December 1, 2023
Tropical Biosphere Research Center (TBRC), University of the Ryukyus
Application Guidelines for Joint Usage and Collaborative Research in FY2024
As a certified Joint Usage / Research Center

supported by the MEXT, JAPAN, involving studies

conducted on biospheres in tropical and subtropical zones, our purpose is to promote and develop researchcollaborations among researchers in Japan and overseas in the relevant fields.
Here, we are pleased to welcome your applications and promote collaborative research projects taking
advantage of TBRC facilities located in the Ryukyu Islands, and also to provide opportunities for researchmeetings using our facilities.
1. Categories for Applications
Applications are categorized into five sections detailed below.
CategoryTitle

Details

Support Expenses*

A-1

CollaborativeResearch

Collaborative research conductedwith faculty members of TBRC

Support in the form oftravel expenses with an
upper limit of 200,000 yen*

A-2

Collaborative
Research(Youngresearchers)

Collaborative research conductedby female researchers with faculty
members of TBRC

Support in the form oftravel expenses with an
upper limit of 200,000 yen*

A-3

Collaborative
Research(Femaleresearchers)

Collaborative research conductedby female researchers with faculty
members of TBRC

Support in the form oftravel expenses with an
upper limit of 200,000 yen*A-4

CollaborativeResearch (Overseasresearch institutes)

Collaborative research conductedby researchers belonging tooverseas research organizations
with faculty members of TBRC.
Researchers not selected here
shall also be eligible for a review
for category A-1, A-2, or A-3(Upper limit on travel expenses:
200,000 yen): Those who wish to
apply for the second review should
indicate their wills on theapplication form.

Support in the form oftravel expenses with an
upper limit of 350,000 yen*Joint Usage andResearch Meetings

Research discussion, meetings,etc., organized with faculty
members of TBRC. In principle,
the period is limited to 2 days.

Support in the form oftravelandmeeting
expenses with an upper
limit of 300,000 yen

BApplication
Form

Form A

Form B* Applications for Joint Usage and Collaborative Research without financial support are accepted at anytime.

2. Eligibility
1) Applicants must be researchers who belong to national or private universities, national or publicresearch institutes in Japan or overseas, or those who hold equivalent positions (including part-timeresearchers, post-doctoral research fellows and predoctoral/graduate students).

2) In principle, you are not allowed to submit more than one application in each category (including anapplication as a research member of another researcher). However, you are allowed to submit
applications to both category A and B.
3) Young researchers are defined as those who are 40 years old or younger as of April 1, 2024.
4) If applicants are graduate students, the application must fulfil the following requirements.
a. Supervisors/advisors of the applicants are responsible for research activities in our facilities andmust approve the application from students by signing or sealing in the form of a written consent.
TBRC may demand compensation for any damages caused by the applicants from thesupervisors/advisors.
b. The applicants need to have a liability insurance for student education and research covering disasterand accidents during research activities conducted at TBRC. A PDF copy of the insurance certificate
must be attached upon submission. Without liability insurance, any harm to University property orinjury to others will be the responsibility of the applicant's supervisor, who may be required toreimburse the University.
c. A PDF copy of a student registration certificate must be attached upon submission.
3. How to apply(1) Please consult with a faculty member from your chosen research field and laboratory at TBRC's
homepage before submitting your application. Upon applying, please download the application forms in
Word format from TBRC's website and submit the completed documents via email to the specified address,
following the conditions outlined below.
1) Subject line: "2024 Joint Research on TBRC at the University of the Ryukyus (Category;University; Applicant’s name)".

