Selection Process for Applications Recruited in Japan under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers

1. Selection of applicants (Japanese host researchers) recruited in Japan under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Foreign Researchers is done by a selection committee established within JSPS and made up of the Japan’s frontline researchers. The committee has 47 members and about 1,700 examiners. The selection is carried out through a document review in the first stage and a panel review in the second.
2. The fellowship’s selection policy is as follows:
   
   
   1. Collaboration by the applicant (host researcher) and candidate (foreign researcher) will contribute to advancing science in Japan and counterpart country.
   2. Collaboration by the applicant and candidate must be expected to advance the subject research.
   3. The applicant and candidate must have established contact in advance and created a concrete research plan.
   4. The applicant’s institution must establish a suitable place for the candidate to work and stay.
   5. As much as possible, selection will be carried out without preference to the candidate’s nationality, host institution or field of specialization. Consideration is given to inviting first-time fellows from a range of countries.
3. Document reviews are conducted by six examiners for each application. Based on contents of the application, experts in the subject field are assigned to conduct the review.

   In the document review, a graduated scoring system is used on a scale 1 to 5, with 5 (superlative), 4 (excellent), 3 (good), 2 (fair), and 1 (poor).

   Marks are made on a comprehensive basis, taking into account research achievements, the research plan, estimated research capacity, and future potential of the research. The averaged score in the document review is used as the primary screening criterion in the panel review.

4. Eight subcommittees (Humanities; Social Sciences; Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Chemistry; Engineering Sciences; Biological Sciences; Agricultural Sciences; Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Sciences) are set up to conduct the panel reviews. Based on the document review scores, applications are referred for panel review, through which a specified number of applicants are selected in each of the eight fields.

   Two recruitments are held each year. The selection for the first is conducted in early December of the previous year, with the results notified to the head of the host institution in middle of January. The selection for the second recruitment is conducted in late July of the same year, with the results notified to the head of the host institution in the middle of August.

5. The application and selection schedules are as follows: