NAOJ Invitational Programs for International Researchers and Students
as of November 2023

NAOJ Fellowship

NAOJ Overseas InternshipEACOA Fellowship

JSPS International Fellowships

Doctoral Course at Sokendai

The Sabbatical Researchers program is The EACOA Fellowship is a scholarship program established by the The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) offers
NAOJ provides education and researchintended for researchers who are
East Asia Core Observatories Association (EACOA), which is
fellowship programs that provide overseas researchers whoguidance for graduate students, and welcomescurrently affiliated with an academic comprised of the following four East Asian institutes including NAOJ: have an excellent record of research achievements with aninternational students as the host institute ofinstitute, and who are on sabbatical
opportunity to conduct collaborative research, discussions, and the Astronomical Science Program of theleave for engaging in an autonomous EACOA member institutes:
opinion exchanges with researchers in Japan. NAOJ accepts
Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies at
research project at NAOJ.
international researchers enrolled in these programs.
SOKENDAI.
National Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), National AstronomicalObservatories of China (NAOC), Korea Astronomy and Space
Science Institute (KASI), and Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy JSPS’s invitation programs come in two categories:
For details, please refer to the below listed
and Astrophysics (ASIAA) of Taiwan.
“Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan” for young
Sokendai websites.
researchers and “Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan”
This program aims to promote collaborative astronomical research for mid-career to professor-level researchers.
in the East Asian region by offering support to outstanding young
researchers of any nationality who wish to conduct research
For details, please refer to the below listed JSPS websites.
activities at the EACOA member institutes.

5 years

3 years for "General" and "Project/Center"1 month to 1 year (The entire period of stay
Up to 1 year
fellows. For "External Funding", varies
must be within a single fiscal year - April todepending on the programs to which the fellow March.)
belongs. Depending on their categories, it may
be extended for up to another 2 years subject (In certain circumstances, individuals may
to an end-term review.
choose to apply for a "non-employee position"of the International Visiting Scholars program.
In this case, their visiting period is limited
between 1 month and 90 days within a single
fiscal year - April to March.)

1 month to 1 year

Several"General": three (3)"Project/Center": several"External Funding": several

VariesVariesVarieshttps://www.jsps.go.jp/english/einv_researchers/index.html

Applicants must hold, or expect to hold a PhD
degree in astronomy or related fields by thestarting date of the fellowship.

Applicants must have a current affiliation withan overseas research and educational institutespecializing in astronomy and/or related fields,
and also must be under 71 years of age as ofApril 1st of the year of the visiting peiod. (Noage limit for non-employee positions)

The applicant must be a currently enrolled
Applicants must have a current
graduate student who is pursuing a degree in affiliation with an overseas or
astronomy or related fields at an overseas
domestic research and/or academic
university or accredited academic institution. institution.

Duration

Eligibility

https://www.jsps.go.jp/file/storage/jinv/pamphlet/fellowship_2023_EN.pdfSalary/Funds/Allowances

The NAOJ Fellow will receive thefollowing salary and funds based ona pay scale for Project AssistantProfessors employed under theannual salary system.
- Annualy salary: 6,600,000 JPY- Annual research funds: 1,000,000
JPY

Once a year (usually early August).

"General": once a year (usually mid-September Once a year (usually late August to lateto late October)
September)"Project/Center": as-needed basis"External Funding": as-needed basis
An application must be made by a hostresearcher at NAOJ.

https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/aboutnaoj/employment/jobs-fellow.html

https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/aboutnaoj/employment/fellowship-program.html

N/AFor details, contact a NAOJ staff member withwhom you have already performed a joint
project. If you have no contact with a NAOJ
staff, refer to the following lists and contact amember in the area of your interest.
https://www2.nao.ac.jp/~openinfo/reslist/index.html
https://guasastronomy.jp/eng/Supervisors/index.html

Five-year Doctoral Program
orThree-year Doctoral ProgramOne (1) or two (2)Varies among the programs

VariesApplicants must hold a PhD degree in astronomy or related fields,and must be within the first 5 years of obtaining the PhD degree atthe time of the starting date of the fellowship.

Varies among the programs

For the Five-year Doctoral Program: applicantsmust hold a degree equivalent to a Bachelor’sdegree or expect to hold the same by themonth preceding the month of enrollment.

The EACOA Fellow will receive the following salary and funds.

(Admissions are held twice a year - in April andOctober.)

N/AThis position is not available at the Chile andHawaii branches. For details, contact a NAOJ
staff member with whom you have alreadyperformed a joint project. If you have nocontact with a NAOJ staff, refer to thefollowing lists and contact a member in thearea of your interest.
https://www2.nao.ac.jp/~openinfo/reslist/index.html
https://guasastronomy.jp/eng/Supervisors/index.html

Varies among the programs

Several scholarship programs are available forsuccessful candidates of the Sokendai
international students accepted to NAOJ.