2) Application forms must be submitted in Word format. Files should be named as "Form #_2024
Collaborative Research Application (Category; University; Applicant’s name) ".
(2) A signed PDF consent document, including the applicant's and their Director's or Dean's signatures,
should accompany the completed application forms. If the applicant is a graduate student, they mustalso provide their supervisor/advisor's signature and seal. The written consent can be submitted after
the application deadline, but it must be received by February 29th, 2024.
(3) A confirmation notification will be sent by email from the Research Promotion Section, University ofthe Ryukyus upon receipt of your application. If you do not receive confirmation after one week ofsubmitting your application, please be sure to contact us.
4. E-mail address for submission
nesseiken@acs.u-ryukyu.ac.jp

5. Application Period
Application forms must be submitted by email from December 1, 2023 to January 12, 2024.
(A written consent must be submitted by February 29th, 2024)
6. Notesa. Support expenses can only cover travel expenses and usage fees for research stations at TBRC
(excluding Category B). Other expenses such as shipment, boat charter and consumables are notapplicable. The support expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with the University of theRyukyus’ rules and regulations. For more details on the support expenses, please contact your hostresearcher.
b. The daily allowance and accommodation fee shall be reimbursed, in accordance with the "Regulations
for Payment of Travel Expenses at the University of the Ryukyus" and the "Guidelines for Paymentof Travel Expenses at the University of the Ryukyus". (It is preferable to use the accommodation
facilities affiliated with the University of the Ryukyus if possible.)⚫ Daily allowance: 2,200 yen (However, the daily allowance for days when not on duty (excludingdays for traveling) and when a rental car is used shall be 1,100 yen)
⚫ Accommodation fee: 10,400 yen (However, one-half of the daily allowance (i.e. 5,200 yen) will be
paid for lodging at accommodations affiliated with the University of the Ryukyus) .
c. Shipping, chartering, and consumable expenses are not eligible for support.
d. If applicants are planned to be accompanied by other researchers (including graduate students),
please be sure to state clearly in the application why this is necessary. The use of travel expenses foraccompanying researchers will be accepted only if the applicants take responsibility for the activities
of such accompanying researchers at TRBC. Please note that undergraduate students are not eligible
for travel expenses.
7. Duration
The period of joint usage shall commence from April 1, 2024 to March 20, 2025.
8. Decision
Decisions on selection will be made by the Steering Committee of TBRC, which will be notified via emailby the end of March, 2024.
9. Notification in case of change of affiliation or supervisor
1) If the organization or department to which the applicant belongs changes after submission of theapplication, the applicant must promptly notify the office of Research Promotion Section at theUniversity and resubmit a PDF of a written consent by Director/Dean of the applicant’s new affiliation.
2) If a supervisor/advisor of a student applicant has been changed, the applicant must obtain approvalof the collaborative research from the new academic supervisor/advisor and submit a PDF of a writtenconsent with the signature or seal of the academic supervisor/advisor in the approval column of thewritten consent form. *Reacquisition of a written consent from Director/Dean of your affiliation is notneeded.
10. Submission of Reports
Successful applicants (applicants who are selected for financial support) should submit a prescribedreport by email to “nesseiken@acs.u-ryukyu.ac.jp” by March 31, 2025, following the conditions outlined
below.
1) Subject line: "[Report] 2024 Joint Research on TBRC at the University of the Ryukyus(Category; University; Applicant’s name)".

2) Report File Name: 2024 Joint Research Report (Category; University; Applicant’s Name)
The content of submitted reports will be published in the TBRC Annual Report.
11. Publishment
When publishing results of your research, please include a note of acknowledgement (see the examplebelow) mentioning that the results of your research were achieved through joint usage and collaborative
research at TBRC. Please also send copies of the publication to the above postal or email address of theResearch promotion Section (Photocopies or electronic data are also acceptable).
This study was supported by the Collaborative Research of Tropical Biosphere Research Center,
University of the Ryukyus.
12. Others
1) For information about equipment available at TBRC, please contact a faculty member in your field.
2) Successful applicants must abide by the university rules and regulations. Please pay special attention
to the University of the Ryukyus Policy on the Handling of Tangible Research Materials with regards
to the taking out of samples, specimens and other materials from your research. For details, pleasecontact your supporting faculty member.

13. Inquiries
Research Promotion Section, Joint Usage Facilities Liaison, General Strategic Planning Division,
University of the Ryukyus
1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa 903-0213 JAPAN
Tel: +81-(0)98-895-8036
e-mail: knkuodor@acs.u-ryukyu.ac.jp