Open Applications for the MIF Research Fellowship in Japan

May 31, 2024

Deadline: June 30, 2024 23:59 GMT+0900
[Oops, the opportunity has already expired. Sign up to AlphaGamma weekly newsletters to stay ahead of the game] | To apply, submit your entry via email
Eligibility: non-Japanese Ph.D holders below 45 years of age
Location: Japan

Are you a non-Japanese researcher with a Ph.D. looking for a new place to work on your project? If so, the Matsumae International Foundation (MIF) offers a Japanese-based Fellowship where you can collaborate with your chosen host institution.

The MIF Research Fellowship’s main purpose is to support young researchers passionate about addressing environmental, social, and related issues in their home countries. Furthermore, in alignment with the MIF founder’s principles, fellows are free from restrictions based on their country of origin and are free to select their host institutions and choose their research subjects with their host professors.

MIF Research Fellowship 2025

The Fellowship applicants can choose any university, national research institution, or equivalent facility in the private sector in Japan. Regarding research fields, priority is given to natural science, engineering, and medicine. The fellowship lasts for six months between April 2025 and March 2026, and it is up to you to inform MIF of your chosen dates. However, acceptance from the host institution is required before applying.

$<style> /* The widget */ .dxbQCf{display:inline-block;height:2.5em;padding:0 1em;color:#fff;font-weight:bold;font-size:.9em;line-height:2.5em;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:#ff8400;border:none;border-radius:2.5em;outline:0;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:background-color 0.3s ease;transition:background-color 0.3s ease;} .dxbQCf:hover,.dxbQCf:focus{background-color:#ca6900;} .jmpZPk{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:flex-end;-webkit-box-align:flex-end;-ms-flex-align:flex-end;align-items:flex-end;margin:0 0 0.5em;} .gxkgCo{margin:0;font-size:1.3em;} .iljOqJ{margin:0.5em 0 0.5em;font-size:1em;line-height:1.5em;} .ag-subscribe-widget{position:relative;display:grid;box-sizing:border-box;width:100%;margin:15px 0;color:#333333;font-size:16px;background-color:#FFFFFF;border:1px solid lightgray;border-radius:5px;grid-gap:3%;grid-template-areas:"image body";grid-template-columns:minmax(175px,1fr) 4fr;padding:3% 6% 3% 3%;} .ag-subscribe-widget input{color:#333333;} .jxuKYi{position:relative;grid-area:image;width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:100%;} .fUmicn{background:#cf6b00; position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;border-radius:5px;} .iPpEyC{box-sizing:border-box;width:100%;margin:0;padding:0.6em 0.8em;font-size:0.9em;background-color:transparent;border:1px solid #e1e1e1;border-radius:0;outline:none;} .jQrQtT{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;gap:10px;width:100%;} @media (max-width: 480px) { .jxuKYi { display: none; } .ag-subscribe-widget { grid-template-areas: "image body"; grid-template-columns: minmax(175px, 1fr) 4fr; } .jQrQtT{ -webkit-flex-direction: column; -ms-flex-direction: column; flex-direction: column; } } @media (max-width: 600px) { .jxuKYi { display: none; } .ag-subscribe-widget { grid-template-areas: "body"; grid-template-columns: 100%; } } @media (max-width: 767px) { .ag-subscribe-widget { grid-template-areas: "image body"; grid-template-columns: minmax(175px, 1fr) 4fr; } } @media (max-width: 1023px) { .jxuKYi { display: none; } .ag-subscribe-widget { grid-template-areas: "body"; grid-template-columns: 100%; } } .bBYkQA{height:3em;padding:0 2em;font-size:0.75em;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.15em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.15em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.15em;letter-spacing:0.15em;white-space:nowrap;text-transform:uppercase;border-radius:0;} .bBYkQA:disabled{pointer-events:none;} .WUTl{margin-left:-9px;font-size:12px;text-align:left;line-height:1.3;margin-top:5px;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;} .WUTl input{width:15px;height:15px;margin:11px;} /* Overlay */ .ag-subscribe-overlay-container { position: fixed; height: 100%; opacity: 0; -webkit-transition: opacity 300ms ease; transition: opacity 300ms ease, visibility 300ms ease; z-index: 1600; visibility: hidden; } .ag-subscribe-overlay { position: fixed; top: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; background-color: black; opacity: 0.5; } .ag-subscribe-overlay-container.ag-active { opacity: 1; visibility: visible; } .ag-subscribe-widget { z-index: 1602; } </style> <div data-testid="inline-subscribe" class="ag-subscribe-widget"> <div class="jxuKYi"> <img src="//agcdn-1d97e.kxcdn.com/wp-content/plugins/alphagamma-custom-opportunities/img/ag_envelope_v1_small.png" alt="envelope icon" class="fUmicn"> </div> <div class="fgAauG"> <div> <div class="jmpZPk"> <h3 class="gxkgCo">Subscribe to AlphaGamma!</h3> </div> <p class="iljOqJ">Receive the latest articles, news, events, business & career opportunities to your inbox!</p> </div> <form action="https://alphagamma.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=3fa1e64e22ac928633ebc22bf&id=c47b003620&f_id=00327ceaf0" method="post" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" class="validate" target="_blank" novalidate> <div class="jQrQtT"> <input type="text" name="FNAME" aria-label="First name" placeholder="First name" type="text" autocomplete="given-name" class="iPpEyC"> <input aria-label="Email" placeholder="Email" type="email" required="" autocomplete="email" pattern="^[a-zA-Z0-9.!#$%&'*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]{0,61}[a-zA-Z0-9])?(?:\.[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]{0,61}[a-zA-Z0-9])?)+$" title="Please enter a valid email" class="lkRzP" name="EMAIL"> <button type="submit" aria-label="Subscribe" class="dxbQCf bBYkQA" onclick="agNewsletterWidgetSetTimeout(100*365)">Subscribe</button> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="ag-subscribe-overlay-container"> <div data-testid="subscribe-fade" class="ag-subscribe-overlay"></div> </div> <script> var AG_NEWSLETTER_WIDGET_COOKIE = 'ag_newsletter_widget_timeout'; function agGetCookie(cname) { let name = cname + "="; let decodedCookie = decodeURIComponent(document.cookie); let ca = decodedCookie.split(';'); for(let i = 0; i < ca.length; i++) { let c = ca[i]; while (c.charAt(0) == ' ') { c = c.substring(1); } if (c.indexOf(name) == 0) { return c.substring(name.length, c.length); } } return ""; } function agSetCookie(cname, cvalue, exdays = 100 * 365) { const d = new Date(); d.setTime(d.getTime() + (exdays*24*60*60*1000)); let expires = "expires="+ d.toUTCString(); document.cookie = cname + "=" + cvalue + ";" + expires + ";path=/"; } function agNewsletterWidgetSetTimeout(timeoutDays = 1) { var d = new Date(); d.setTime(d.getTime() + (timeoutDays*24*60*60*1000)); agSetCookie('ag_newsletter_widget_timeout', d.toUTCString()); } function agNewsletterWidgetNoticeable(el) { var offset = 150; var rect = el.getBoundingClientRect(); var viewHeight = Math.max(document.documentElement.clientHeight, window.innerHeight); return rect.bottom > offset && rect.top + offset < viewHeight; } (function ($) { $(document).ready(function() { let widgetContainer = $('.ag-subscribe-overlay-container'); let widget = $('.ag-subscribe-widget'); let interval = setInterval(function() { let isWidgetNoticeable = agNewsletterWidgetNoticeable(widget.get(0)); if (isWidgetNoticeable) { let widgetTimeout = agGetCookie(AG_NEWSLETTER_WIDGET_COOKIE); if (!widgetTimeout) { widgetContainer.addClass('ag-active'); widget.addClass('ag-active'); setTimeout(function() { widgetContainer.removeClass('ag-active'); widget.removeClass('ag-active'); }, 2500); agNewsletterWidgetSetTimeout(1); } clearInterval(interval); } }, 800) }); })(window.jQuery); </script>$