Varies among the programs

Varies depending on the April and Octoberadmissions and the Five-year and Three-year
Doctoral Programs.

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-inv_researchers/index.html

https://guas-astronomy.jp/eng/index.html

https://www.jsps.go.jp/file/storage/jinv/pamphlet/fellowship_2023_EN.pdf

https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/

Monthly allowance: 5,000 USD
Research fund: 20,000 USD/year (exact amount may varydepending on the conditions and availability of the research funds ofthe host institute)
Relocation expenses: reimbursed based on the actual cost, with amaximum limit of 4,000 USD

Applications are accepted all year round, but Applications accepted all year-round Once a year (usually August to mid-November)must be submitted at least 3 months prior tothe starting date.
Applications must be prepared by theapplicant and submitted through theApplications must be made by both the host Director of the hosting project, centeror division at NAOJ.
researcher at NAOJ and the candidate
student.

URL
NAOJ Fellows will become a member Project Research Fellows will become aof the NAOJ project to which theirmember of the NAOJ project to which their
host researcher belongs. However, host researcher belong. They are expected tothis affiliation is made only forspend a certain amount of time specified bypurposes of administrative
their categories or funding programs forconvenience, and is not meant to be engaging in the duties assigned by theirassociated with imposing any
projects, but can use the rest of the time tofunctional duties to the NAOJ Fellow. pursue their own research interests.
NAOJ Fellows are free to focus on
their independent
research/development plans.

3 years subject to annual review, and renewable for an additional 2 Varies among the programs
years subject to availability of EACOA funds and approval by EACOA.
EACOA fellows are required to work in at least two EACOA member
institutes during their 3-year fellowship period (at least one year ateach institute).

For the Three-year Doctoral Program:
applicants must hold a Master's degree or adegree equivalent to a professional degree, or
expect to hold the same by the month
preceding the month of enrollment.

The Project Research Fellow will receive theThe International Visiting Scholar will be entitled This program comes in two types: paid orIn principle, Sabbatical Researchers
following salary and funds based on a pay scale to receive salary in addition to travel expenses unpaid. Paid Interns will be employed by
are not entitled to be paid any salaryfor Project Researcher employed under thefor one round-trip.
NAOJ as a research assistant and will receive or accommodation/travel expenses.
annual salary system.
a salary (on an hourly basis) for engaging in- Annual salary: 4,200,000 JPY
the duties assigned by NAOJ.
(Scholars visiting under the non-employee- Annual research funds: 500,000 JPY for
position are provided with a round-trip airfare"General" and "Project/Center" fellows. For
and accommodation allowance but will not
Specific terms and conditions of the"External Funding", varies depending on thereceive any salary.)
internship such as the status of employment
programs to which the fellow belongs.
and payment of travel expenses should be
Travel and relocation costs to NAOJ
determined through consultation with thewill be covered (subject to the travel Travel and relocation costs to NAOJ will be
NAOJ host researcher.
regulations of NAOJ/NINS).
covered (subject to the travel regulations ofNAOJ/NINS).

Call for Applications

RemarksSabbatical Researchers

The Project Research Fellowship program
The International Visiting Scholars program
The NAOJ Internship program is intended forprovides a full-time position for excellent young provides a full-time position for researchersinternational graduate students who belong
researchers of any nationality. Project Research who are affiliated to overseas research andto and study astronomy or related fields atFellows are recruited separately through three educational institutes in astronomy and related overseas universities. Under this program,fields to engage in joint research projects asstudents gain an opportunity to engage in
different recruitment categories ("General";"Project/Center"; and "External Funding").
Visiting Professors, Visiting Associate Professors, research activities while receiving educationand training at NAOJ.
or Visiting Research Fellows at NAOJ.
Project Research Fellows have a commitment
to spend a certain amount of time specified by International Visiting Scholars are expected totheir categories or funding programs forpromote research as well as education andengaging in the duties assigned by theirtraining for young researchers.
projects, but can use the rest of the time topursue their own research interests.

OutlineNumber of OpenPositions
per year

Project Research Fellowship International Visiting Scholars

The NAOJ Fellowship programprovides a full-time position for
independent, highly qualified young
researchers of any nationality whowish to explore the cutting-edge
frontiers in astronomy and become
global leaders in their new fields.

https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/contents/re https://www.eacoa.net/fellowship.php
commend/researcher/sabbatical20160108-en.pdf

For details, contact a NAOJ staff
Selected candidates must spend at least one year each in two ormember with whom you have already more of the four EACOA member institutes (NAOJ, NAOC
performed a joint project. If you have (/PMO/SHAO), KASI, and ASIAA) .
no contact with a NAOJ staff, refer tothe following lists and contact amember in the area of your interest.
https://www2.nao.ac.jp/~openinfo/reslist/index.html
https://guasastronomy.jp/eng/Supervisors/index.html

For Current Job Vacancies Information: https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/about-naoj/employment/job-vacancy.html