Introduction
In April 1996, the UN Secretary–General inaugurated UNU-IAS as an in–house community of scholars mandated to research issues located at the intersection between societal and natural systems. The Institute’s mission is to advance knowledge and to promote learning for policy making to meet the challenges of sustainable development. As an advanced studies institute, UNU-IAS is forward-looking and multidisciplinary.
Since October 2000, UNU-IAS offers Postdoctoral Fellowships for recent PhD graduates to provide them the opportunity to put the knowledge and expertise acquired during their doctoral research to practical policy-relevant use. So far, more than 35 fellows from some 20 countries have passed through the Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme. Of those completing the programme about one third have been women, and developing country participants have outnumbered developed country participants.
About two Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded each year for a period of ten months, starting in October.
The fellowship programme provides the successful applicant with a unique opportunity to:
- develop and advance their research under the supervision of a UNU-IAS faculty member and contribute to the overall research agenda of the Institute,
- widen their research interests and professional networks by working in the international and multi-disciplinary context of UNU-IAS, and with its wider network of Japanese universities and research institutes, as well as international collaborators,
- become exposed to the workings of the international and multilateral policy process and the broader UN system, and
link with other UNU-IAS and UNU PhD and Postdoctoral fellows.
The fellows are resident at UNU-IAS in Yokohama, Japan for the full term of the fellowship. This gives them the opportunity to gain from the broader research programme of lectures, seminars, workshops and conferences arranged by UNU-IAS. The Institute’s close links with Japanese affiliated professors and visiting professors from key universities and think tanks in Japan also allows fellows to link into the broader Japanese academic and research community.
Field of Research
The purpose of the UNU-IAS Postdoctoral Fellowship is to provide young scholars and policy-makers, especially from the developing world, with a multidisciplinarily context within which to pursue advanced research and training that is of professional interest to the applicant and of direct relevance to the research agenda of UNU-IAS. Research proposals for UNU-IAS Postdoctoral Fellowships should therefore relate clearly to one of the current research areas of the Institute, as well as aim to be policy relevant. For 2008 research proposals are invited in the following six areas:
Biodiplomacy Initiative
Sustainable Development Governance
Science Policy for Sustainable Development
Sustainable Urban Futures
Education for Sustainable Development
Sustainable Management of Rural and Coastal Landscapes (Satoyama/Satoumi)
Eligibility and Conditions
Applicants must have obtained a Ph.D. (or at least successfully defended their doctoral dissertation), in an area broadly associated with the UNU-IAS thematic focus, prior to the application deadline (25 April 2008). Language proficiency in English is essential. Applicants from developing countries and women are particularly encouraged to apply.
UNU-IAS Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded for a period of 10 months. The starting date of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme is 1 October. Successful applicants are required to be in Yokohama by this date. Residency in Yokohama for the full duration of the fellowship is required.
Fellows are provided with their own desk in a dedicated study room in the Institute, administrative support and desktop computing. Fellows have access to the UNU Centre Library in Tokyo which includes an excellent collection of UN documents. They also have access via the UNU Centre Library to various Japanese university libraries and computer databases. A limited range of other, more specialized computer hardware and software may also be available.
The fellowship provides for a monthly stipend of JPY290,000 from which a monthly usage charge for accommodation is deducted (see below). A one-time only installment of JPY 80,000 will be granted to each fellow at the beginning of the programme for adjustment expenses and incidental costs. UNU-IAS provides fellows with a return air ticket between his/her country of residence and Narita Airport.
Eligibility for a second 10-month appointment may be considered based on the fellow’s performance.
To Apply
The application deadline is 25 April 2008 (17h00 Tokyo time).
Interested and eligible candidates are invited to complete the application form. Application forms are available for download as Microsoft Word (.doc) and Portable Document Format (.pdf) files. (please visit the Adobe website to download the software needed for viewing PDF files.) The application form can also be obtained through email fellowships@ias.unu.edu.
An essential part of the application form (1) is a research proposal (2) outlining the intended work at UNU-IAS.
In addition to the application form and the research proposal, the following documents must be submitted (Note: When the document is in another language, please attach an English translation):
(3) Certified copies of academic transcripts (Master’s and Ph.D. courses if applicable)
and a copy of the doctoral degree certificate
(4) A copy of two publications (if unavailable, please send two chapters from your
dissertation)
(5) Evidence of English language proficiency (only required if Ph.D. dissertation
was not submitted in English) e.g. TOEFL score, certificate of proficiency.
Lastly, the applicant is also responsible for arranging for two original supporting letters of reference (6) to be sent directly to UNU-IAS before the application deadline (Please ensure the letters are signed by the referees).
Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:
(i) The research objectives of the applicant and the quality of the research proposal;
(ii) the relevance of the research proposal to the ongoing or planned research
activities of the applicant’s selected Research Programme at UNU-IAS;
(iii) the applicant’s academic merit and the potential for successful research while
at UNU-IAS.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant Research Programme representatives while preparing their application to discuss research options and programme fit.
The completed application package (i.e. application form including research proposal and requested supporting documents) should be sent by post as one package to the address specified below. Applicants are encouraged to send an electronic copy of their application form by email as well. Please note though, these are regarded as supplement to the hard copies, and DO NOT replace them. All parts have to be completed in English. Anything left incomplete may result in the application being rejected. Short-listed candidates will be contacted for a telephone interview.
Postdoctoral Fellowship Committee
United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies
6F, International Organizations Center
Pacifico-Yokohama
1-1-1 Minato Mirai
Nishi-ku, Yokohama 220-8502
Japan
Email: fellowships@ias.unu.edu
Fax: +81-45-221-2303
http://www.ias.unu.edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=6&ddlID=624
January
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