Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN)
RIHN Visiting Research Fellowship
Visiting Research Fellowship 2016
Recruitment of Visiting Research Fellows
If you do not have access to the website, please send us an Email or facsimile requesting the Visiting Research Fellowship application form.
Send to:
International Affairs Subsection, Planning and Collaboration Section, RIHN
E-mail: 
Fax: +81-75-707-2106
Background and Practical Information
The aim of the RIHN Visiting Research Fellowship
RIHN’s objective is to conduct integrative research on key areas of interaction between humanity and nature. RIHN solicits, funds, and hosts research projects lasting from three to five years. These projects conduct high quality applied research; they are always multi-disciplinary and based on multiple methodologies. RIHN research is increasingly trans-disciplinary in that it seeks to redefine the role of science in society, improve dialogue between different traditions of knowledge, and stimulate local, national and international collaborations in the design and production of knowledge concerning key social and environmental problems.
RIHN invites overseas researchers to apply for a RIHN Visiting Research Fellowship and this scheme enables them to spend some time undertaking research at RIHN and to contribute to the development of the institute in other ways, in particular by providing inputs to its intellectual foundation and strategic direction. Research fellows will be selected through public recruitment or recommendation. Recommendation occurs as an internal RIHN process, but candidates from the public recruitment and recommendation channels will be selected through one unified process according to the same criteria.
Visiting Research Fellows are commonly attached to one of RIHN research projects, the Center for Research Development, the Center for Research Promotion, or the Research Initiative for Chinese Environmental Issues (See the RIHN Prospectus for more information about these units).
Visiting Research Fellows are also expected to take part in RIHN activities (symposia, forums, seminars, other events, the publishing and dissemination of research results, and so on), and contribute to developing the trans-disciplinary field of Global Environmental Change Research.
Selection criteria
For more information on the selection criteria, please see here.
Period of stay at RIHN
The period of stay will be from one month up to one year, within the fiscal year 2016 (April 1, 2016-March 31, 2017).
Details of duties
Visiting Research Fellows will engage in the following activities:
- Broad advice concerning the overall research and orientation of RIHN
- Advice concerning research projects at RIHN
Visiting Research Fellows are also required to:
- Make at least one presentation at a RIHN seminar
- Submit a brief report summarizing the recommendations to RIHN
Applicant eligibility
Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent qualification/experience, and be employed in an overseas research institute. (Those who are employed by a research institute or a university in Japan and not citizens of Japan can also apply.)
Remuneration
Remuneration will be paid monthly according to RIHN Regulations (381,000~766,000 JPY) and will be provided at a determined date every month.
Travel expenses
The fare for one round trip ticket between your organization and RIHN will be paid.
Accommodation
Accommodation in the RIHN Guest House is available.
The rent for a single room is approximately 50,000JPY per month at your own expense. (The rent may be subject to change.)
Working Hours and Holidays
Working hours and holidays are the same as for RIHN employees
(7 hours and 45mins per day, 38hours and 45mins per week are the basic working hours).
Visiting Research Fellows at RIHN are provided with a paid vacation from 2 days up to 20 days according to the length of stay.
How to apply
If you do not have access to the website, please send an Email or facsimile requesting the Visiting Research Fellowship application form.
The contact address is;
International Affairs Subsection, Planning and Collaboration Section, RIHN
Fax: +81-75-707-2106
E-mail:
Deadline for applications
All application documents must be submitted by email no later than Tuesday, October 27, 2015.
What needs to be submitted
- Completed RIHN FY2016 Visiting Research Fellow application form(＊).
- Your CV including information on:
- A letter confirming your employment from the head of your home institute or from your immediate supervisor accompanied by an official translation into either Japanese or English if the letter is in neither of these languages.
1. Major field, degree(s) and dates received; 2. Employment history; 3. List of major publications and whether refereed.
(There is no prescribed format for this recommendation letter.)
（＊： The name of a proposed host researcher is required. The application without it won’t be assessed ）
*Points to notice
- Documents must be written in Japanese or English.
- Please use the RIHN application form of 2016 version (photocopy is acceptable), other forms cannot be accepted.
- The application will not be assessed if it contains omissions, mistakes or falsehoods, or if documents are submitted which have not been requested.
- Any documents submitted will not be returned to the applicant. Personal information will be treated securely according to Japanese laws and regulations, and will not be used for any purpose other than in the selection of Visiting Research Fellows.
The selection process
Selection of Fellows is made during October to December. The results of the selection process will be announced to all applicants by the International Affairs Subsection in between December 2015 and January 2016 following the selection meeting.
Please note that inquiries about the selection results or about the method of selection and details of the selection process should not be made before the announcement of results by RIHN.
| September - October, 2015 | ● Application period Distribution to potential applicants of the application forms and related guidelines. |
| October 27, 2015 (Tuesday) | ● Deadline for applications (applications must reach RIHN by this date) |
| October, 2015 | ● Notice of acceptance of applications will be sent to all the applicants by email. |
| October - December, 2015 | ● Assessment and selection RIHN examines the applications and relevant documents and selects the Visiting Research Fellows at the selection meeting. |
| December, 2015 - January, 2016 | ● Notice of the selection results will be sent to the applicants who were assessed. The results of the selection will be announced to all applicants by the International Affairs Subsection. Inquiries about the selection results cannot be made before the announcement of results by RIHN. |
| January, 2016 | ● Selected applicants starting their work at RIHN in April will receive detailed information about the relevant procedures from the International Affairs Subsection. (Arrangements for coming to Japan start three months before the visit.) |
| From April, 2016 | ● Visiting Research Fellows come to Japan to start their stay. |