National Museum of Japanese History
Collaborative Access Type Joint Research
FY 2024 Application Guidelines

Download the Application Guidelines (PDF)

Download the proposal form template (word)

*All applications have to be completed in Japanese

Japanese page

1. Outline of FY 2024 Call for Proposals

In Collaborative Access Type Joint Research, a project that involves the use of collections, equipment, and facilities of the National Museum of Japanese History (Rekihaku) is conducted and led by an outside researcher who as principal investigator (PI) is working together with a faculty member of the Rekihaku. We welcome applications from young researchers, including graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

2. Categories of Collaborative Research

Collaborative Access Type Joint Research is separated into the following two categories. The preferred category is to be specified at the time of application.

1) Collections-based research
Investigation and research on collections owned by the Rekihaku, limited to non-destructive methods (visual examination, documentation, photography).

2) Analytical equipment and facilities-based
Investigation and research using analytical equipment and analytical facilities of the Rekihaku

3. Target Collections, and Equipment and Facilities

1) Collections-based research
The names of the materials can be search in the National Museum of Japanese History Collection Database.

2) Analytical equipment and facilities-based
Equipment and/or facilities can be selected from the list at the following link

http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/research/list/joint/public_ad/pdf/equipmentandfacilities.pdf

 

4. Duration of Research

Research begins in or after April 2024, and should be completed within the same fiscal year. The maximum period is 12 months.

5. Eligibility

The principal investigator must be one of the following:

1. A researcher belonging to a research institution in Japan or overseas (full-time or part-time, including postdoctoral researchers)
2. A graduate student enrolled in a doctoral program
3. A full-time employee engaged in research activities and duties of a local government body
4. A person whose research capabilities and experience are equivalent to those listed above

For those applying for the analytical equipment and facilities-based research, it is preferable to have some chemistry–related expertise and background knowledge, such as the completion of relevant undergraduate level university courses.

6. Research Team Organization

The research team comprises the principal investigator, and one Rekihaku faculty member (limited to tenured faculty members) in charge of the collections, equipment, and facilities to be used.

7. Research Activities and Achievement Reports

The principal investigator will hold meetings and discussions with the Rekihaku faculty member and conduct research in accordance with the respective aims of 1) or 2). The principal investigator is required to submit a research achievement report by the end of the applicable fiscal year. After the completion of the research, the research achievements may be published in the Bulletin of the National Museum of Japanese History (regular volume).

8. Research Budget

Generally, a budget of no more than 300,000 yen can be allocated to cover expenditures for the following items.

1) Collections-based research:
Travel expenses and expenses for consumables required for the investigation of materials at the Rekihaku (costs for transportation, accommodation, storage media such as memory sticks and expendable supplies)

2) Analytical equipment and facilities-based research:

Travel expenses, expendable supplies used for analysis, expenses for outsourced analysis, etc.

*A sufficient reason as to why the respective items are required has to be indicated. Especially if there are plans for business trips to locations other than the Rekihaku, their necessity must be made clear in the research proposal. Moreover, budget allocations may be adjusted after a proposal’s approval.

9. Planned Number of Approvals

Approximately 6. However, the number of approved projects per Rekihaku faculty member is limited to 1.

10. How to Apply

Please complete the designated application form “FY 2024 Collaborative Research Proposal” for collaborative research plans(download URL below, form in Japanese only).

[Download URL for “FY 2024 Collaborative Research Proposal”]

Before making a formal application and preparing the research proposal, applicants should contact the Rekihaku faculty member expected to be put in charge of the Rekihaku collections, equipment, and facilities central to the proposal in order to make arrangements for their use and to ensure a shared understanding of the project. Contact information for the faculty members is available upon request at the Research and Education Section of the Research Affairs Division [ kenkyo@ml.rekihaku.ac.jp ].

• If the principal investigator belongs to a research institution or local government body, permission from the head of the institution (or department) of the applicants employment should be obtained prior to the application. A written notice of approval will not be required at the time of the application, but has to be submitted after the research project has been approved.
• If the principal investigator is a graduate student, please attach a letter of recommendation (designated form) from the supervising faculty member.
• If the principal investigator falls into eligibility category (4), “A person whose research capabilities and experience are equivalent to those listed above,” an overview over the research achievements of the principal investigator up to this point should be added in the “Achievement” column of the research proposal.

Please submit the completed application form (FY 2024 Collaborative Research Proposal) as an e-mail attachment to the e-mail address listed under [14. Contact & Inquiries]. (Please submit the document by email.)

11. Points to Note

• If the principal investigator is a graduate student, the applicant must purchase a membership in the “Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research” or an equivalent accident insurance. Applicants who do not belong to any research organization must also enroll in equivalent accident insurance.
• Information concerning the handling of intellectual property in collaborative research is provided in the National Institutes for the Humanities Intellectual Property Regulations.

12. Submission Deadline for Proposals

Must be received by Tuesday, December 5th, 2023

13. Selection Process and Notification of Results

The selection is carried out on the basis of the collaborative research proposals and the candidates will be notified by early February. Research proposals and other submissions made by the applicant will not be returned.

14. Contact & Inquiries

Collaborative Research Applications,
Research and Education Section,
Research Affairs Division, Administration Department,
National Museum of Japanese History
Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes for the Humanities

117 Jonai-cho, Sakura City, Chiba 285-8502, Japan
Phone: +81-43-486-6473
Fax: +81-43-486-6494
E-mail: kenkyo@ml.rekihaku.ac.jp