Tell me about the research, school life, and the future ...
Interviews with people at the School of Materials Science

Developing technology that is close to people

 When I was a student at a college of technology, I wanted to develop useful products that are close to people. By this I mean equipment used by ordinary people for health care, rather than equipment used in medical facilities. If possible, I wanted to use my knowledge of fluid engineering that I had gained at the college. That was when I found out about Takamura Laboratory at JAIST. Now I am engaged in the development of a compact biosensor that will analyze infinitesimal quantities of matter. When it is completed, I hope it will be used as a new instrument to detect tumor markers.

 JAIST has many advantageous characteristics for students. These include well-furnished facilities, a policy of bringing out students' autonomy, and a systematic teaching program that covers a wide range of fields from basic to specialized. In addition, it is very significant for me that there are many international students at JAIST, and we can exchange ideas with them on campus. There is also a tutor system; Japanese students support international students in their daily life. Being a tutor of a student from India has enabled me to deepen my understanding of the cultures of India and Japan, and to improve my English speaking ability.

 Ishikawa Prefecture is also an attractive place. The campus is blessed with beautiful nature; it is close to Mt. Hakusan and Noto Peninsula, and also to Kanazawa, a historical castle town. We can enjoy fresh seafood and delicious local sake as well.

 My research will take five years, including the period of the doctoral program. I would like to complete my research, and eventually become a researcher and contribute to the development of human resources.

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At JAIST I am progressing towards realizing my dream.

 At university I researched cosmetics with the dream of becoming a researcher who would develop cosmetics. Then I looked for a graduate school that offered good research circumstances, and the best one I found was JAIST.

 At JAIST, students can use experimental equipment and receive instruction in its operation at the Center for Nano Materials and Technology. If a component or a unit is not available on the market, we can order it from the machine shop in the Technical Annex building. Above all, the most attractive characteristic of JAIST for me is its good education system. The school places importance on students' autonomy in their research, and offers the support of academic advisors and senior students.

 Being far from any entertainment area, and located in the suburbs near the base of a mountain, JAIST is the best place for concentrating on research. On weekends, however, I try to do different things than I do on weekdays; I stroll around the historical castle town of Kanazawa, and enjoy shopping downtown. In winter, I enjoy snowboarding at a nearby ski resort.

 My research topic is the rheological properties of surface acting agent foam. I study the viscosity and elasticity of the foam when it flows. Simply put, it is to quantify the feel of foam. Since I conduct my research in collaboration with companies, I feel pressure, but it is challenging for me. Since it was revealed that this research seemed to be a new discovery, I am very excited. I will not give up my dream. JAIST enables my dream to come true.

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The perfect school for a person focused on research like me

 I found out about unattended testing equipment during practical training in laboratory work at my college. At that time, I became interested in advanced examination methods, and came to JAIST in order to research them. I currently specialize in genetic diagnosis by optical analysis.

 At JAIST, both teachers and students are passionately engaged in their research. The active, aggressive atmosphere of the campus is an advantage of JAIST, along with its abundant experimental apparatuses. At JAIST, students are allowed to take their own initiatives; their choice of research theme is fully respected, and they are allowed to use experimental equipment themselves. Such a free atmosphere is another merit of JAIST, compared with other graduate schools.

 With regard to instruction, each student is assigned three instructors or senior students. In my case, my main research ended in failure at the end of my first year (which was very disappointing). I was able to change my topic and restart my research, and I am grateful for the support I received at that time.

 Most of my classmates at university obtained a qualification and found a job, but I took a different path. Since I wanted to do research, JAIST was the best option for me.

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Laboratory colleagues are a vibrant family.

 After becoming a student at JAIST, the first thing I gained was friends who shared my difficulties. In the intensive lectures of the first semester of the first year, many students have trouble understanding a subject they didn’t take at the undergraduate level; either physics, chemistry or biology. The instructors explained things clearly, of course, but I was also taught by other students, and I studied with them in the library. Before we knew it, we were good friends.

 Once their research is underway, students in the same laboratory become a family that shares the same vision. Students with high aspirations inspire one another, and because they spend so many hours together in the lab, they become very close friends, feeling as if they have known each other for years.

 There are not many female students in the School of Material Science, so they become very close. We have a party once a month in the Japanese-style matted room or the refreshing room of the school by bringing in food and drinks. In this way, we do all things on campus; not only conducting research but also enjoying ourselves. In other words, this school offers an ideal environment for people who hope to concentrate on their research.

