UNU Postdoctoral Fellowships 2010
February 9th, 2010
United Nations University Scholarships in 2010 For Ph.D Graduates
About UNU :
United Nations University (UNU) studies human activities and the way in which we are altering the world, with a particular emphasis on the concerns and needs of developing countries.
UNU was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to be an international community of scholars engaged in research, advanced training, and the dissemination of knowledge related to pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare. UNU activities focus mainly on peace and governance, environment and sustainable development, and science and technology in relation to human welfare.
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, nearly 40 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
Details :
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 or UNU-IAS OUIK in Kanazawa, 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.
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. 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 September. 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 Library in Tokyo which includes an excellent collection of UN documents. They also have access via the UNU 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
Starting Date and Deadline for Applications :
The UNU-IAS Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme begins on 1 September and the selected fellows are required to be in Japan by this date. The deadline for application for the 2010 Fellowships is 28 February, 2010
How to Apply :
Interested and eligible candidates are invited to send the followoing documents by email to fellowships@ias.unu.edu as one package.
UNU-IAS Postdoctoral Fellowship Application Form (Applications are only available in Adobe Reader. The latest version of Adobe Reader is recommended. Download Adobe Reader here.) The form should be completed electronically and submitted online, as well as please save and then attach it together with all required supporting documents listed below (2 – 5), to an email message. In case you do not have access to the Internet, please contact us (see the contacts below).
Application Letter that clearly outlines how the candidate’s qualifications and research proposal meet the requirements and objectives of the fellowship.
Certified copies of academic transcripts (Master’s and Ph.D. courses if applicable) and a copy of the doctoral degree certificate. If the degree has not yet been awarded, a letter is required from the candidate’s institution stating the date that he/she will officially receive the degree.
Your most significant publication as sole author (If not available, please attach one chapter of your PhD dissertation).
Evidence of English language proficiency if PhD dissertation was not submitted in English (e.g. TOEFL score, certificate of proficiency).
All documents must be in English. When the document is in another language, please be sure to attach an English translation
Selection Criteria and Process :
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.
Contact :
United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS)
6F International Organizations Center
Pacifico-Yokohama
1-1-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku
Yokohama 220-8502 Japan
Tel: +81-45-221-2300
Fax: +81-45-221-2302
Email: unuias@ias.unu.edu
Website: www.ias.unu.edu
Source : http://www.ias.unu.edu/
Categories: Scholarships