Additionally, the program includes a study tour during the fellows’ research stays. A visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is a highlight of the tour, inspired by Dr. MATSUMAE’s experience witnessing Hiroshima after the atomic bombing of August 6, 1945. He led an investigative committee there and was profoundly affected by the devastation. The MIF hopes the tour will inspire fellows to expand their compassion globally.

Fellowship Details:

Monthly Allowance: JPY 220,000 for research and living expenses.
Arrival Fund: JPY 120,000 for initial living costs.
Round-trip Air Transportation: Economy class airfare between the nearest international airport from the applicant’s domicile and Tokyo, Japan.
Insurance: Overseas travel insurance covering medical treatment and death benefits.
Study Tour: Participation in a study tour to deepen knowledge of Japan.

Eligibility requirements for the Fellowship

Applicants of non-Japanese nationality who meet all the following requirements are eligible to submit their application:

Acceptance from a host institution in Japan is required before application.
Have sufficient English or Japanese language ability.
Empathize with the core values of the MIF.
Hold a Ph.D
must be 45 years old or younger at the time of application (born in or after 1979).
Should have no past or current long-term stays in Japan (except for short-term visits such as sightseeing or conferences).
An occupation in the applicant’s home country, as Fellows must return to contribute to their country’s development after completing the fellowship.

Application Procedure

Submit your application documents via email to application@mif-japan.org before June 30, 2024 (Japan Standard Time). Here is a list of what you need to include in your application:

Filled-in application Form (downloaded from the MIF website), with a recent ID photograph included
Research plan with detailed content, purpose, methodology, roadmap, and benefits to your home country.
An up-to-date CV and a List of Publications (feel free to highlight relevant pieces)
A Recommendation letter from your current institution
Any available Academic Certificates/Diplomas, Ph.D., Master’s, and Bachelor’s degrees with English translations if needed.
Invitation letter from your host professor in Japan, detailing the agreement on fellowship period, research project, facility use, and accommodation arrangements.