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 are accepting applications in March 2009 for UNU-IAS PhD Fellows, UNU-IAS Postdoctoral Fellows and JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellows:

    1.    Science and Technology for Sustainable Societies  
    2.    Sustainable Urban Futures  
    3.    Biodiplomacy Initiative  
   4.    Sustainable Development Governance 

The following Research Programmes at UNU-ISP in Tokyo are accepting applications in March 2009 for JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellows: 

    5.    International Development and Co-operation 
    6.    Global Change and Sustainability 
    7.    Peace and Security 

For questions related to research, please contact the relevant Research Programme representative.



1. Science and Technology for Sustainable Societies (UNU-IAS)

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 2009 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

 

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2.    Sustainable Urban Futures (UNU-IAS)

The Sustainable Urban Future programme considers cities and urban spaces as key elements to local, regional and global sustainable development. As populations concentrate in the world's cities, the future growth of urban centres is of particular concern for planners and policy makers in both the developed and developing world. However, contemporary patterns of urban growth do not conform to previous experiences and expectations. Large cities in the developing world have been attracting millions of rural people for economic opportunities. But these economic migrants end up in sprawling slums living without any meaningful basic necessities like housing, sanitation, clean water and energy. This "new urbanization" is associated with the emergence of large urban regions, which interact with their hinterlands for food, water and other resources. How and where cities will grow, what drives their growth, what impacts they will have on the environment and how best to manage them is yet to be understood. Managing these urban centres is vital for combating climate change and promoting sustainable development while remaining the economic life blood of developing countries.

Research proposals are invited for 2009 in the following general thematic areas:

• Measuring future urbanization
• Urban futures and climate change
• Urban futures and vulnerability
• Urban futures and social sustainability
• Urban futures and democratic governance
• Urbanization and sustainable development
• Urban futures and the creative economy

 

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3.    Biodiplomacy Initiative (UNU-IAS)

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.

Research proposals are invited for 2009 on the following broad topics:

• 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 (particularly forest biodiversity)
• Climate Change and Biodiversity, Indigenous issues
• Protection and Use of Traditional knowledge

Click here for more details about the Biodiplomacy Initiative programme. 

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4.  Sustainable Development Governance (UNU-IAS)

Solutions to pressing global sustainability challenges such as climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the degradation of land, freshwater and coastal systems, require integrated policy making that cuts across economy, society and the environment. Policy-relevant research and capacity development activities on Sustainable Development Governance at UNU-IAS is aimed to link into ongoing MEA and WTO processes, and the UN system in general. Innovative conceptual tools like the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment’s Ecosystem Services analysis to better understand to the nature-society interface, and its policy implications, form part of the analytical toolbox of Sustainable Development Governance (SDG) programme.

Research proposals are therefore invited in 2009 on any of the following themes:

• UN System-Wide Coherence on Environment and Sustainable Development Governance
• Biofuels and Ecosystem Services
• Accession to the WTO and Sustainable Development
• Adaptive Policy Making in Times of Uncertainty
• Key Questions and Challenges for Post-2012 Kyoto Regime
• Interlinkages and Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Click here for more details about the Sustainable Development Governance programme.

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5.  International Development and Co-operation (UNU-ISP)

Multilateral international co-operation is crucial to achieve development goals, to draft and adopt international laws that regulate market forces, trade, and financial transactions; and to urge states to comply with agreed rules. The UNU-ISP International Development and Co-operation programme analyzes current trends and recommends sustainable strategies to address such challenges as under-development and under-participation, economic and social inequalities within and between countries, lack of access to resources, healthcare and modern technology, and insufficient education. Its research agenda focuses on inter-linkages between development and global environmental change, security and human rights, through close relationships with its parallel programmes – Peace and Security, and Global Change and Sustainability.

Research proposals with an interdisciplinary approach are encouraged for 2009 in a range of thematic areas including:

• Multilateralism and Regional Integration
• Poverty Reduction and Aid Policies
• Natural Resource Conflicts in Africa
• Economic, Social & Cultural Rights. Health
• The impact of trade liberalization on the environment, human rights, food safety/security
• International Financial Institutions. Transnational Corporations

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6.  Global Change and Sustainability (UNU-ISP)

Rapid environmental changes such as climate change, urbanization, 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 from 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 and are especially encouraged to apply. Familiarity with mathematical modeling, spatial analysis and statistical analyses will be an asset.

The program invites research proposals on following broad thematic areas for 2009:

• Climate change impacts and adaptation
• Water management
• Disaster (floods and landslides) and environmental risk assessment & management
• Water quality monitoring and pesticide management
• Urban development
• Ecological impacts of local and indigenous agriculture and resource management practices
• Interlinked problems of land degradation, Soil and water conservation and poverty

Click here for more details about the Global Change and Sustainability programme.

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7.  Peace and Security (UNU-ISP)

Peace and security are the raison d’etre of the United Nations. Today even more than 60 years after establishing the UN, innovative and sustainable solutions are required to address threats to the peace, armed conflicts, human rights abuses, preventable diseases, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and organized crime. The UNU-ISP Peace and Security programme develops research to address these pressing global issues, producing policy-oriented recommendations for current problems and identifying longer-term trends with implications for peace and security. Recognizing the interrelated nature of today’s global challenges, the programme works closely with its parallel programmes – International Development and Co-operation, and Global Change and Sustainability.

Following UNU’s mandate, research proposals should have at least a regional focus, and are invited in thematic areas including:

• Peacebuilding. Democratization. Power-Sharing Agreements
• UN Peace Operations
• Use of Force. Intervention. Responsibility to Protect
• Civil & Political Rights and International Mechanisms
• Terrorism & Organized Crime
• Proliferation of Weapons. Arms Trade Control
• International Justice & Accountability

Click here for more details about the Peace and Security programme. 

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