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Restart Postdoctoral (RPD) Research Fellowships – Research Exchange Meeting Held in the Metaverse
October 17, 2025
The Restart Postdoctoral (RPD) Research Fellowships – Research Exchange Meeting took place over five sessions in the metaverse space, from 24 to 26 September 2025.
Research Exchange Meeting was held in the metaverse space.
In FY2006, JSPS introduced the Restart Postdoctoral (RPD) Research Fellowships as one of the categories of Research Fellowships for Young Scientists. This initiative is designed to support researchers in caring for their children and to promote gender equality in scientific research. It aims to provide assistance to outstanding young scientists who need to take a temporary leave from their research for the birth or care of a child, and to enable them to resume their research seamlessly.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the RPD program's establishment, we held our first online Research Exchange Meeting for all current and former RPD Research Fellows.
At the event, following opening remarks from either JSPS President SUGINO Tsuyoshi, Executive Director MIZUMOTO Tetsuya, or Inspector General HAYAMI Yoko, six former RPD Research Fellows gave presentations on balancing research with childbirth and childcare, and their career paths to date.
During the subsequent group discussion, participants split into groups based on their preferred discussion topic, such as “Balancing Childbirth/Childcare and Research”, “Researching Abroad While Managing Childbirth/Childcare”, or “Challenges and Strategies in Securing Full-Time Positions”. Current RPDs received advice on childcare and research from experienced RPDs, while researchers with children of a similar age shared the challenges they face and how they overcome them, encouraging a variety of discussions.
Participants shared feedback such as, “It was enjoyable to have face-to-face-like interactions in the metaverse space,” and “It was meaningful to talk with people in similar circumstances whom I rarely get to meet otherwise”.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the RPD program's establishment, we held our first online Research Exchange Meeting for all current and former RPD Research Fellows.
At the event, following opening remarks from either JSPS President SUGINO Tsuyoshi, Executive Director MIZUMOTO Tetsuya, or Inspector General HAYAMI Yoko, six former RPD Research Fellows gave presentations on balancing research with childbirth and childcare, and their career paths to date.
During the subsequent group discussion, participants split into groups based on their preferred discussion topic, such as “Balancing Childbirth/Childcare and Research”, “Researching Abroad While Managing Childbirth/Childcare”, or “Challenges and Strategies in Securing Full-Time Positions”. Current RPDs received advice on childcare and research from experienced RPDs, while researchers with children of a similar age shared the challenges they face and how they overcome them, encouraging a variety of discussions.
Participants shared feedback such as, “It was enjoyable to have face-to-face-like interactions in the metaverse space,” and “It was meaningful to talk with people in similar circumstances whom I rarely get to meet otherwise”.
JSPS President SUGINO Tsuyoshi delivers opening remarks.
The former RPD Research Fellow presents a lecture.
The former RPD Research Fellow presents a lecture.
RPD Fellows enjoy interacting with each other.
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