Selection Process for Applications Recruited in Japan under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan (Short-term)

1. Selection process
   Selection of applicants (Japanese host researchers) recruited in Japan under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan (Short-term) is done by JSPS International Program Committee and made up of the Japan's frontline researchers.
   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
   a. That the implementation of the fellowship contributes to promoting exchange between Japan and countries of North America and Europe.
   b. That the fellowship helps to advance both the candidate's and the host's research work.
   c. That the host and candidate have established close communication and devised a concrete research plan.
   d. That host institution has adequately prepared a system for receiving the candidate.
   e. That in the research plan, consideration is given to honing the research skills of pre-doctoral candidates.
   f. That, as much as possible, preference is not be given to host institution or field of specialization in making selections.
   g. That not only the score of the document review but also the examiners' reasons and comments are to be given adequate consideration.
   h. That two selection judgements be made: (1) Selected and (2) Not-selected.
3. Document Review Section and Panel Review Section
   As the screening of the applicant's (host researcher's) application will be carried out based on the screening category that s/he chooses, be sure to select the appropriate "Document Review Section" and "Panel Review Section" in accordance with the Review Section Table.
   Please refer to the Application Guidelines website.
4. Document Review
   Document reviews are conducted by three examiners for each application. Based on contents of the application, experts in the document review section 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.
5. Panel Review
   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 panel review section.