Hiroshima University, Yamaguchi University,
Tokushima University and Ehime University formed a consortium for the development
of world-class researchers through regional collaboration in the area centered in
the Chugoku and Shikoku regions of Japan (hereafter referred to as
HIRAKU-Global). The HIRAKU-Global program (the Program) aims to develop
world-class researchers who are leading unique and exceptional research and are
recognized as innovative, influential and impactful in the global community.
The Program provides various kinds of support to early career researchers who
are proactively promoting international collaborative research, such as
start-up research funding, travel and accommodation expenses for medium- to
long-term research visits overseas, advice from mentors, relevant opportunities
for career and skill development, to name a few.
For more
details about the Program, please visit the HIRAKU-Global website via the link
below:
https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/hiraku-g
The Program will select promising early
career researchers from newly or recently appointed tenure-track faculty
members at Hiroshima University, Yamaguchi University, Tokushima University and
Ehime University, who possess high aspirations to promote international
collaborative research while utilizing this Program (further details to be outlined
below).
1. Number of Openings and Research Fields
Hiroshima University: 3 (Any field)
Yamaguchi University: 1 (Civil and Environmental Engineering )
Tokushima University: 1 (Life Science)
Ehime University: 1 (Any field)
*The number of openings listed above is the number that can be provided
with financial support for start-up research funding and travel and accommodation
expenses for research visits overseas, to be described later, using MEXT’s
Grants-in-Aid for the “Strategic Development Program for World-Class Researchers”
Program. In addition, this Program will accept candidates with sufficient
research accomplishments and qualities from the above-mentioned universities
or other partner institutions, only if they can secure their necessary
funds independently.
2. Eligibility (applicants must satisfy both criteria):
• Possess research experience of less than 10 years after obtaining their
doctoral degree, or equivalent (under 40 years of
age)
• Hold a recently acquired tenure-track faculty position* at Hiroshima University, Yamaguchi University,
Tokushima University or Ehime University.
*Please
note that a “recently acquired tenure-track faculty position” will be defined
as a position that has been attained within the past two years (or
thereabouts), and will also include those who will attain a position at the
beginning of the new Academic Year from April.
We are particularly
seeking researchers who, as the HIRAKU-Global Researchers, are motivated to
strengthen the collaboration between the domestic universities within the
Program and the international partner institutions, as well as to improve their
competencies as researchers and increase their visibility in the global
community through conducting international collaborative research, and to play
leading roles in developing the Program.
Primary duties as HIRAKU-Global Researchers
In addition to their regular
faculty duties at their respective institutions, the HIRAKU-Global Researchers will
be engaged with the following duties during the Program development period (up
to 5 years):
 Promoting international collaborative research, and publication of their research outputs/achievements,etc.
Attending the Starter Course Training and Annual Conference of the Program
Submitting materials required for the evaluation of the progress and completion
of the Program
Actively participating in the initiatives, projects, and management of
the Program
Proactively participating in promotional activities of the Program within/outside
of Japan
3. Method of Application
Download and complete the "Application Form for the 2nd HIRAKU-Global Researchers Cohort (FY2021)" document from the URL below, and submit the complete
set of required application documents to the HIRAKU-Global Office
via e-mail, (which can be found below within “6. Contact Information”).
<Required Application Documents>
① Application Form (please prepare the documents in English)
② Letter of Recommendation from your affiliated graduate school or center (securing more than 50% of research
effort)
4. Application Deadline
Friday, April 16, 2021 at 11:59 a.m. (Japan Standard Time)*
*If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledging that your application has
been received from the HIRAKU-Global Office by Monday, April 19, 2021,
please contact the Office via the information supplied below within “6.
Contact Information”.
*This is subject to change depending on the
situation of the Program.
