Japan Program Postdoctoral Fellowship

About the Japan Program Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Japan Program is excited to offer a postdoctoral fellowship position to junior scholars for research and writing on contemporary Japan. The fellowship supports research in a broad range of disciplines including political science, economics, sociology, law, policy studies, and international relations.

Appointments begin in the fall quarter of the academic year. The fellowships are limited to recent PhDs: applicants cannot be more than three years past the awarding of their doctoral degree when the fellowship starts. They must have degree conferral and official approval/certification no later than June 30 prior to the fellowship start date (that is, no later than June 30, 2026, for 2026-27 fellowships starting in fall 2026).

The postdoctoral fellow is required to be in residence for the duration of the appointment and to take part in Japan Program activities throughout the academic year. The fellow is also required to present their research findings in program seminars and participate in APARC’s publication program. The postdoctoral fellowship is a 10-month appointment starting October 1 with a salary commensurate with Stanford policy, based on the annual rate of $80,000 (to be prorated based on the 10-month appointment), plus up to $3,000 for research expenses.

Applicant Requirements

• Applicants must be recent PhDs and cannot be more than three years past the awarding of their doctoral degree when the fellowship starts.
• Must have dissertation submission and approval for conferral by June 30, 2026.
• Certification of degree completion and conferral must be submitted no later than August 31, 2026.

Application Process

The Japan Program Postdoctoral Fellowship is now closed for applications.

I. Fill out the following online application form:

II. Upload the following materials to the online form, in PDF format:

• Curriculum vitae
• Certification of degree completion and conferral (if applicable)
• A short research statement (not to exceed five typed pages, double-spaced) that describes the research to be undertaken, including the topic, methodology, contribution to the field(s), as well as the proposed publishable product.

III. Submit the Completed Application Form

IV. Submit Letters of Recommendation

Email THREE (3) letters of recommendation (in PDF format) to aparcjpfellowship@stanford.edu. We will accept official letters of recommendation from the applicant, a dossier service, or directly from references.

Application Deadline

All applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, December 1, 2025.

Application Confirmation

We are now processing applications. Once we have filed all components of your application, including three recommendations, we will send you an email confirming the completion of your application.

Note: Please be advised that Stanford University will close for winter break from December 22, 2025, through January 4, 2026, and response time to inquiries during this period may be delayed.

Contact

For questions about the Japan Program fellowship and the fellowship application process, please contact Fellowship Coordinator Kristen Lee at aparcjpfellowship@stanford.edu.

For information about being a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford, such as housing, cost of living, and other resources, please visit the website of Stanford's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

For questions and information related to international scholars, please visit the website of Stanford’s Bechtel International Center.