Othmer Research Fellowship

Fully funded research fellowship during the summer break

Application will open on December 1, 2024

The Othmer Research Fellowship is a funding opportunity that supports undergraduate and graduate students pursuing research projects during the summer break.

Named after Donald and Mildred Topp Othmer, the Othmer Research Fellowship aspires to cultivate the ideals of global citizenship by affording students the chance to conceptualize and execute research projects that align with and contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the process of implementing their research fellowships, students will acquire project management, communication, analytical and critical thinking skills. The fellowships will serve as platforms for students to contemplate their own roles in achieving JICUF’s mission of “contributing to the well-being of humanity.”

About Donald & Mildred Topp Othmer

In the late 1990s, JICUF received a transformative bequest from Donald and Mildred Topp Othmer. The bequest was designated for two purposes. The first was to endow the The Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Distinguished Professorship of Science, and the second was to support new building programs on campus. In addition, the income earned from the gift has enabled JICUF to find creative new ways to support ICU. The Othmer Research Fellowships is the latest example of this. The extraordinary generosity of the Othmers has left a lasting legacy on JICUF and ICU. You can read more about the Othmers at this link.

ELIGIBILITY

Application to the Othmer Research Fellowship is open to degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students at ICU. Research applications must be submitted individually. Research topics must be related to the applicant’s senior thesis, MA thesis, PhD dissertation. All research projects must be at least 5 weeks in length over the summer break. Recipients must be enrolled at ICU through the completion of the project and have the full and enthusiastic support of their academic advisor. Students are encouraged to apply from any major or discipline.

FUNDING CYCLES & TIMELINES

Fellowships awarded during the Winter Term will be implemented during the following summer break.

	Winter Term
Application Deadline	January 25
Award Notification Date	March 15
Fellowship Implementation	Summer Break

HOW TO APPLY

The application for the Othmer Research Fellowship is available once per year during the Winter Term.

Step 1: Applicant Meets with JICUF Staff to Discuss Project
Step 2: Applicant Submits a Proposal
Step 3: JICUF Evaluates Proposals and Announces Results
Step 4: Applicant Signs and Returns Grant Award Packet
Step 5: The Foundation Disburses Funds

PROJECT GUIDELINES

Start and End Dates
Size of Award
All fellows will receive a base award of ¥300,000. Fellows with projects that require travel will also be eligible for additional funds as follows:

Transportation Subsidy
- Up to ¥100,000 for travel in Japan
- Up to ¥500,000 for travel outside of Japan
Air tickets must be booked through JICUF’s travel agent at Nippon Travel Agency.

Per-Diem when Traveling

¥5,000 per day to help with food, local transportation, and other incidental expenses. Please note Fellows will not receive additional funding for accommodations since they are receiving a base award.
Reporting Requirements
Taxation

Fellowship recipients are responsible for determining the taxability of the funding they receive and pay any necessary taxes on the amount received. JICUF is not able to provide counsel on tax matters and recommends students speak with their local tax office or accountant.

US citizens, US green card holders, or US residents for tax purposes are required to submit a W-9 form to JICUF. Non-US citizens and non-US residents conducting activities in the United States are required to submit a W-8BEN and JICUF is required to withhold up to 30% of the award. Non-US citizens and non-US residents conducting activities outside of the United States are not required to submit anything to JICUF.

QUESTIONS?

For any questions, please contact Program Manager Fernando Rojas at frojas@jicuf.org.