Secure JPY 362,000 per Month for Sustainability Research: JSPS‑UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme 2026

If you are an early‑career researcher or policy practitioner from the developing world interested in sustainability, this is one of those rare funded opportunities that actually gives you time, money, and a host institution in Japan to push a focused research agenda. The JSPS–UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme pairs the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) with UNU-IAS (United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability) to support fellows conducting policy‑relevant research in climate governance, biodiversity and society, water and resource management, or innovation and education. The fellowship provides a monthly maintenance grant, a settling‑in allowance, round‑trip airfare, and overseas travel insurance — not a prize for show, but practical support to live and work in Japan.

This programme has history: since 1996 more than 250 fellows have passed through UNU-IAS, roughly 70% coming from developing countries. That matters because the selection process and mentorship are tuned to candidates who intend their research to influence policy or development practice, not just accumulate publications. If you want to spend 12–24 months embedded in a Japanese research environment, supervised by a host researcher and connected to UNU-IAS, this fellowship should be on your shortlist.

Below I walk you through what the fellowship actually covers, who stands the best chance, how to find and lock in a host researcher, insider tips to make your application sing, a realistic timeline, and exactly how to apply before the deadline on 31 January 2026 (23:59 JST). Read the whole thing — this is the kind of application you can win if you prepare deliberately.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

This fellowship offers more than a stipend. Financially, the core support is a monthly maintenance allowance of JPY 362,000. Fellows also receive a settling‑in payment of JPY 200,000, a return airfare to Japan (according to JSPS rules), and travel insurance. These are designed to get you to Japan, give you breathing room to live and work while you settle, and cover basic risk.

But the real value is institutional and experiential. Successful applicants become integrated members of a Japanese host institution, working under the mentorship of a designated host researcher, while being nominated and connected through UNU‑IAS. That means access to lab facilities, academic networks, seminars, and — crucially — policy audiences in Japan and internationally. UNU‑IAS can serve as a platform for policy‑relevant dissemination, workshops, and linkage with UN networks if your host researcher and UNU‑IAS agree on cooperation.

The fellowship expects policy relevance: your proposal should be framed to inform decisions, programs, or policy debates rather than purely theoretical questions. It also explicitly requires that gender issues be considered within your research design. In practice, that means describing how gender dynamics intersect with your topic (for example, women’s roles in community water management, gendered impacts of biodiversity loss, or gendered barriers in educational innovation).

Finally, the programme has a strong track record of supporting scholars from developing countries, with peer networks and alumni who have gone on to positions in academia, government, and NGOs. If you intend to use this period to strengthen your research credentials and your policy engagement skills, the fellowship is set up to help.

Who Should Apply

This fellowship is designed for people who are beyond the “still polishing the thesis” stage but are early in their postdoctoral careers. Specifically, applicants must have earned a doctoral degree on or after 2 April 2020, counting any maternity or paternity leave as time off (four weeks is counted as one month in that calculation). Alternatively, you may apply if you will have passed your dissertation defense and be scheduled to receive your doctorate by the end of July 2026.

Good applicants often fall into one of these real‑world profiles:

• A researcher from an African university who completed a PhD in environmental governance in 2021 and wants to test policy instruments used in Japan for climate adaptation, with plans to compare outcomes back home.
• A mid‑level government analyst in a developing country who recently finished doctoral work on water resource allocations and needs time in Japan to finalize comparative case studies and draft policy briefs.
• A postdoctoral researcher with expertise in biodiversity conservation seeking collaboration with Japanese ecologists and social scientists to study community resilience and gendered access to ecosystem services.

If you’re a Japanese national, hold permanent residency in Japan, or have previously been awarded certain JSPS fellowships (Standard or Pathway), this programme is not for you. Also, UNU‑IAS researchers cannot act as your host — you must secure a host researcher at a domestic Japanese university or research institution before you apply.

If your research ties directly to the listed thematic areas and you can articulate a clear policy pathway for your findings, you belong in the applicant pool.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Good selection panels look for clarity, feasibility, and policy relevance. Here are practical tactics that raise your odds.

1. Start recruiting a host researcher months before you apply. Faculty in Japan receive dozens of cold emails; a generic message won’t work. Read a potential host’s recent papers, reference a specific project or method, and propose exactly how your work will aug­ment or complement theirs. Offer a brief, 300–500 word research outline and a clear timeline for the stay. Expect to exchange several drafts; scheduling face‑to‑face (video) conversations helps.

2. Make policy relevance explicit. Don’t assume the reviewers will infer policy connections. State which policymaker, program, or institutional decision your research addresses, and how the results will inform that decision (e.g., policy brief, technical guidance, pilot program). If possible, include a plausible dissemination route: conferences, policy workshops, or a workshop in your home country.

3. Integrate gender meaningfully. This is not a throwaway line. Show how gender shapes the problem, how you will collect gender‑disaggregated data, and what gender‑sensitive interventions or recommendations might look like.

4. Be realistic about scope. JSPS postdocs expect focused work that can be advanced within the fellowship period. Outline milestones for month 1, month 6, and month 12 (or whichever length applies), and show data collection, analysis, and knowledge mobilization steps.

5. Provide evidence of feasibility. If you need access to a lab, satellite data, or particular archives, show letters or email confirmations. If your project requires fieldwork outside Japan, explain logistics and permissions. Demonstrated partnerships reduce reviewer anxiety.

6. Prepare a clear CV and publication list that foregrounds relevant skills. If you lack specific technical skills, propose training, co‑supervision, or collaboration with your host to fill the gap.

7. Proofread ruthlessly and ask non‑specialists to read your policy relevance paragraph. If an intelligent reader outside the field can’t summarize your policy point in one sentence, simplify.

