JSPS BRIDGE Fellowship Application Procedure

The following is the application guidance for members of the US and Canada JSPS Alumni Association. For the general outline of the program, see:
https://www.jspsusa-alumni.org/jsps-bridge-fellowships/ and
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-alumni/bridge/index.html



Application Guidelines

JSPS BRIDGE Fellowship Program FY 2025 Application Guidelines
These guidelines apply to all JSPS alumni associations. Deadlines for submission of applications from members, screening criteria and other conditions may be determined by each alumni association. Those information for members of the US and Canada JSPS Alumni Association can be found on this web page.



BRIDGE Fellow Eligibility

To be eligible to receive a recommendation from the US and Canada JSPS Alumni Association, a researcher must meet the following requirement in addition to the fellowship eligibility requirements listed in the application guidelines:

  • Be a regular member of US and Canada JSPS Alumni Association.

See “Membership” and “Bylaws” for membership information.



Number of Fellowships Awarded

Six (6) individuals will be awarded fellowships in FY 2025 upon the recommendation of the US and Canada JSPS Alumni Association.



Application Deadline

December 6, 2024 (EST)



How to Apply

Fill in the electronic form and upload the required documents from the link below.
https://forms.office.com/r/Z1kgHPx6gp

We will reply once we receive your application. If you have not received a reply within 3 business days of submitting your application, please contact JSPS Washington Office at was-bridge@overseas.jsps.go.jp. Also, please be prepared to receive email communications from us within 2-3 weeks of submitting your application, as we may ask to revise your application.



Documents to Be Submitted

Follow the instructions on the electronic form to upload all the required documents.

  1. Application for JSPS BRIDGE Fellowship Program (Form A)
  2. Agreement by Host Researcher (Form B)
  3. Applicant’s CV and publication list (in any format)
  4. Contribution to Alumni Association (Appendix A)
  5. Recommendation Letter from the candidate’s host researcher (in any format, in either English or Japanese)

All papers used in applications should be A4 size. The size and format of Form A, B and Appendix A should NOT be altered by applicants.
Form A and Appendix A must be signed by the applicant. E-signature is acceptable.



Screening Criteria

JSPS BRIDGE Fellowship Screening Criteria
Regarding SC-2, examples of activities that are recognized as contributions to the Alumni Association are shown in the web page linked below.
JSPS Bridge Fellowship ‘contribution’ examples



Selection Process

The screening will be conducted by the Award Committee of the US and Canada JSPS Alumni Association. Please select the category you would like to be reviewed from the five options below and fill in the electronic form:

  • Biology & Medical Science
  • Chemistry
  • Engineering
  • Humanities & Social Sciences
  • Physics & Math



FY 2025 Schedule

  • December 6, 2024 (EST) – Application Deadline (from applicants to the Association)
  • Early April 2025 – Notification of Selection Result (from JSPS Headquarters to successful applicants)
  • From July 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 – Visit Period Start Date



FAQ

Please visit JSPS Headquarters’ website:
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-alumni/bridge/faq.html



Contact

If you have any questions, please contact JSPS Washington Office at was-bridge@overseas.jsps.go.jp.
More information about the BRIDGE Fellowship is available on the JSPS website at https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-plaza/bridge/index.html.



After Finishing Your BRIDGE Fellowship

  • JSPS Headquarters/the Alumni Association/JSPS Washington Office will request BRIDGE fellows to submit the “Research Report” (Form 7) to report their activities and accomplishments during their stay in Japan. The reports will be published on the following web page: JSPS Bridge Fellowship Awardee History
  • The Alumni Association/JSPS Washington Office may request BRIDGE fellows in the future to become members of the Award Committee, which will review applications for the BRIDGE Fellowship Program and/or other programs provided by JSPS Washington Office.