Research Support System
Sophia University is committed to actively generating research results and disseminating them both inside and outside the university. Additionally, in order to foster talented individuals who can conduct innovative and fair research, we are working to develop various systems for nurturing creative young researchers and supporting the active participation of female researchers.
Research Grants
- Special Grant for Academic Research
A research grant system that supports distinctive research that is innovative, unique and international, as well as on interdisciplinary and cross-organizational research that makes use of the advantages as a comprehensive university.
- Incentive Allowance for Research Promotion
A research grant system for principal investigators who have obtained public research funds, such as ＫＡＫＥＮＨI, which includes measures to cover indirect cost.
- Incentive Research Fund for Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI)
A research grant system for applicants whose research projects were not approved for KAKENHI, but received high marks.
- Individual Education / Research Funds
Sophia University provides grants to its faculty members as Individual education/research funds for expenses necessary for carrying out research and education in their field of study. In addition, travel expenses of research activities in general (participation in conferences, fieldwork, etc.) are separately subsidized as academic conference research travel expenses.
Support for Early-career Researchers
- Research Support Programs for Graduate School Students
Three research support programs are available for graduate students.
A. Support Program for Attendance and Presentations at Academic
MeetingsB. Support Program for the Publication of Research Outcomes in
Foreign LanguagesC. Support Program for Applicants of JSPS Research Fellowships
for Young Scientists
- Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING)
Sophia University has launched the Sophia SPRING Project for doctoral students in the 2024 academic year, funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) under its “Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING)”.
This project aims to foster global doctoral students who, based on Christian humanism, will embody Sophia’s educational philosophy “For Others, With Others” and open the path to the future of sustainable society through the power of science, technology, and innovation.
Sophia University nurtures doctoral students ,who will play an active role in the world, by providing three supporting programs: 1) Financial support, 2)Capacity building Program, and 3) Career development for various career paths.
Support for Dissemination of Research Results
- Incentive Allowance for Dissemination of Individual Research Results
A research grant system that provides the costs of publishing research results in books, publishing papers in journals, presenting at academic conferences, etc. for individual researchers.
- Sophia Symposium
A research grant system for hosting international symposiums with the aim of promoting interdisciplinary and international education and research activities.
Support for Research Environment
- Pre-award / Post-award Support
Sophia University has appointed University Research Administrators (URAs), specialized personnel to invigorate researchers’ activities and strengthen the university’s research management.
URAs provide support from pre-award, such as analyzing research information at the university, formulating research strategies, and collecting information on external funding and supporting applications, to post-award, where they help with the operation and management of research projects that have been decided to be implemented.
- Research Assistant System
A research support system that assigns “Research Assistant” to researchers who meet certain conditions, so that researchers can continue their careers and without having to give up their research due to childbirth, childcare, or elderly care, and participate in fair competition.