5. Selection Process and Notification of the Results
・Scheduled Date of the First Screening (Screening of
the Application Documents): Mid- to Late April 2021
・Scheduled Date of the Second Screening (Screening
by Interview): Early to Mid- May 2021
・Scheduled Date of Selection Results Notification: Late
May to Early June, 2021
The first round of screening will be undertaken on the “Required Application Documents”. Those who pass the first screening process will be notified of the date,
time and venue of the second screening (interview) by e-mail. For the second
screening, the interviews will be conducted mainly in English, and comprehensive
evaluations will be made on academic uniqueness and achievements (including
overseas research experience, etc.), motivation, communication skills (highly
proficient in order to conduct international collaborative research), personal
qualification, etc. Please note that we will not be able to respond to
individual inquiries in regard to applications.
6. Contact Information
HIRAKU-Global Office
(Office of Research and Academia-Government-Community Collaboration, Hiroshima University)
E-mail: hiraku-global@office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp
<Features of the HIRAKU-Global Program>
１．Support Period of the Program
Up to five
years, or until the HIRAKU-Global Researchers acquire tenure at their
respective institutions.
*During the
support period, an environment where research activities can be performed independently
and a research effort of 50% or more as a PI, must be secured.
*If the
HIRAKU-Global Researcher acquires tenure during the support period, the Program
may continue to provide support to the individual as a HIRAKU-Global Researcher.
*If the HIRAKU-Global
Researcher is considered to have reached the level of achievement specified by the
Program, they shallgraduate from the Program earlier than planned.
2. Main Support Provided by the Program
(1) Start-Up Research Funding
For a
duration of up to two years from the start of the support period, a maximum amount
of 2 million yen(Note) will be provided to each HIRAKU-Global Researcher.
(Note) Tenure-track
faculty members who have already been selected under the “HIRAKU” program or those selected under the JSPS Leading Initiative for
Excellent Young Researchers, and who have already received start-up research
funding through those programs, will not receive an additional payment from the
HIRAKU-Global Program
(2) Support for International Research
Exchange (a maximum amount of 2 million yen over three years)
For a duration of up to three years from the start of the support period,
a maximum amount of 2
million yen, will be provided to cover the costs involved
with undertaking collaborative research or
research exchange with institutions overseas, (including
travel and accommodation expenses). At least
one or more medium- to long-term (minimum of a few weeks)
international trips must be conducted.
This financial support can also be used for multiple international
trips, including short-term trips as well
as inviting overseas researchers. The host organizations
for these international trips will be selected from
overseas organizations that the HIRAKU-Global Program intends to strengthen
collaborations with
and/or organizations that the HIRAKU-Global Researchers choose
based on their preference. The
HIRAKU-Global Researchers will be able to seek advice from
the Program Mentors about overseas
research exchange opportunities and preferences.
(3) Support for the Skill Development of the HIRAKU-Global Researchers
Various kinds of support will be provided to improve the abilities of
the HIRAKU-Global Researchers,
depending on their individual expertise and needs, such as:
collaboration with domestic and overseas
researchers,management of research teams, guidance for research,
mentoring, acquisition of external
funds, submission of papers to top journals, etc. The Program
will also support the development of their
vision and medium- to longterm career development from a
global perspective.
(4) Support by Multiple Mentors
During their support period, multiple mentors will be assigned to the HIRAKU-Global
Researchers to
provide advice on their action plans, progress against their
objectives, tenure acquisition, career
development, etc.
HIRAKU-Global Program Mentors: Assigned by the Program with the view of
helping to develop leading
ECRs in the global community.
Organizational Mentor: Arranged by the organization that the HIRAKU-Global
Researcher is affiliated with.
Overseas Mentor/s: Independently explored by the HIRAKU-Global Researcher.
(5) Support from the HIRAKU-Global Office
University Research Administrators (URAs) will provide the HIRAKU-Global
Researchers with support
for external funding acquisition and promotion of international
collaborative research, etc., as well as
various support to match them up with overseas research collaborators
and to enhance their
international visibility.
Top of page
|
