Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING Project),
University of Toyama

Application Guidelines for Academic Year 2024 (April 2024-) Support Program
Aim of the program
The University of Toyama (hereafter referred to as "the University") will start to offer an intensive "Supportfor Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (“Tateyama Mountain Range Program”)" from April
2024. This program provides financial support and various training for PhD course students for their future
success in various career paths after completing the program. The program will not only promote highly
motivated and talented students towards the advanced stage of PhD dissertation research projects but also
improve the research activity of the University, which leads to the promotion of regional industries, including
medicine, healthcare, light metals, and carbon neutrality. This program also aims to improve Japan's
international competitiveness by developing skillful graduates who can contribute to the settlement of global
issues.
The application procedure is explained below. The recipients will be provided with a research grant andresearch expenses as a stipend and special training to improve their research skills and career paths.

1. Total number of scholarship recipients
Application Category A for ca. 12 persons who will be enrolled in the first grade of the PhD course in
Academic year 2024 starting from April 1, 2024.
Application Category B for ca. 2 persons who will be enrolled in the second grade of the PhD course in
Academic year 2024 starting from April 1, 2024.

2. Eligibility for Application
The program is open to students enrolled in the doctoral program of the Graduate School of the Universityof Toyama, who have excellent research skills and are expected to contribute to the development of scienceand technology and the creation of innovations in Japan in the future.
However, those who fall under any of the following items are not eligible.
(1) JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (If you are Adopted the JSPS Research Fellowship, youmust decline to support this project (cannot be accepted to both).
(2) Those who have received a sufficient level of scholarship (2.4 million yen or more per year) for living
expenses.
(3) Those who are recognized as having a stable income of 2.4 million yen or more per year as living expenses
from the university or company to which they belong, such as salary, executive compensation, etc.
(4) International students receiving support through the Japanese Government Scholarship Program orscholarships from their home country.
 If you are currently receiving a scholarship from a foundation, etc., if you have been selected to receive ascholarship, or if you are in the process of applying or considering applying for a scholarship, please be sure
to contact us as indicated in “12. Inquiry”. (We will confirm your application in advance because there are-1-

cases in which the scholarship and the SPRING Program are not approved at the same time.)
 If you are selected for this program, you will not be able to apply for scholarship repayment waiver by theJapan Student Services Organization (JASSO).
 If you have any questions about eligibility, please refer to “12. Inquiry”.

3. Amount to be paid as the research support funds
The research support funds to be provided under this project will be as follows:(1) Research scholarship: 180,000 yen per month (2,160,000 yen per year)(2) Research expenses: 500,000 yen per year
➢ The research scholarship is provided as an amount equivalent to living expenses so that the student candevote himself/herself to research.
➢ The research scholarship will be paid every two months upon receipt of invoices from the students to besupported.
➢ The research scholarship does not have to be repaid (except in the case of fraudulent applications, etc.).
➢ Research expenses are to be used appropriately in accordance with the University's regulations.
➢ International students will receive a research scholarship and a research expenses after their arrival in Japan.

4. Career development and training content to be provided
This project provides a program that aims to develop the following abilities (1) to (4) so that the recipients will
be able to play an active role in various career paths in the future.
(1) Career Development
Long-term internships in cooperation with local industry(2) Cultivation of internationality
Dispatch overseas to partner universities and overseas collaborative research sites(3) Cultivation of interdisciplinarity
Interdisciplinary research through active use of different disciplines and sub-supervisors(4) Transferable skill acquisition
Convergence Camp (where all students across disciplines present their research and discuss theirpresentations with their advisor, subadvisor, other students, and faculty members)

5. Period of support（Estimated）
April 2024- In principle, within the standard term of study
For doctoral and postdoctoral students whose standard term of study is three years, the scholarship will beprovided until the third year of study.
Doctoral students whose standard term of study is four years will be granted until their fourth year.
Please note that the support may be cancelled even within the above period if the student takes a leave of absence,
withdraws from school, or is judged to be inadequately fulfilling his/her obligations, as specified separately.

6. Application Procedures
The applicant should submit the application form (Form 1) and the letter of recommendation from thepossible supervisor at University of Toyama (Form 2) to the administrative office of the corresponding-2-

graduate school whose contact information is shown below. Within one week after receiving your application,
the SPRING project office will send you an e-mail to acknowledge receipt of your application.
NOTE 1: The applicant should fill out the application form herself/himself; the form prepared by someone
other than the applicant cannot be accepted. The applicant may fill out the form in Japanese or English.
NOTE 2: Please include an email address that will be available from April 2024 onwards. Do not use theemail address issued from the master course of the graduate school of University of Toyama because it will
no longer be available in April 2024.
Deadline for submission: Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 12:00 (noon)
Method of submission:
Application form (Form 1): Submit by e-mail the MS Word file as an attachment.
Note: The application form prepared by a person other than the applicant cannot be accepted. If you havea difficulty to prepare the form in Japanese, please use English.
Letter of recommendation (Form 2): Submit by regular mail t by a printed copy of the form with thesignature of the University faculty member who is thecandidate supervisor of the applicant.
Address for submission:* If you are unsure where to submit, please contact the “12. Inquiry”.

Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Graduate School of Pharma-Medical Sciences
Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
Applied Natural Medicine
Cognitive and Emotional Neuroscience
Educational Affairs Division, Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences
E-mail: mpgakusei1”@”adm.u-toyama.ac.jp *When submitting, please remove the ” ”.
Graduate School of Science and Engineering
Graduate School of Pharma-Medical Sciences
Medical Design
Educational Affairs Division, Science and Engineering
E-mail: kyomeng”@”adm.u-toyama.ac.jp*When submitting, please remove the ” ”.

7. Selection and notification of results
The recipients will be selected based on the decision made by the Selection Committee. The committee
will judge the eligibility of the applicants by examining the submitted documents and through interviews. The
final decision will be made by the Project Director.
Interviews will be held at the Gofuku Campus between Monday, April 8, 2024 and Wednesday, April 10,2024. The details will be explained in the e-mail confirming the receipt of your application.
The results of the final decision will be notified by e-mail by late April.
-3-To be considered for the scholarship, the student must be enrolled in a designated grade of the PhD programas of April 1, 2024.

8.Selection Perspectives
In selecting students to be supported by this project, the following grades will be used as reference points.
(1) Achievements related to conference presentations, patents, papers, and languages up to the time ofapplication
1) Conference presentations
2) Patent application
3) Original papers and other publications
4) External language examinations(2) Research plans, internship and study abroad plans prepared by students(1) Novelty, importance, relevance, etc. of the research plan, including future development potential(2) Plans and aspirations for internship or study abroad
NOTE: The scholarship recipient should participate in an internship or study abroad to develop their career.
The applicant who is willing to seek a future job in the industrial sector should state her/hismotivation and plan for an internship. The applicant who is willing to seek a future job in theacademic sector should state her/his motivation and plan to study abroad.
(3) Motivation to become a researcher or developer working in a Japan-based firm or institute who will playa leading role in the future science, technology and innovation in Japan
NOTE: This scholarship program aims to support graduate students who will contribute to the developmentof science, technology, and innovation in Japan. We strongly recommend that the scholarship
recipients take a job in Japan-based firms or institutes including their overseas branches after her/hisgraduation.
(4) Evaluation through an interview by the Selection Committee
In the interview, the Selection Committee will examine whether the applicant can go through a challenging
and integrative research project that could possibly result in the exploration of a new field or thecontribution to the settlement of social problems. The Selection Committee also examines whether theapplicant has a global point of view and an ability to contribute to science, technology, and innovation inJapan. To this end, the interview will be held in English for the Japanese applicants. The foreign applicantsshould introduce her/himself and explain her/his research project in Japanese; for the rest of the interview,the foreign applicants are recommended to speak in Japanese although they may sparingly speak English.

9. Obligations of students eligible for support
According to the aim of this program, the scholarship recipients should carry out the following obligations.
The recipients are strongly advised to apply for a JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC2).
(1) Devote yourself to research based on the research plan proposed at the time of application.
(2) Engage in the internship or study abroad plan proposed at the time of application.
(3) Every year, submit at least one manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal or make at least one presentation at
an international conference.
(4) Participate in the University’s special educational programs for improving research capabilities, etc.
(5) Report on the status of your ongoing research at the campus meeting held on a regular basis.
-4-(6) Students must be interviewed by their supervisor and associate supervisor on a regular basis.
(7) Attend and complete the e-learning program of the Association for the Promotion of Research Integrity(eAPRIN).
(8) Registration to the system operated by the National Council for the Promotion of Job-Based ResearchInternships.
(9) Register in the Japan Graduates Database (JGRAD) operated by the National Institute of Science andTechnology Policy of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The
student must also report promptly any decisions made regarding his/her career path after completion of theprogram.
(10) Cooperate in various surveys related to the Project.
(11) Carry out tax law procedures such as tax declaration for research incentive expenses.

10. Tax law procedures, etc.
Although there is no employment relationship between the student and the University, the researchscholarship is treated as miscellaneous income under the tax law and is subject to income tax and inhabitanttax. Therefore, it is necessary to file an income tax return, and appropriate measures must be taken. In addition,please inform your parents or other persons responsible for your dependents of this fact and ask the person in
charge at their workplace about the treatment of your dependents in terms of health insurance, support
allowance, and so on.

11. Handling of personal information(1) Personal information such as names and other personal information provided in the application form will
be used for screening of documents and interviews, as well as for the performance of duties related tothis project.
(2) The names, affiliations, photographs, etc. of the recipients will be used for publication on the website andin various reports and other printed materials.
(3) The names and affiliations of the recipients will be used as a record of the project activities, andphotographs of classes, events, etc. will be used for publication in reports and other printed materials
and on the website.
(4) This project is funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), JST will directly follow up
with the supported students regarding the implementation status of the project, etc. JST will also ensurethat the supported students have access to the department in charge at JST, directly receive their opinions,etc., and use the results directly in the evaluation of this project. We will provide JST with the names
and other personal information listed in the application form, as well as e-mail addresses and otherinformation that will enable us to contact you, and we ask for your cooperation when we receive requests
for evaluation and other surveys.

12. Inquiry
Administration of the SPRING Project, University of Toyama:
E-mail: jisedaipro”@”adm.u-toyama.ac.jp*When submitting, please remove the ””.
- Applications should not be submitted to. Please submit to the address listed in 6. Application Procedures.
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