Deadline: 01-Jul-2026
The SSRC–JF Next Gen Japan Visiting Professor Grants support US academic institutions in hosting Japan-based faculty for short-term academic exchanges. Funded by the Japan Foundation, the programme provides up to USD 20,000 to enable six-week visiting professorships that promote Japan studies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cross-cultural academic engagement during research stays in the United States.
Overview of the Programme
The SSRC–JF Next Generation Japan Studies Development Program is a Japan Foundation-supported initiative designed to strengthen academic exchange between Japan and the United States. It enables US institutions to host visiting professors from Japan for short-term teaching, research, and collaboration activities.
The programme promotes international academic dialogue and interdisciplinary learning across universities and colleges.
Key Objectives
The grant aims to deepen academic and cultural cooperation between Japan and the United States.
Key objectives include:
- Strengthening Japan studies in US academic institutions
- Supporting interdisciplinary academic collaboration
- Promoting international research exchange
- Encouraging cross-cultural academic engagement
- Enhancing professional development for visiting scholars
- Expanding global academic networking opportunities
- Supporting public engagement and knowledge sharing
- Building long-term academic partnerships between institutions
Programme Focus Areas
The initiative supports a wide range of academic and research fields.
Focus areas include:
- Japan studies and regional research
- Humanities and social sciences
- Natural sciences and interdisciplinary research
- International academic collaboration
- Cross-cultural and comparative studies
- Community engagement and public scholarship
- Faculty development and academic networking
- Research dissemination and English-language academic communication
Funding Details
The programme provides financial support to host institutions in the United States.
Funding structure:
- Up to USD 20,000 per grant
- Supports a six-week visiting professorship
- Funding may be used for:
- Travel and accommodation support
- Institutional hosting costs
- Academic programming and events
- Coordination and administrative expenses related to the visit
Programme Model and Activities
The fellowship supports structured academic engagement during the visiting period.
Core activities include:
- Lectures and academic presentations
- Joint research discussions with US faculty
- Student engagement sessions and seminars
- Interdisciplinary workshops and events
- Public talks and community engagement activities
- Collaborative research planning
- Academic networking sessions
Benefits for Visiting Professors
Japan-based faculty members gain opportunities to advance their academic work.
Benefits include:
- Short-term research stay in the United States
- Opportunity to present research in English
- Engagement with US academic communities
- Exposure to interdisciplinary research environments
- Expanded international professional networks
- Continued progress on ongoing academic research
Benefits for Host Institutions
US colleges and universities gain access to international expertise.
Institutional benefits include:
- Increased exposure to Japan-focused scholarship
- Expansion of Japan studies programming
- Strengthening of interdisciplinary teaching
- Development of global academic partnerships
- Enhanced student learning opportunities
- Engagement with visiting international scholars
- Broader community outreach and academic visibility
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Host Institutions
- US colleges and universities
- College consortia
- Institutions must hold 501(c)(3) or equivalent tax-exempt status
Eligible Visiting Professors
- Must be full-time faculty members in Japan
- Must hold a PhD in humanities, social sciences, or related fields
- Must conduct research related to Japan
- Must be able to stay 3–6 consecutive weeks in the US
- Preference for early- to mid-career academics
Priority Considerations
The programme gives preference to certain applications.
Priority is given to:
- Institutions in the US South and Midwest
- Liberal arts colleges and community colleges
- College consortia with collaborative academic structures
- Interdisciplinary engagement programs
- Early- to mid-career visiting scholars
- Public-facing academic and community engagement initiatives
Expected Outcomes
The programme is designed to strengthen academic collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Expected outcomes include:
- Stronger Japan studies programming in US institutions
- Increased academic exchange between Japan and the US
- Expanded interdisciplinary teaching practices
- Enhanced research collaboration across institutions
- Greater student engagement in global studies
- Improved cross-cultural academic understanding
- Long-term institutional partnerships
Importance of the Programme
This initiative plays a key role in international academic collaboration.
It contributes by:
- Strengthening global Japan studies networks
- Promoting short-term academic mobility
- Supporting interdisciplinary education
- Enhancing faculty-level international exchange
- Building academic bridges between Japan and the United States
- Encouraging knowledge sharing beyond national boundaries
Conclusion
The SSRC–JF Next Gen Japan Visiting Professor Grants provide structured funding for US institutions to host Japan-based scholars for short-term academic engagement. By supporting teaching, research collaboration, and interdisciplinary exchange, the programme strengthens Japan studies and deepens international academic cooperation between Japan and the United States.
For more information, visit Social Science Research Council.