These steps are what separate a plausible application from a compelling one. Treat the host as a collaborator in the application, not merely as a credential.

Application Timeline (Work Backward from 31 January 2026)

You have a fixed deadline: 31 January 2026, 23:59 JST. Work backwards and build buffers for slow email responses and document turns.

• 3–4 months before deadline (October–November 2025): Identify potential hosts, send tailored emails, and schedule video calls. Draft a concise research outline and begin CV updates.
• 2 months before deadline (December 2025): Secure written confirmation from your host researcher. Draft the full proposal and request feedback from mentors and non‑specialist reviewers.
• 4–6 weeks before deadline (mid–December to mid–January): Finalize all supporting documents: proof of doctorate or official letter from your supervisor if defense pending, publications list, and any facility access letters. Translate or notarize documents if required.
• Final 2 weeks: Perform meticulous formatting, run spellcheck, and have at least two people review for clarity. Submit at least 48 hours early to avoid last‑minute submission glitches.

Start early on the host contact. That step is the common bottleneck.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them

The application is completed through an English online form (link below). The programme requires that a host researcher be confirmed before you submit. Typical supporting materials you should prepare include the following (check the official page for exact required documents):

• A concise research proposal that explains policy relevance, methodology, timeline, and how gender is integrated.
• A curriculum vitae with publications, teaching experience, and contact information.
• Proof of doctoral degree (diploma) or a formal letter from your university stating the defense date and expected conferral if the degree is pending.
• A confirmation letter or email from your proposed host researcher in Japan explicitly agreeing to supervise you.
• Any additional letters of support that demonstrate institutional backing or access to facilities.

Prepare these early. For the host confirmation, request a short letter that states the host’s willingness to accept you, any facilities or resources they will provide, and proposed start dates. For the doctoral proof, many universities supply a supervisor’s letter stating the defense date; that will usually suffice if the diploma is not yet issued.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Reviewers look for three things in combination: intellectual merit, feasibility, and clear policy pathways. Intellectual merit means the project advances understanding in a way that matters; you should demonstrate both novelty and a firm grasp of the relevant literature. Feasibility is about whether your plan can be executed in the fellowship period with the resources available; show milestones and contingencies. Policy pathway means you can show who will care and how your outputs will reach them.

A top application connects those dots in plain language. It names concrete policy actors, explains how the research will answer a decision‑maker’s question, and outlines deliverables (peer‑reviewed paper, policy brief, workshop). It pairs these with a host researcher whose expertise clearly complements the project. A well‑crafted gender strategy — not an afterthought — helps your proposal stand out.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and How to Fix Them)

Many otherwise strong candidates lose points through avoidable errors.

• Not securing a host before the deadline. Fix: begin outreach early and have fallback hosts.
• Vague policy relevance. Fix: name the decision or program and state what data or analysis they need.
• Ignoring the gender requirement. Fix: add concrete gender indicators and data collection plans.
• Overambitious scope. Fix: strip out peripheral aims and focus on a deliverable you can complete.
• Submitting at the last minute. Fix: submit 48 hours early to handle technical issues.
• Poor English and jargon. Fix: have colleagues outside your field read your policy paragraph; simplify.

Addressing these fixes will make your application cleaner, more persuasive, and less risky to reviewers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can apply in terms of nationality?
A: Applicants must be citizens of countries that have diplomatic relations with Japan. Japanese nationals and permanent residents of Japan are not eligible. If you hold dual citizenship that includes Japan, you are not eligible.

Q: What doctoral date qualifies?
A: Your doctorate must have been awarded on or after 2 April 2020. If you have taken maternity or paternity leave, that time is subtracted from the eligibility window (the programme counts 4 weeks as a month for that calculation). If you haven’t yet received the diploma, you may apply if you have passed your dissertation defense and are scheduled to receive the degree by the end of July 2026.

Q: Can UNU‑IAS researchers be my host?
A: No. UNU‑IAS researchers cannot serve as host researchers. You must secure a host at a Japanese university or research institution. However, it is possible, with agreement from the host, to conduct part of your research at UNU‑IAS.

Q: How long is the fellowship?
A: The official announcement does not state a single fixed length here; fellowship durations for JSPS–UNU awards typically fall within a postdoctoral range (e.g., one to two years). Confirm the specific duration on the official information page or in the programme guidelines.

Q: Is the application in English?
A: Yes. The online application form must be completed in English.

Q: Will I receive feedback if not selected?
A: JSPS and UNU‑IAS sometimes provide summary comments; check the programme channels for details about feedback and resubmission.

Next Steps — How to Apply

Ready to take action? Follow these steps clearly and calmly.

1. Identify and contact potential host researchers in Japan now. Send a concise, targeted email with your CV and a one‑page research summary. Ask for a short confirmation letter if they agree to supervise you.

2. Prepare your application package: research proposal with policy relevance and gender integration, CV, proof of doctorate or supervisor letter, and the host confirmation.

3. Complete the online application in English by 31 January 2026, 23:59 JST. Do not wait until the last minute — submit at least two days early.

4. Keep copies of all submitted documents and the confirmation email from the submission portal.

Ready to apply? Visit the official application form and programme page here:

How to Apply / Get Started

Ready to apply? Visit the official online form and submit your application in English before 31 January 2026 (23:59 JST): https://forms.office.com/r/E0pBp1XMis

Also consult the JSPS–UNU programme page (linked from the UNU‑IAS website) for any detailed guidance, downloadable instructions, and contact points for administrative questions.

If you want a quick review of your research summary or a second pair of eyes on your policy paragraph, I can help edit those drafts. Send a 300–500 word synopsis and I’ll suggest focused edits to make the policy case unmissable.