“Support Project for PhD Candidates in the VUCA Age” FY2023

Application Guidelines
1. Objectives
This project aims to cultivate PhD candidates who are motivated to challenge creating newvalues in this era of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). For the purpose,
this project provides opportunities that focus on not only research skills and ability but also
development of the capacity for working collaboratively.
This project promotes an “open” educational environment and a support system extending
across several departments through directed guidance by external researchers/mentors otherthan supervisors and participatory events for all PhD candidates, and thereby creates a vigorous
PhD program with the goal of “collective education by all professors and friendly competition
among all PhD students”. We encourage and support PhD candidates to develop theircapabilities for independent research as well as their courageous actions to cross over different
research fields and industries for improving overall research potentials and gaining wider
choice of career paths.
2. Target applicantsApplicants who already enrolled in a doctoral course at the Integrated Graduate School ofMedicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Yamanashi in April 2023 andmeet the following qualifications.
3. Number of awardees
One student for FY2023 (filling vacancies)

4. Qualifications
The applicant should be a student stipulated in ‘2. Target applicants’ at the time of the call for
applications and have sufficient research capability for the program. In addition, they shouldhave a strong interest in, and motivation for, participating in the career path support programsof this project, while fulfilling the following requirements.
(1) Applicants have enrolled in a doctoral course of University of Yamanashi at the time ofapplication (excluding those who are treated as "working adult students" receiving or having
a system to receive an amount equivalent to living expenses from their affiliatedcompanies/institutions, and those who are taking a leave of absence from the university or
have exceeded the standard candidature period).
(2) Applicants who are awardees of JSPS fellowship, MEXT scholarships for international
students, “Doctoral Fellowship in Integrated Research Practice at University of Yamanashi”,“Co-no-hana Fellowship”, and international students who receive scholarships from theirhome countries are not eligible for this project.

5. Period of support
By the end of March 2024. Note that the support is subject to termination because of theinsufficient achievement of each. In addition, the project is subject to termination dependingon the budget allocation from JST.
6. Terms of support
This project provides opportunities to participate in support programs for the developmentof independent research capabilities and career paths. To foster younger, creative students in
the PhD course who will play important roles in our society, awardees will receive funds forliving expenses and a research budget as follows:-Living expenses:

165,000 JPY/month(paid every month at a date specified by the University)-Research budget:

400,000 JPY/year

NOTE: The amount of living expenses may be subject to change depending on budget conditions,but will not be reduced from the above amounts.
7. Application procedures
Application Documents: Attached Application Form (Form 1)
Please fill out Form 1 and submit it as an attachment via email to theAcademic Planning Department, Section on Graduate Education
Support by the deadline
email: inshien-as@yamanashi.ac.jpNOTE:・The subject of the email should be "Application for Doctoral Student Support Project".
・The application documents will not be accepted after the deadline.
・ You should receive a reply email acknowledging receipt of your application by the next day

(excluding Saturdays and Sundays). If you will not receive this acknowledgement email, pleasecontact us immediately at inshien-as@yamanashi.ac.jp.
8. Application deadline
Strictly by 15.00 p.m. on June 16th (Friday), 2023

9. Selection processAwardees will be chosen by the project’s selection committee.
10. Selection method and policyThe selection will be made based on the following criteria (1)–(4)(1) Awardees are expected to be excellent researchers who will play important roles in theirresearch communities.
(2) A clear pathway for the research plan and images of a future career should be presented
in the proposal. Originality/novelty of methodology and future prospects for the research
topic should also be shown in the proposal.
(3) Awardees are also expected to be capable of promoting both their research activities andfuture career plan.
(4) Experiences and/or achievements applying on JSPS Fellowship will be considered in theselection process.
Depending on the number of applicants, there may be a two-step selection process (the firstscreening based on application Form 1 and the second based on presentation of the researchplan).
11. Selection results
Notification of the selection result will be made to the applicants and their supervisors.
12. Responsibilities and obligations(1) After being selected as a fellow, the student has to submit a detailed research proposal by theend of March 2024.

(2) Manage your research activities based on the plan proposed, except for the cases ofinterruption due to childbirth/childcare or injury/illness.
(3) Actively participate in the programs supporting your research and career implemented by
the university.
(4) Entry the “Job-based Internship” organized by MEXT.
(5) Report your participation in the programs mentioned above regularly.

(6) Have face-to-face meeting with your mentor(s) regularly.
(7) Apply for JSPS Fellowship.
(8) Be fully aware that this is a public funding and comply with legislations to conduct yourresearch properly and efficiently without misconducts.
13. Termination of financial support
The support will be terminated and refund of the previously received amount from theawardees will be requested under the following circumstances.
(1) The awardee no longer meets criteria stipulated under Item 4.
(2) The research is not progressing according to the research plan or the awardee is deemed
to have not adequately met his/her obligations.
(3) The awardee offers to resign from the project.
(4) The university president or the project leader deems that there is sufficient reason toterminate the support.
2

Amount of the refund- Cost of living
Categories

Reduction criteria

Eligible between the 1st and 15th of the month

No reduction for the month

Eligible between the 16th and the last day of the month

50% reduction for the month

Terminated between the 1st and 15th of the month100%

reductionforthemonth
Terminated between the 16th and the last day of the month

50% reduction for the month

Terminated on the last day of the month

No reduction for the month

In the case of loss of life

No reduction for the month- Research budget
A portion unused from the date of eligibility to that of termination.

14. Notes
・The support for living expenses is subject to taxation as a miscellaneous income and a final
declaration concerning income tax is required. Each individual must be responsible for thedeclaration.
・It is allowed to receive wages for TA or part-time works, prize money from academic societies,
or compensation for a paid internship as long as those works do not interfere with researchactivities.
・If the awardee presently receives s support from other scholarship, etc., check the conditions
stipulated by the other institution and take appropriately a necessary action such as declining.
・Regarding Item 4 (1) mentioned above, the amount equivalent to living expenses received fromthe affiliated company is stipulated at 2.4 million yen per year, and the applicant may berequested to provide documentary proof in order to verify the income status.
・You will be expected to cooperate in various surveys such as career follow-up surveys for 10years after completion of your doctoral course.
15. Others
・The awardee will be requested to submit a written consent to fully carry out the research
activities.
・The e-mail addresses of all awardees will be provided to JST for a direct monitoring. Requests
for participation in student exchange meetings organized by JST may occur.
・This project’s awardees’ majors, courses, and names will be published on the website of theuniversity.
・After the selection, the correspondent supervisor(s) will be requested to submit a document
describing the education and guidance policies for the student concerned. The document’s form
and other information will be available when the result of the selection is notified.

Contact: Graduate School Office of Education Planning Division ,University of Yamanashi
Ext. 8042, 8271
e-mail:inshien-as@yamanashi.ac.jp