CFAs: SSRC-JF Next Gen Japan Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (US)

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC), with support from the Japan Foundation, invites eligible US colleges and universities to apply for grants to support postdoctoral fellowships focused on Japan-related research and teaching. The award provides up to $60,000 as partial support for hiring a recent PhD–level specialist in Japan for one academic year starting in the 2027–2028 academic year. The application deadline is 1 November 2026. Opportunity at a Glance

- Provider: Social Science Research Council (SSRC), supported by the Japan Foundation

- Opportunity name: SSRC-JF Next Generation Japan Postdoctoral Fellowship

- Opportunity type: Institutional grant to support a postdoctoral fellowship (teaching + research)

- Funding amount: Up to $60,000 for one full academic year (partial support)

- Eligible applicants: US-based universities and colleges with 501(c)(3) status or qualifying tax-exempt status

- Geographic focus (priority): Priority given to institutions in the US South and Midwest

- Fellow eligibility (timing/discipline): Fellows within 3 years of earning a doctorate or terminal degree; graduate coursework and research experience must have a Japan focus

- Project / fellowship duration: One academic year (starting in 2027–2028)

- Application deadline: November 1, 2026 (for fellows starting in the 2027–2028 academic year)

- Notification: Results expected about 1 month after the application deadline (timeframe stated in source)

- Submission method: Online via the SSRC application portal

- Contact (queries): [contact details removed]

About the Opportunity

The SSRC-JF Next Generation Japan Postdoctoral Fellowship supports a bridge from graduate study to academic careers by enabling fellows to conduct early-career Japan-related research while gaining teaching experience. It also helps host institutions enrich their Japan-related course offerings. The fellowship is intended to strengthen Japan-related research and teaching in the context of any social science or humanities discipline, provided the fellow’s work and course assignments incorporate Japan. Funding and Benefits The program can provide up to $60,000 for one full academic year as partial support for the fellowship position. Grant coverage includes (in accordance with university policies for the specific position): - Salary/compensation to the fellow - Health insurance and benefits for the fellow

Not covered by the grant:

- Indirect costs or institutional administrative costs Payment timing (institution responsibility): - Payment is made when the SSRC receives confirmation that the postdoctoral fellow has been hired. Who Is Eligible? Eligible applicants (institutions) - US-based universities and colleges - Must have 501(c)(3) status or a qualifying tax-exempt status Eligible fellows (fellow profile requirements) - Fellows must be within 3 years of earning a doctorate or terminal degree - The fellow’s graduate coursework and research experience must have a Japan focus Key application responsibility - The applying institution independently determines the discipline(s) of instruction and is responsible for the selection and hiring of the postdoctoral fellow (including conducting the hiring process according to institutional regulations and norms). Eligible Activities or Priority Areas The fellowship supports a postdoctoral role that includes both: - Teaching courses that incorporate Japan (including Japan-focused courses or Japan as a comparison/case study) - Conducting research and writing on Japan-related issues Course expectations (as reflected in required application materials): - Course(s) must focus on Japan or include Japan in comparison or as a case study. - The teaching course load is described as one to two courses per term, with a maximum of four courses during the fellowship tenure. Institutional 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 enrollment from a variety of disciplines, spanning humanities and social sciences through to the natural sciences. Why This Opportunity Matters This fellowship is designed to strengthen Japan-related scholarship and curricular offerings by funding a postdoctoral hire who can contribute to both academic instruction and research. For host institutions, it offers support for building or enhancing Japan-focused teaching within broader disciplinary contexts. For fellows, it provides structured early-career research opportunities alongside formal teaching responsibilities. How to Apply All applications must be submitted online through the SSRC application portal. - Prepare the application package with the required components listed below (cover sheet, narrative proposal, position and policy materials, budget/cost share, course list, and CV if applying to hire a specific candidate). - Submit the application online via the SSRC application portal.

- Submit by the deadline: November 1, 2026 (for fellows starting in the 2027–2028 academic year).

Application components required (as listed in the source) The SSRC-JF Next Gen Japan Postdoctoral Fellowship application consists of: - Cover sheet

- Proposal detailing:

- the role the institution envisions the Next Gen Japan Postdoctoral Fellow will fill - the environment the institution will provide the fellow - the benefit to the institution of hosting a fellow - Job description and hiring timeline for the SSRC-JF Next Gen Japan Postdoctoral Fellow position, including fellow qualifications - University policies regarding salary scale and benefits for the fellow’s position - Cost share commitment: an estimated budget showing how the grant funds 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 (course(s) must focus on Japan or include Japan in comparison or as a case