Application Guidelines

Target fields

Q: What are the target fields of the program?
A: All fields of the natural sciences (including mathematics) as well as interdisciplinary research involving the humanities and social sciences.

Application eligibility

Q: An Age requirement of applicants is not given in the call for applications. Are there any age restrictions?
A: Although the program is targets young researchers, we do not have any age restrictions.

Q: The material indicates “The maximum term as the Hakubi Fellow is restricted so that the total sum of continued contract with RIKEN shall not exceed 10 years.” What does this mean?
A: It means that the maximum term of continued employment for the Hakubi Fellows Program cannot exceed ten years.

Working conditions

Q: After I have been hired, may I also work at another organization?
A: As a RIKEN Hakubi Fellows Program researcher has a full time position at RIKEN, in principle, you cannot be hired by another organization or to run a business. Side work is possible by following the prescribed procedures.

Q: Are end-of-term bonus, commuting allowance, and housing allowance provided?
A: End-of-term bonuses will not be provided. Commuting allowance and housing allowance will be provided to qualified individuals.

Q: Are relocation expenses provided?
A: Yes, they will be provided in accordance with RIKEN’s regulations.

Q: Would I be entitled to childcare leave? Also, what happens to my term of employment if I take childcare leave?
A: You are entitled to childcare leave. You can add the period taken for childbirth or childcare leave to your term of employment.

Q: Could I have concurrent position as a JST PRESTO (Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology) researcher.
A: It is possible if you apply for side work and it is approved.

Q: In order to further advance my research I would like to be involved in educational activities. Is that possible?
A: You may be able to do side work such as being a lecturer at university if you follow the prescribed procedures.

Research budget

Q: How is the amount of budget decided?
A: Research budget will be decided by the committee for managing RIKEN Hakubi Fellows Program based on your research plan and proposal progress.

Q: If I am hired, would there be a limit on applying for competitive funds?
A: It will depend on the application conditions, but we encourage you to actively seek competitive funds.

Research results

Q: In the grant outline, it is written “upon evaluation the period is extended 2 years”, how would I be evaluated?
A: Three years and six months after appointment you will be reviewed by the committee for managing RIKEN Hakubi Fellows Program regarding the progress of the research. The committee will include specialists in the field.

Q: Would there be evaluation at the end of the term?
A: No, there is no evaluation at the end of the term. Although you are required to report on your research activity every fiscal year and also asked to present your research results at the end of your term.

Selection method

Q: When evaluating the applicant’s research ability and research experience in the screening, would having many published research papers be considered an advantage? Specifically, which criteria are evaluated highly?
A: Screening is conducted through documents submitted and interviews are by the RIKEN Hakubi Team Leader Selection Committee composed of experts. You will not only be evaluated on specific performance criteria such as the number of research papers you have written, but will be screened comprehensively from the perspective of the relevance to society of the research topic and your ability to carrying out the proposed research.

Selection results etc.

Q: How are applicants notified of their document-based screening results?
A: All applicants will be notified by email. You will be notified in September 2022. However, this may change depending on the selection schedule.

Application methods

Q: Would you still be screened if you register the applicant information in the registration form, but did not upload the proposal within the deadline.
A: You will not be screened unless both the applicant information registration and the proposal upload is completed in the registration form.

Q: I found some mistakes in the proposal I uploaded. Is it possible to change it?
A: You may upload it once more if it is before the deadline. In that case your previous proposal uploaded earlier will be deleted.

Q: I found mistakes in the basic information that I registered. Is it possible to make amendments?
A: Yes, it is possible to make amendments before the deadline.

Q: Due to my computer operating environment, I cannot make selections in the registration form.
A: If there are any problems, please send an email to the contact place written on the grant outline.

Application deadline

Q: Is the application deadline Japan time?
A: Yes. It is Japan time.

Q: The application deadline has passed. Will the application still be accepted?
A: No, we do not accept any applications after the deadline.

Inquiries

Q: Is it possible to make inquires on the phone?
A: We cannot respond to inquiries on the phone. Also, a lot of inquiries are expected right before the application deadline so please make inquiries in advance. Furthermore, a message will pop up which says “upload completed” when you upload the application so please do not inquire about confirmation of receipt.

Documents to be submitted etc. (About documents to be submitted in general)

Q: Are any sections/divisions required to confirm receipt of the documents?
A: No.

Q: May I submit documents that are not in the prescribed format?
A: No, please use the prescribed format.

Q: Would the application documents submitted be printed in color or in black and white for the screening of documents and the interview.
A: They will be printed in color.

Q: Should the documents it be written in English, or in Japanese?
A: English.

Q: Are any languages other than English accepted?
A: No, only English is accepted.

Q: Are there any limits to the number of pages in the application?
A: There is a limit of pages for Research Proposal which is six A4-size pages.

Q: May I attach diagrams or charts to my application?
A: You may attach diagrams or charts but please be aware that your Research Proposal must be no more than six A4-size pages.

Application form

Q: I am a member of the JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists (PD). What should I write for my current affiliation and position?
A: For your current affiliation, write the institute / division where you are currently engaged in research. For your position, write JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists (PD).

Recommendation letter

Q: Is a letter of recommendation written in Japanese also acceptable? Or all recommendation letters should be in English?
A: We ask that the recommendation letter be written in English.

Q: When will the referrers receive notification to write a letter of recommendation?
A: Request to write a letter of recommendation is sent when applicant registers the basic information.

Q: The letter of recommendation is to be uploaded by the referrers. Is the deadline be the same as other documents?
A: Yes. It is the same.

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