Kochi University Future Leaders of Marine Resources Development

Kochi University has been selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) tobe funded under its program "Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING)" for Academic Year 2024, which is designed to support doctoral course students' endeavors, and has launched the project of "Kochi University Future Leaders of Marine Resources Development".

JST"Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING)"

■Points of SPRING■
This program promotes the following three points in order to develop human resources who will contribute to "science, technology and innovation in Japan.
i) To support free, challenging, and integrative research by doctoral students that is not bound by existing frameworks.
ii) To provide a stable and continuous environment where students can devote themselves to research over multiple fiscal years by providing an amount equivalent to living expenses.
iii) To lead outstanding doctoral students to become doctoral human resources who can be active in diverse career paths.

■Kochi University's Profile■
Title of the Project "Kochi University Future Leaders of Marine Resources Development"
Project Leader TSUE Yasuhiko Ph.D. (Dean of Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences)
Recipient List

Through this project, Kochi University aims to nurture doctoral students to become "next-generation marine resource researchers" with an international and crossdisciplinary perspective, who are free, challenging, and fusion-oriented, and who will be active at the core of regional innovation in various fields as human resources with both advanced expertise and a high level of transferable skills. We aim to develop human resources with advanced expertise and a high level of transferable skills to play an active role as the core of regional innovation in a variety of fields. To this end, we support doctoral students who conduct ocean-related research in marine life science, seabed resource science, material science, coastal environmental studies, health and medical science, disaster prevention science, and other fields related to marine resources.
Application Guidelines
Application Form (FORM 1)
Eligibility for Application
The project is open to the first-year students of the doctoral course at Kochi University as of April 2024, who have excellent research skills. However, those who fall under any of the following items are not eligible.
(1) International students who are being supported by a Japanese government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) scholarship (including JICA programs)
(2) Recipients of other scholarships (from Kochi University, Japan, home country, or other organizations) who are not allowed to receive the scholarship together with this project.
(3) Students with a stable income in the form of salary or director remuneration from a company or other organization that provides sufficient funds to cover their living expenses (amount of¥2.4 million or more per year)
NOTE: Students who have been selected as JSPS Research Fellow (DC) must decline the financial support of this project.
Financial Support
Financial support for living expenses: 180,000 yen per month (2,160,000 yen per year)
Financial support for research expenses: 600,000 yen per year
Funding Period Up to three years from April 2024 (or for students in Medicine Program, up to four years)
Number of Places　3 students
Application Procedures
Applicants must obtain approval from the supervisor at Kochi University to participate in this project and submit (1) the application form (FORM 1) prepared and converted to a PDF file and (2) the Recommendation letter through the Application Form website below.
Application Documents:
(1) Application Form for "Kochi University Future Leaders of Marine Resources Development" (FORM 1) (2) Recommendation letter from the supervisor (ANY FORM) Application Period: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 - Monday, May 20, 2024 (12:00 noon)
Application Form website:https://forms.office.com/r/06sDtuMvW9
NOTE: Please log in with your Microsoft account issued by Kochi University.
Requirements
The selected students must comply with all of the following requirements:
(1) Concentrating on research activities according to the research plans they have submitted. At the end of each semester, the student should be mentored by a mentor group consisting of a primary supervisor and at least two secondary supervisors, and a research progress report should be prepared and submitted to the supervisor.
(2) Participate in and attend the educational programs designated by the University.
(3) Complete a program on research ethics education designated by the University.
(4) Register with the system operated by the National Council for the Promotion of Job-Based Research Internships.
(5) Register with the database for doctoral students (JGRAD) operated by MEXT. When a decision is made on the course of study after completion of the program, it must be reported promptly.

Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences

"Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING) website of JST"

Educational Planning Section, Division of Educational Affairs, Kochi University
　　　　Email gm21[at]kochi-u.ac.jp　　※Change [at] to @.
*Inquiries from international students are expected to be sent through their supervisors at Kochi University.