JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026

About the Program

The program provides an opportunity to conduct collaborative research for young overseas researchers under the guidance of their hosts in universities and other research institutions in Japan. The selection process for Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan (Standard) is conducted through two distinct channels: Open Calls and Nominations. The former begins with applications from the heads of Japanese universities or research institutions wishing to invite foreign researchers and requires a selection process to designate Fellows, while the latter designates Fellows through recommendations from overseas nominating authorities.

1. Fields of Research: All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
2. Duration of fellowships: 12 to 24 months
3. Candidate (Invited Overseas Researcher) Eligibility: Candidates must satisfy both of the following conditions as of April 1 of the fellowship’s fiscal year and during the fellowship period.
   • (i) Be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan (JSPS treats Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers in this manner).
   • (ii) as of April 1 of the fiscal year, have obtained a doctoral degree within six years of the date the fellowship goes into effect (on or after April 2, six years prior to the fiscal year), or who are expected to receive a Ph.D. by the start date of the fellowship period. Whether or not the candidate is employed in a full-time position is not considered.
4. Applicant (Host Researcher) Eligibility: Persons are eligible to apply who satisfy the following two conditions at the time of application, at the time of selection, and during the fellowship period.
   • (i) Be affiliated with a research institution specified in Article 2() of the Procedure for the Handling of Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI), issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) (), be eligible to apply for a KAKENHI grant, and wish to host an overseas researcher.
   • (ii) Be a full-time researcher. However, researchers who are not employed full time may be eligible if the host institution judges them able to execute their responsibility to carrying out the program uninterruptedly throughout the fellow’s tenure including providing them a suitable research environment (e.g., laboratory, space, facilities and personnel) in the same way that a full-time researcher would be able to do. Each applicant (host researcher) can submit up to three applications. If more than one candidate (invited overseas researcher) apply as candidates for the fellowship at the same time, priorities should be given to them.

Contact Information

Overseas Fellowship Division International Program Department Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Kojimachi Business Center Building, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, JAPAN

【Standard】 +81-3-3263-3444 postdoc-standard＊jsps.go.jp

【Short-term (PE)】 +81-3-3263-3444 postdoc-short＊jsps.go.jp

【Short-term (PA)】 +81-3-3263-3444 pa-short＊jsps.go.jp Note: Please replace＊with @.

Application and more details: https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/e-ippan/index.html