The Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP 2020

Application closed

Since 1963 the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) at Kyoto University has sought to promote interdisciplinary scholarship on Southeast Asia and beyond. CSEAS houses a lively and collegial community of international scholars who pursue a range of academic endeavors in the invigorating atmosphere of Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan and repository of the country’s cultural treasures.

CSEAS is now accepting applications for 2 postdoctoral fellowships tenable for a duration of up to 2 years (subject to performance evaluation). In addition to pursuing his/her own individual research agenda, the fellows would be involved in facilitating the Center’s research and scholarly outreach activities.

Successful applicants will receive a stipend to cover living expenses in Kyoto. Fellows will also receive one-way travel and relocation subsidies, an allocated research budget and institutional assistance in applying for additional internal and external research grants.

The deadline for applications is 31 August 2019.
The fellows would be expected to commence on 1 April 2020.

For information on eligibility and application procedures, see here.

CSEAS is an equal opportunity institution committed to providing employees with a work
environment free of discrimination and harassment based on race, religion, gender, gender
identity or sexual orientation.

ELIGIBILITY

1. Applications in English are invited from candidates of all nationalities.
2. To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must have a PhD. in Southeast Asian studies (or a closely related discipline) from a reputable university conferred no earlier than July 2016. All applicants need to provide a testamur/official document signed by the University registrar indicating that their doctoral degree has been/will be conferred before April 2020 (letters from thesis supervisors or Heads of Department are not sufficient).　
3. Applicants must provide a 1200-word Research Plan, indicating their current research interests and how these would be channeled into a definitive dissemination/grant seeking/publication outcomes for their time at CSEAS. This plan would ideally include prospective dates for output and possible venues for presentation/feedback. It should also specify how the fellow intends to contribute to the wider scholarly community at CSEAS.
4. Applicants should nominate the CSEAS research division which is most compatible to their research plan. The research divisions are as follows (please follow this link for more information: https://en.kyoto.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/organization/research-departments/):
   • • Cross-regional Studies
   • • Political & Economic Coexistence
   • • Social Coexistence
   • • Environmental Coexistence
   • • Global Humanosphere
5. Applicants should nominate a current CSEAS full-time faculty member (excluding program-specific faculty/researchers, affiliated faculty/staff, JSPS fellows, researchers and other visiting and non-permanent faculty) whose research interests are compatible with their own. The postdoctoral fellow will be automatically appointed to his/her faculty counterpart’s research division for the duration of the fellowship. As such, it is strongly advised that the applicant contact the proposed faculty member beforehand. CSEAS faculty profiles can be found here: https://en.kyoto.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/about/staff-page/
6. Applicants must upload letters of recommendation from 2 academic referees at the time of application.
7. Application dossiers must be submitted through the online submission portal (#) by 31 August 2019. The following documents are required:
   • i. Cover letter
   • ii. Curriculum Vitae (including full publications history, teaching and academic experience)
   • iii. 1200-word Research Plan for the fellowship term (as detailed in item 3 above).
   • iv. Up to two writing samples (preferably published articles/chapters with full citation record).
   • v. Academic Testamur indicating conferral of PhD. OR a letter from the relevant University Registrar indicating the status of the applicant’s Ph.D. candidacy. Note that letters from Heads of Department or Supervisors are insufficient.
   • vi. Letters of recommendation form TWO academic referees.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

8. The fellowship will commence in April 2020.
9. The appointment will be tenable for a period of up to two years, subject to peer evaluation of performance by CSEAS.
10. The fellow will receive a monthly net stipend of approximately JPY 400,000. All salary and benefits-in-kind are subjected to taxation, social insurance and other deductions in accordance with Japanese law.
11. One-way economy airfare to Japan and limited moving expenses will be provided to successful applicants.
12. Rental subsidies are not included in the salary package. However, CSEAS administration staff may offer assistance in securing University housing or accommodation in the open housing market.
13. CSEAS Admin staff will be able to provide support in acquiring a Japanese working visa.

WORKING CONDITIONS

14. The postdoctoral fellow will be provided with a shared working space, access to office facilities and library resources at both CSEAS and Kyoto University research networks.
15. Financial support of approximately JPY 300,000 per year (subject to committee approval) for fieldwork research and conference attendance will be provided.
16. Fellows are expected to conduct research activities that lead to disseminating their work in reputable publication outlets. Publication objectives and outcomes shall be determined in consultation with the relevant CSEAS faculty counterpart.
17. Fellows are expected to work with CSEAS administration staff in organizing and facilitating scholarly activities such as seminars, conferences, workshops and other established center programs and events.
18. There is a possibility of part-time graduate teaching/mentorship within CSEAS during the fellowship term if it is determined to be beneficial for both CSEAS and the postdoctoral fellow.

Current Fellows