In August 2023, the SS-F Inventor Bridge Program began. In its first phase, the program supported the placement of Dr.Sundaram Achariya from India in the Nishimasu Lab. This phase recently concluded after one year of activities.
A New SS-F Bridge to Secure Immediate Research Talent
The SS-F Inventor Bridge Program is designed to address the challenge many research labs face: the need to quickly secure talented researchers.
In Japan, it often takes over a year to complete fellowship and research funding applications necessary to hire outstanding talent. This delay can become a significant obstacle in fast-moving, competitive research fields.
To bridge this “gap period,” the SS-F Inventor Bridge Program provides funding support, enabling research labs to swiftly recruit talent and continue groundbreaking research seamlessly.
First Phase of the Program: Sundaram Achariya at Nishimasu Lab
For the program’s first phase, the Nishimasu Lab at the University of Tokyo, led by Professor Hiroshi Nishimasu, was selected. Dr.Sundaram Achariya, a researcher from the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) — one of India’s leading genome research institutions — was recruited.
During the program period, SS-F provided Sundaram with mentor support. Feedback from mentors and editors helped guide his research efforts.
Additionally, Sundaram and his family were invited to participate in SS-F events such as the Retreat and GALA, fostering new connections and networking opportunities in Japan.
Outcomes of the First SS-F Inventor Bridge Program
Over the year-long initiative, the following outcomes were achieved:
Rapid Recruitment of Research Talent In a landscape where scholarships for international researchers are scarce outside of JSPS fellowships, the program enabled the swift recruitment of Sundaram, accelerating research progress.
Fellowship Acquisition Support During the program period, Sundaram secured a JSPS Fellowship, fulfilling the bridge role of the program.
SS-F’s First International Researcher Placement SS-F successfully hosted an international researcher for the first time, gaining valuable experience and insights for supporting future international researcher placements.
A Comment from Dr.Sundaram Achariya
“Thanks to SS-F’s support, I was able to begin my research smoothly in Japan. The SS-F community events, such as the Retreat and GALA, provided me with valuable opportunities to meet many people and expand my network in Japan. Additionally, the detailed feedback during my interim research presentation greatly helped me advance my research with deeper and more diverse perspectives.”
Building on the expertise gained through this program, SS-F will continue to expand opportunities for diverse talent to thrive. This initiative aims to further promote diversity in research environments and broaden support for hosting international researchers.
