positively from the proposed collaboration 　 ◆ NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED Approximately 10 Fellowships will be granted in FY2008. 　 ◆ DURATION AND COMMENCEMENT OF FELLOWSHIPS (1) Fellowships are awarded for a period of 1 to 12 months (2) Successful candidates must start the Fellowship in Japan during the following period: 1 December 2008 - 31 March 2009 　 ◆ TERMS OF AWARD (FELLOWS ONLY) (The amounts of the Awards indicated below are subject to change.) (1) A round-trip air ticket (according to JSPS regulations) (2) A settling-in allowance of \200,000 (only applicable for Fellows with 4 or more months of tenure) (3) A monthly maintenance allowance (a) For Ph.D. holders: \364,000 (b) For Ph.D. candidates: \200,000 (4) Overseas travel accident and sickness insurance coverage Note1: If the Fellow resides in Japan on the date his/her award letter is issued, the above-mentioned air ticket to Japan and settling-in allowance will not be provided. Note2: A research support allowance is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application is made by the host researcher. 　 ◆ APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR THE PROGRAM Applications for this program must be submitted to JSPS Tokyo HQs through JSPS Washington Office. Application process is as follows: (1) Contact is made between a US researcher who wishes to participate in this program and conduct cooperative research with his/her prospective host in Japan. (2) The US researcher submits an application and letters to JSPS Washington Office. (a) Application Form (PDF or MS WORD) to be filled in by each applicant. (Note: use forms prepared by JSPS.) (b) A letter of acceptance / invitation from the applicant's prospective host researcher in Japan, stating that he/she accepts the applicant at his / her institution. (c) A letter of reference/recommendation from the applicant's current or previous academic supervisor (not from his/her prospective host researcher in Japan) (d) A copy of the applicant's doctoral degree certificate (diploma). If the degree has not yet been awarded, a letter is required from the applicant's institution stating the date that he/she will officially receive the degree. (3) JSPS Washington Office selects the candidates and nominates them to JSPS Tokyo HQs. (4) Approximately three months after receiving an application, JSPS Tokyo HQs will send out a notice of selection decision to the candidate. Note 1: JSPS does not find or introduce host researchers. Note 2: When setting the starting date of fellowships, adequate time should be allowed for application processing: e.g., application screening by JSPS Washington Office and selection decision-making by JSPS HQs. Note 3: All documents except degree certificate must be the original. All documents must be in English. When the original document is in another language, please be sure to attach an English translation (which does not to need be an official translation, but may be done by the host or applicant). Note 4: Apart from receiving applications through JSPS Washington Office, JSPS Tokyo HQs also accepts applications from Japanese researchers who agree to host a foreign postdoctoral researcher (Open recruitment). For details on this application channel, please see our website. 　 ◆ APPLICATION DEADLINE The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, October 31st, 2008. Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. 　 ◆ SELECTION CRITERIA (1) The fellowship should help advance both the candidate's and the host's research work (2) The host and candidate must have established close communication and devised a concrete research plan (3) The implementation of the fellowship should contribute to promoting exchange between Japan and countries of North America (4) In the research plan, consideration should be given to honing the research skills of pre-doctoral candidates (5) As much as possible, preference should not be given to host institution or field of specialization in making selections. 　 ◆ OBLIGATION OF THE FELLOWS The candidates should bear in mind the following four points when applying for the program, and should observe them if selected for a fellowship. After selection, they will be expected to observe the regulations and procedures stipulated in the Program Guidelines for the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for North American and European Researchers (Short-Term). If the fellow should fail to do so, the fellowship may be withdrawn, allowances (including airfares) stopped, and already-paid allowances reclaimed. (1) During their tenures, fellows shall not, either in or outside the host institution, infringe in any way on the human rights of others, including racial or gender discrimination or other forms of abuse. (2) Fellows shall not commit acts of research misconduct, e.g., fabricating or falsifying research results, nor shall they misuse research funds, e.g., use for private purpose or for purposes other than the approved research. (3) As a rule, fellows shall stay in Japan continuously during the tenure of their fellowships and concentrate on their research at the host institution. Fellows may, however, suspend their fellowships for the purpose of childbearing or infant nursing. Fellow may not engage in other work, neither paid nor unpaid, during their tenures. (4) Fellows must submit a research report using separately prescribed format. 　 ◆ HANDLING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION With regard to personal information contained in application materials, it shall be strictly controlled in accordance with low to protect personal information held by administrative institutions and JSPS's rule of protect personal information. Using personal information in implementing the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (Short-Term) for North American and European Researchers, including the provision of such information to private companies commissioned to conduct date processing management, JSPS shall observe these laws and regulations. If selected as a fellow, fellows should note that their name, research theme, host institution, name and title of their host researcher, and their research reports will be given public access. Fellow will also be asked to participate in surveys aimed at improving the fellowship program. 　 ◆ CONTACT Address for Applications should be submitted: JSPS Washington Office 1800 K Street NW, Suite 920, Washington, DC 20006 　 Email: short-termfellowship@jspsusa.org TEL: 1-202-659-8190 FAX: 1-202-659-8199