An essential part of the application for both the PhD and Postdoctoral fellowships is a research proposal outlining the intended work. The research during the fellowship should be of professional interest to the applicant and of direct relevance to the research agenda of their selected UNU-IAS or UNU-ISP programme. Applicants are therefore highly encouraged to familiarise themselves with UNU-IAS and UNU-ISP research areas. Research proposals should clearly relate to one of the current Research Programmes at UNU-IAS and UNU-ISP.

The following Research Programmes and Projects at UNU-IAS in Yokohama and its operating unit in Kanazawa (UNU-IAS OUIK) are accepting applications for UNU-IAS PhD Fellows, UNU-IAS Postdoctoral Fellows and JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellows:

Science and Technology for Sustainable Societies  
Sustainable Urban Futures  
Biodiplomacy Initiative
Marine Governance and Coastal Management  
   
The following Research Programmes at UNU-ISP in Tokyo are accepting applications for JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellows: 

International Cooperation and Development  
Global Change and Sustainability 
Peace and Security

Science and Technology for Sustainable Societies (UNU-IAS)

General Objective of the Research
The solution to the twin challenges of global poverty and climate change could be found through science, technology and sustainable innovation. We must guide technological change and innovation to create a greener, cleaner and creative economy. Poverty can be tackled only if we invest in education, science and technology and innovation systems in developing societies. We have at our disposal right now the scientific knowledge, research skills and innovation capability to change the situation. What we lack is the will and the foresight to implement a new governance mechanism for scientific knowledge production and markets that are fair and accountable for the management and diffusion of technology and fair circulation of innovation on a global scale in an equitable manner. The international governance of science and technology – the parameters within which the international community integrates scientific information into decision making, facilitates innovation and ensures access to technology by those who need it most – are critical for addressing these and other critical sustainability challenges.

For 2010 research proposals are invited in the following themes:

• Science, technology and sustainable innovation
• Innovations systems for sustainable development
• Science and technology policy
• Access to Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development
• Globalization of science and research
• The role of science advice in the United Nations System
• Governance of science and technology

Required qualifications:

• Preferably in a field related to applied social or environmental sciences
• Demonstrated research skills in similar areas
• Fluency in English is essential and a working knowledge of other languages is desirable 

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Sustainable Urban Futures (UNU-IAS)

General Objective of the Research
The Programme on Sustainable Urban Futures analyzes how cities in developing countries create the institutional capacity to implement effective environmental policies with social inclusion. In this context, local authorities and organizations have played important roles in the policy implementation to tackle climate change, even though the focus of media and literature is mostly on debates at the global or country level. The fellow will research the patterns of environmental governance and policy implementation in the case of one or more cities in developing countries. He/she is expected to understand the role of governmental and non-governmental organizations have played in climate change related policies and how those policies are linked to environmental and other local and national policies.

Required qualifications:

• Preferably in a field related to applied social or environmental sciences, such as urban planning, development studies, public policy, management or economics.
• Demonstrated research skills in similar areas
• Ability to design and implement research involving field work
• Fluency in English is essential and a working knowledge of other languages is desirable 

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Biodiplomacy Initiative (UNU-IAS)

General Objective of the Research
The Biodiplomacy Initiative’s work centres around policy related issues arising from the conservation and use of biological resources and associated knowledge and technologies. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the key multilateral environmental agreement around which much of the Biodiplomacy Initiative’s activities are focused. Other important international instruments that the Biodiplomacy Initiative works on in this context include the UNFCCC, ITPGRFA, UNFF, UNCLOS and UNPFII.

The selected fellow will undertake policy relevant research within their key areas of specialization including biological sciences, international law, economics, development studies, and related areas. S/he will work together with an interdisciplinary team, and is expected to have an understanding of interlinked concepts on biodiversity and human well-being and have the capacity to carry out research relevant to global, national and local scales. Researchers for post doctoral positions are invited to work on any of the areas mentioned below.

• Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS) and the International ABS Regime
• Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• The Regulation of Biotechnology
• Payment for Environmental Services provided by Biodiversity 
• Climate Change and Biodiversity, Indigenous issues
• Protection and Use of Traditional knowledge

Required qualifications:

• Preferably in a field related to applied social or environmental sciences, such as environmental management or economics
• Demonstrated research skills in similar areas
• Ability to design and implement research on environmental policy issues
• Fluency in English is essential and a working knowledge of other languages is desirable 

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Marine Governance and Coastal Management  (UNU-IAS OUIK)

General Objective of the Research
The United Nations University-Institute of Advanced Studies Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (OUIK)was established in April 2008 as the first UNU operating unit in Asia and the sixth globally. It is a strategic think tank whose mission is to link local knowledge to global issues. The fellow is expected to develop research in one or more of the following areas:

• Climate change in marine and coastal areas, including its impact on coastal communities,
• Coastal and ocean management, in particular through application of tools and approaches such as marine spatial planning and the ecosystem approach,
• Ports and coastal cities,
• Ecological, economic or cultural aspects of the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity,
• Ocean or coastal pollution.

It is important that the research be policy-oriented and link local issues with global debates. The Fellows in this reserach project will be based in Kanazawa, Japan.

Required qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree (no ABDs), in social or environmental sciences in the area of the call or doctoral graduates from natural or health sciences who have worked with policy-oriented issues,
• Demonstrated research experience in marine and coastal issues
• Ability to design and implement research involving field work 

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International Cooperation and Development (UNU-ISP)

General Objective of the Research
The International Cooperation and Development (ICD) Section conducts research and promotes international researcher networking on frontier issues of development, focusing especially on sustainable development of poorer countries. The ICD Section serves as the conceptual and functional interface between the two other sections of ISP (Peace and Security, and Global Change and Sustainability).  ICD’s current research work is characterized by its concern with management of resources, technology and institutions for sustainable development at the local, national and international levels. It focuses, on the one hand, on the development challenges faced by the Least Developed and other low income countries, such as poverty, income disparity, natural disasters, imbalances in demographic structure, production bottlenecks, health problems, and ineffective government. On the other hand, ICD research deals with structural issues affecting developing countries that call for trade and international development negotiations, including on the impact of globalization and climate change.  The research outcome is disseminated not only through publication of books and journal articles but also through issuing of policy briefs and action-oriented workshops.
The ICD Section would welcome candidates who are carrying out research relating to the above-mentioned issues. Particularly welcome are those interested in model building geared to concrete policy issues and employing quantitative methods.

Required qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in social sciences. Field research experience in developing countries is desired.
• Fluency in English is essential.
• Applications from Women and/or those originating from developing countries are encouraged. 

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Global Change and Sustainability (UNU-ISP)

General Objective of the Research
Drastic environmental changes such as climate change, urbanization and land degradation are the major root causes that challenge sustainability profoundly affecting human security, especially in the poorest countries. The Global Change and Sustainability program provides unique opportunities to assess these changes, analyze impacts, propose response strategies and evaluate their sustainability from a natural science perspective supported by transdisciplinary synergies provided by the two other parallel programs of the Institute that address (a) peace building and security and (b) international cooperation and development. Candidates with field experience seeking to link scientific results to policy formulation are especially encouraged to apply. Familiarity with either mathematical modeling, spatial analysis or statistical analyses will be an asset. The program invites research proposals on following broad thematic areas:

• Climate change impacts and adaptation (preferably focusing on water and/or food security)
• Local actions for eco-systems sustainability under global change
• Disaster (floods and landslides) and environmental risk assessment & management
• Ecological impacts of local and indigenous agriculture and resource management practices

Required qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in engineering or natural sciences
• Fluency in English is essential
• Applications from women and/or candidates originating from developing countries are encouraged.  

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Peace and Security (UNU-ISP)

General Objective of the Research
The Peace and Security section develops research on threats to the peace, such as violent conflicts, human rights abuses, proliferation of weapons, terrorism, but will gradually expand its analysis, within the globally changing geopolitical context, to integrate other aspects of human security - challenges of climate change, poverty and under-development, economic globalization and interdependence. The section places particular emphasis on how to address such new challenges in vulnerable post-conflict situations, looking at sustainable, long-term approaches to peacebuilding and human rights, aiming to prevent state's failure and communities falling back into violence.
The JSPS fellow will conduct research that fits within the themes above, the proposed research could have in-depth focus on a particular aspect of peace: disarmament, peacekeeping, human rights, protection of civilians, but should attempt to incorporate trans-disciplinary perspectives and integrate innovative methodologies.

Required qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in social sciences generally, or international law/international relations in particular, though doctoral graduates from natural sciences, who would like to develop post-doc work in social sciences are also very welcomed;
• Fluency in English is essential, working knowledge of another language is desirable;
• Applications from women and candidates originating from developing countries are encouraged.

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