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JAIST is perfect!

  I am one of the first students to enroll in the Dual Graduate Education Program at JAIST. The reason I decided to come to JAIST was the good reputation it had among my friends who were already studying and Vietnamese teachers at JAIST. They all said, "JAIST is wonderful!" And now, I feel the same way. With the most advanced facilities available, we can concentrate on our research to our heart's content. I spend almost all of my time at the school, performing experiments during the daytime and studying at night.

  As a student of the Dual Graduate Education Program, I have a student tutor. I did not know Japanese before I came here, so I am using English to communicate now. My tutor is very helpful not only in the laboratory, but also with other things like banking and shopping. Everyone at the laboratory is friendly and tries hard to communicate with me in English.

  Am I heaping too much praise on JAIST? Ok, there is one problem for me – the weather! Because I was raised in Hanoi, the humidity here is lower than I am used to, and I find winters here very cold. But, I am super happy about seeing snow for the first time in my life!

  After I get my master's degree at JAIST, I will return to Vietnam. But, I would like to come here again to get my doctoral degree.

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If you want to achieve something special ...

  When I had already decided to move on to a graduate school, I participated in an entrepreneur school seminar. As a part of the seminar, we created a business plan, which made me think seriously about what I wanted to do.

  I wondered if it was the right choice to move on in the same way as other students around me, making choices about graduate school without any specific goals. And I found that I had a desire to be involved in research on environmental issues and sustainable energy.

  I discovered a new direction when I found the Murata Laboratory at JAIST. I empathized with Professor Murata's vision and felt that the laboratory had what I was looking for. I sent an application to his laboratory and received an e-mail from him inviting me to visit his laboratory. This helped me to make the decision to enter JAIST.

  There are many good things about JAIST, but the best thing is that I can use the experimental apparatuses freely. The laboratory is filled with highly motivated students trying their best. Seminars are held often, and lectures by researchers who actively participate at the global level fill me with excitement. My teachers encourage my initiative by allowing me to pursue my own path, which means that they follow the principle, "If you love your children, send them on a journey".

  JAIST offers a great environment to students who would like to conduct research with a belief that our own steps lead to new roads.

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"It's great!" The passion for research is my energy.

  I'm carrying out research on the catalytic properties of titanium oxide by optical second harmonic. The reason I chose this as my research theme was that after asking myself what I really wanted to do with what I learned during my undergraduate studies, I found the answer at the School of Materials Science.

  The fields of physics, chemistry, and biology at this school are all cross-departmental and students are allowed to freely use laboratory equipment according to their needs, which results in the creation of a stress-free research environment for students. There is a wide range of research going on at this school, and the vibrant atmosphere makes us even more conscious of the importance of the advanced research we are carrying out and motivates us to do our best.

  Many of my friends in my undergraduate days continued on to the graduate school of the same university rather than entering other graduate schools unlike I selected JAIST, and some of them couldn't seem to find what it was that they really wanted to do until the end of their programs. I believe that only when we feel the real fun in research can we move forward actively. Students who are at the crossroads of choosing a graduate school should try to find their own road from a broad perspective.

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JAIST is warm and has new possibilities.

  You will find information on many of the wonderful aspect of JAIST at our website. Here, let me give you some details that are not posted there. During the four years I spent at university in Tokyo, I placed my highest priority on my studies due to my poor Japanese. I did not join any group activities and did not have so many chances to make friends. Tokyo is a lively city, but it was a lonely city for me. When I was thinking about going to a graduate school, my former teacher told me that JAIST may be a fun place to study for me. I contacted JAIST for information and was given very sincere advice, which made me decide to go on to study at JAIST.

  There were many students from abroad at JAIST. That, I think, may help us to have empathy with one another as we gather together from various universities, each of us with our own goals. Beyond this, the school had a nice atmosphere and was friendly to everyone. At the time we were working on our master's theses, many of the students slept over at the school. I have fond memories of eating instant noodles together. It was just like the fun I had at camp.

  I would like to add one more wonderful thing about JAIST. There are some students who go on to the graduate schools at their universities without any specific interest and end up failing to get degrees. On the other hand, if you find something you are interested in at JAIST, you can pursue it even if it's in a different field from the one you studied at your undergraduate university. If you really have a desire to study, you can make a fresh start here.

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