The SSRC-JF Next Generation Japan Studies Development Program invites US colleges and universities to apply for grants to support postdoctoral fellowships. This program provides grants of up to $60,000 as partial support for the hiring of recent PhD students specializing in Japan to both teach and conduct research on Japan, within any social science or humanities discipline, at the institution for one academic year starting from the academic year 2026-2027. This program is supported by the Japan Foundation.

Background

The Next Gen Japan Postdoctoral Fellowship provides an opportunity for fellows to conduct essential research early in their careers while concurrently gaining valuable teaching experience and a greater understanding of the demands of professorship through this bridge from graduate school to tenure track positions.

Further, this fellowship provides host institutions with the means to enrich the offering of Japan-related courses, in particular, while enhancing the depth of a broad array of disciplines through the use of Japan in comparison or as a case study.

Eligibility

  • US-based universities and colleges with 501(c)3 status or qualifying tax-exempt status
  • Fellows within 3 years of earning a doctorate or terminal degree; graduate coursework and research experience must have a Japan focus

Requirements

Applying Institution’s Responsibilities:

  • Independently determine the discipline(s) of instruction as well as the selection and hiring of the postdoctoral fellow. It is recommended that the position not limit the disciplinary scope in order that the institution may select from a strong pool of applicants.
  • Conduct the hiring process in accordance with institutional regulations and norms
    • Payment of the award will be made when the SSRC receives confirmation that the postdoctoral fellow has been hired.
  • Provide the postdoctoral fellow:
    • Compensation through partial funding provided by the SSRC-JF grant
    • Full-time employment for a one-year teaching and research position, including a course load of one to two courses per term with a maximum of four courses during the fellowship tenure
    • Provision of health insurance and other benefits in accordance with the rules and norms for the position
    • Provision of office space and other resources in accordance with the rules and norms for the position
    • Assignment of a tenured faculty mentor to support the fellow and advise on the development of undergraduate or graduate curricular resources and the fellow’s own research development
  • Administer the funds provided by the grant
  • Submission of a final report to the SSRC on the Postdoctoral Fellowship one month following the end of the Fellow’s academic term. This report should include outputs required from the Fellow as outlined below.

Fellow’s Responsibilities:

  • Fellows will share their expertise on Japan through teaching courses and related responsibilities that incorporate Japan into the curriculum
  • Conduct their own research and writing on Japan-related issues
  • Coordination with institution on completion of final report to the SSRC on the Postdoctoral Fellowship to include a narrative on courses taught throughout the year as well as reporting on their experience
  • Toward the end of the fellowship period, fellows are required to provide an educational module or lesson plan that can be readily integrated into undergraduate or graduate courses in the fellow’s discipline. This module will be made publicly available on the SSRC Website as part of an open-access repository of disciplinary-focused Japan-related curriculum.

Priorities

  • Priority is given to applications from colleges and universities located in the US South and Midwest.
  • Priority is given to institutions planning Postdoctoral Fellow course assignments that allow for the enrollment of students from a variety of disciplines ranging from the humanities and social sciences to the natural sciences.

Grant Coverage

The program can provide up to $60,000 for one full academic year. These funds can be used for the following items, in accordance with the university’s policies for the specific position:

  • Salary/compensation to the fellow
  • Health insurance and benefits for the fellow

Application Deadline and Notification of Results

  • June 1, 2026: application deadline for fellows starting academic year 2026-2027 with a fellowship start date no later than the Spring term. Notification of results will be provided about 1 month after the application deadline.

Application Instructions

All applications are to be submitted online through the SSRC’s application portal. The SSRC-JF Next Gen Japan Postdoctoral Fellowship application consists of:

  • Fellow’s CV (if the institution is applying for these funds with the intent of hiring a specific candidate)
  • Cover sheet
  • Proposal: The proposal should detail the role the institution envisions the Next Gen Japan Postdoctoral Fellow will fill, the environment the institution will provide the fellow, and the benefit to the institution of hosting a fellow
  • Job description and hiring timeline: The job description, including qualifications of the fellow, for the SSRC-JF Next Gen Japan Postdoctoral Fellow position
  • University’s policies regarding Salary Scale and Benefits for the fellow’s position
  • Cost share commitment: An estimated budget showing how the funds from the grant will be combined with institutional resources to fully fund the fellow for one academic year of teaching and research
  • Course list: A tentative course list, and syllabi if available, that the fellow will teach; course(s) must focus on Japan or include Japan in comparison or as a case study

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