1. Introduction

One of the objectives of UNU-IAS is to provide young scientists with an opportunity to expand their intellectual vision beyond the single scientific field that they may be engaged in. UNU-IAS offers an excellent environment for young scholars to work on their research in an international environment and among a complementary group of fellow scholars. In addition to the UNU-IAS in-house research facilities such as globally-linked computer and information systems, the faculty of UNU-IAS, and visiting professors provide substantial opportunities for individual and group discussion and debate on multidisciplinary approaches to research problems and findings.

The Ph.D. Fellowship programme targets two Ph.D. candidates from educational institutions around the world who can benefit from a period of stay of up to ten months at UNU-IAS. With a view to strengthening capacity building in developing countries, students from developing countries — particularly from developing country institutions — are especially encouraged to apply. In this respect, UNU-IAS Fellowship Awards offer financial and material support necessary for the successful completion of doctoral research that is closely related to UNU-IAS' own Research Programmes. The students participate in regular in-house discussions and seminars and contribute to the UNU-IAS Working Paper Series.

2. Eligibility

Applicants must be at the dissertation writing stage of their Ph.D. with a research proposal accepted by the candidate's university and able to make use of the UNU-IAS facilities in Yokohama to carry out their research. Research topics should relate clearly to one of the following current research areas of the UNU-IAS:

1. Biodiplomacy
   The Biodiplomacy Initiative (BI) is a multifaceted approach to supporting international, regional and national processes concerning development and implementation of law and policy relating to conservation and use of biodiversity, access to genetic resources and benefit sharing, protection of traditional knowledge, intellectual property rights, bioethics, biosafety and biosecurity. The BI includes policy research, outreach and capacity building activities.
2. Sustainable Development Governance
   Studies on the governance and effectiveness of institutions for sustainable development, interlinkages/interplay between MEAs, both at global and regional levels; ethics and the role of environmental principles in international governance, WTO and sustainable development in developing countries, development of markets and policies for environmental goods and services, WTO and investment in developing countries, and impacts of WTO accession on sustainable development particularly sectoral analysis on health, welfare, poverty reduction, culture and environment.
3. Science Policy for Sustainable Development
   Studies on policy issues related to the implementation of technology transfer provisions of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); country case studies and best practices in biotechnology development and transfer in developing countries context; policy studies on the application of science and technology for achieving the millennium Development Goals, particularly in regard to poverty alleviation in Africa; institutional innovations in linking science and technology with the development process in developing countries.
4. Ecosystems & People
   Studies on the linkages between human well-being and ecosystems; poverty and environment; poverty reductions strategies/Millennium Development Goals related to environment; pro-poor markets for ecosystem services, roles of MEAs in improving human well-being; and ecosystem assessment leading towards integrated policy making; particularly focused on the development of training and teaching materials for policymakers in these areas. Also, this programme has an existing concentration on Urban Ecosystems - including the application of the ecosystem approach to the study and management of cities. Current priorities include exploring the drivers of urban environmental and ecosystem change, urban metabolism and other ecosystem approaches to understanding cities. The programme is also exploring the relevance and effectiveness of ecosystem approach influenced policies as they are applied to urban regions.
5. Education for Sustainable Development
   Further development and implementation of the UNU strategy to promote education for sustainable development (EfSD) and the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), which started in January 2005. Possible topic for research may include, for instance, case studies of Regional Centers of Expertise (RCE) on EfSD regarding their development processes and success factors, development of curricula for priority topics on EfSD etc. An RCE is a group of organizations that deliver education for sustainable development at regional and local levels. Research may document how an RCE is developed to translate and articulate a global vision of education for sustainable development into the context of the local community in which it operates, thereby critically examining whether an RCE can serve as a platform to promote dialogues among EfSD stakeholders towards locally relevant and culturally appropriate EfSD.

Where appropriate, applicants should be competent in scientific research methodologies and computer-based analysis. Language proficiency in English is essential. Applicants from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

3. Conditions of the Fellowship

The period of fellowship is approximately ten months. Fellows are provided with their own desk within a dedicated Ph.D. Fellow Study Room in the Institute. Each Fellow will be provided with a networked PC with full Internet access, including an individual e-mail account. A limited range of other, more specialized computer hardware and software may also be available.

Fellows have access to the UNU Centre Library in Tokyo, which includes an excellent collection of UN documents. Ph.D. Fellows will have access via the UNU Centre Library to various Japanese university libraries and computer database.

The Fellowship provides a monthly stipend of 260,000 Japanese yen, from which a monthly usage charge for accommodation is deducted (see below). A one-time only installment of 80,000 yen will be granted to each fellow at the commencement of the programme for adjustment expenses and incidental costs.

Fellows carry out their research in Yokohama under the supervision of a UNU-IAS faculty member and/or affiliated UNU-IAS network scholars. Selected fellows will spend about half of their working hours on their dissertation and remaining half will be spent assisting the Institute's projects and activities.

4. Accommodation

Ph.D. Fellows will be provided accommodations by UNU-IAS, located in Yokohama City, 30 minutes from the Institute. The accommodations are furnished and include kitchen and bathroom facilities. Usage charges other than utilities (electricity, water, gas, telephone, etc.) are as follows:

Single room apartment (for one person) 80,000 yen or more per month
Twin room apartment (for couples) 130,000 yen or more per month

5. Getting to Japan

UNU-IAS provides fellows with return air tickets between his/her country of residence and Narita Airport.

6. Starting Date and Deadline for Applications

Ph.D. fellows are selected once a year to begin on 1 October. Selected fellows are required to be in Yokohama by this date.

The deadline for applications for the 2006 Fellowships is 12 May 2006.

7. Admission Procedures

Ph.D. Fellowship Programme
United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies
6F, International Organizations Center, Pacifico-Yokohama
1-1-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama 220-8502 Japan
Fax: +81-45-221-2303

In addition to the application form, the following documents in English or with English translation must be submitted:

1. Certified copies of academic transcripts
2. Detailed Ph.D. research proposal and chapter outline (an early chapter, if available, may also be submitted)
3. Two publication samples (if unavailable, please send two chapters from your dissertation)
4. Two original supporting letters of reference
5. Evidence of English language proficiency (only required if Ph.D. dissertation is not to be submitted in English) eg. TOEFL score, certificate of proficiency.