Grant Information&Employment Opportunitiesin Japan

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST)Japan was isolated for nearly 300 years before theso-called ‘black ships’ carrying Captain Perry arrived inShimoda Bay in 1853. Prior to this event the only recordedcontact between Japan and other countries was trade with
Holland and China, where business transactions were carried out on an artificial island called Dejima, near Nagasaki.
The Meiji Restoration in 1867 returned power from theShogun Yoshinobu to central government and so began
the era of regular interaction between young Japanesescientists and scholars and their counterparts overseas.
Modern Japan is a technological powerhouse, mainly
as a result of the tremendous time and effort expended byindustry to produce the best and nothing but the best.
However, in spite of the success of Japanese industry there
are critics who argue that Japan has not invested enoughin encouraging international collaboration in basic research.
From my personal experience of working and living
in Japan, I think that there are tremendous opportunities
for non-Japanese to study, work and in some cases to live,in Japan. In my case I was awarded a Monbusho Scholarship (Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture)
to study at Tokyo Institute of Technology and the Instituteof Industrial Science, of the University of Tokyo. After this,I applied for a position at Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. and wasgiven a permanent research post at Atsugi Laboratories.
Recently, in 1995, I decided that I wanted to move into
the academic arena and was able to find a tenure positionat Tokai University.
After nearly 15 years in Japan I feel relatively comfortable using the Japanese language but the inability tounderstand a language can be a huge barrier when looking for useful career information. One of the aims of theJSAPI is to assist in lowering such barriers by providing
relevant information in English. Thus in this section weinclude information about career opportunities in Japan
from two governmental organizations whose main missions are to encourage long term and in-depth international collaboration in fundamental research.
We hope that this section will lead to the beginningof many new and successful scientific careers in Japan.
Good Luck!

Adarsh Sandhu
JSAPI Editorial Committee

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Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Jochi Kioizaka Bldg., 6-26-3 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094
Telephone +81-3-3263-1721 Facsimile +81-3-3263-1854
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Foreign Researchers
2000-2001
The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Foreign Researchers was established in 1988 to assist promising and highly-qualified young
foreign researchers wishing to conduct research in Japan. This program is now available to researchers of all countries that have
diplomatic relations with Japan. The program is aimed at providing opportunities for such researchers to conduct cooperative
research with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions, thereby permitting them to advance theirown research, while stimulating Japanese academic circles, particularly young Japanese researchers through close collaborationin scientific activities. Such collaboration will also serve to advance scientific research in the counterpart countries.

1. FIELDS OF RESEARCH
1) Applications from Japanese Host Researchers: All fields within the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineeringand medicine are included.
2) Applications through a Foreign Nominating Authority: Fields of research acceptable are specified or limited by each nominating authority.

2. NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED
The number of awards has not been set for FY2000 (approximately 280 Fellowships will be granted for FY1999).

3. ELIGIBILITY
Each candidate for the Fellowship must:
1) Be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan2) Hold a doctorate degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received within six years prior to April
1, 2000.
3) Have arranged in advance his/her research plans with his/her Japanese host researcher employed at Japanese universities/research institutions.

4. DURATION AND COMMENCEMENT OF FELLOWSHIP
1) Fellowships are awarded for a period of 24 months. (If you should not require a full 24 months for your research in Japan, you
may propose a shorter fellowship tenure of at least 12 months).
2) Each Fellowship must begin within the 2000 Japanese fiscal year (between April 1, 2000 and March 31, 2000)

5. TERMS OF AWARDSJSPS provides each Fellow with the following support:
1) A round-trip air ticket for the Fellow only
2) A monthly maintenance stipend of 270,000 YEN
3) A settling-in allowance of 200,000 YEN
4) Domestic research travel allowance of 58,500 YEN per year
5) A monthly housing subsidy6) A monthly family allowance, if accompanied by dependents and7) Accident and sickness insurance coverage for the Fellow only.

JSPS Web-site is available for more information about this postdoctoral fellowship program:

http://www.jsps.go.jp/28

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Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST)The Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST) was founded on October 1, 1966 through the integration of twoorganizations, the Japan Information Center of Science and Technology (JICST) and the Research Development Corporation of Japan (JRDC).
Along with succeeding and further developing the activities of these two organizations, JST has new objectives toprovide adequate foundation for enhancing Japanís science and technology and to promote the development of highedged and innovative research in line with the Basic Law of Science and Technology enacted and promulgated on
November 15, 1995.
JST is engaged in fundamental activities conducive to the promotion of science and technology in Japan and our activities include;
Dissemination of scientific and techno-Promotion of technology development andlogical information as Japanís central
information center.

transfer that contributes to generalprogress of science and society of Japan.

Promotion of basic research considered
instrumental in creation of innovative

Deepening public understanding of science

technology.

and technology.

Research exchange and support for improvement of infrastructure for promot-ing
science and technology.

STA Fellowship ProgramThis program provides foreign researchers with opportunities to conduct research at national research
institutes and other public corporations in Japan as STA
fellows and aims to activate international ex-change of
researchers in the fields of science and tech-nology.
STA fellows are nominated through recommendation of• Host research institutes and laboratories
National laboraories, Public corporations, Nonprofitorganizations. Prefectural research institutes• Research Theme
Research theme will be discussed between host researchers and prospective fellows

both foreign responsible organizations and national
research institutes and other public corporations.

• Fellowship qualifications
Applicants for fellowship should;
1)possess Ph.D. in scientific, technological, engineer-ing or
medical fields or equivalent qualifications.
2)be not older than 35 years of age or have acquired
Ph.D. within the last 6 years as a general rule.

• Tenure
For long-term fellowship:from 6months to 2years
For short-term fellowship: from I month to 3 months• Fellowship awards
Round-trip airline ticket between Japan and the fellowís
home country.
Monthly living allowance, Family allowance, Housing fees,etc.

Contact:
Department of International Affairs:
TEL 048-226-5630 FAX 048-226-5751
http://stafellow.jst.go.jp/index.html
E-mail : staf@jst.go.jp* JST Web page is also available for the details of recruit information about JST basic research programs.

http://www.jst.go.jp/EN

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