The "freedom" to proactively learn at the Research Centers and Institutes from an early stage

I've been interested in biology since junior high school. In high school, I participated in events hosted by SFC, such as the "High School Bio Summit in Tsuruoka" and the "Keio Astrobiology Camp," and those experiences became a major reason for my decision to apply to SFC.

Speaking of the Bio Summit, the research plan I presented was on "Terraforming for the Mars Colonization Plan." Terraforming is the process of modifying the environment of other planets to make them habitable for humans. I was worried that by mentioning the "Mars colonization plan," people would say it was too far in the future and unrealistic. However, the professors, far from dismissing it, embraced the idea and even gave me enthusiastic advice. Having them embrace the challenging spirit I cherished made me feel strongly that this was a university that matched my personality. I also received an award, which I believe is proof that they acknowledged my ideas.

At SFC, you can conduct research that anticipates future possibilities. You can think about things you hope to achieve and conduct research toward making them a reality. Moreover, you can proactively engage in research activities based at the Research Centers and Institutes from an early stage, and there are also connections with external research institutions. I think it's a major attraction of SFC that the university expands the field for research.

I joined the Advanced Biosciences Research Group in my first year. My current research base is the Keio University Institute for Advanced Biosciences in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture. Before that, I studied under Project Associate Professor Kosuke Fujishima (who is also an Associate Professor at the Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology).

Under Professor Fujishima, I conducted research on the theme of "Exploration and Functional Analysis of Carbon-Fixing Enzymes for Carbon Dioxide (CO ₂ ) Resource Conversion."

I chose this theme because I am interested in the problem of global warming and wanted to contribute to improving renewable energy technology. In recent years, methods for effectively utilizing CO ₂ , a type of greenhouse gas, have been explored, and CO ₂ -fixing enzymes are gaining attention. Here, carbon fixation refers to the function by which plants and microorganisms convert absorbed CO ₂ into organic matter and fix it. There are various types of CO ₂ -fixing enzymes, each with its own characteristics. Therefore, we perform functional analysis on these enzymes to select those that can fix CO ₂ efficiently. The ultimate goal is to impart carbon-fixing capabilities to microorganisms. Microorganisms will reproduce on their own as long as the conditions are right. By leveraging the advantage that the enzymes also multiply simultaneously, it is believed that demand for this technology will increase in the future.

The experience of assisting with research under Professor Fujishima since my first year has also been valuable in my current research and activities. Since it was in the same field of enzymes, I was able to learn not only the knowledge and techniques for research but also the important mindset of a researcher, including logic. In the future, I hope to acquire the skills to be in a position to support the activities of others.

Currently, under the guidance of Project Senior Assistant Professor／Project Assistant Professor／Project Lecturer Ken Yuzawa at the Institute for Advanced Biosciences, I am working on research themed "Three-Dimensional Structural Analysis of Polyketide Synthase by Cryo-Electron Microscopy." Having explored and functionally analyzed enzymes, I wanted to next tackle the three-dimensional structural analysis of enzymes.

Modular polyketide synthase (PKS) is a giant enzyme that synthesizes polyketide natural products, which are raw materials for pharmaceuticals. By functionally modifying PKS, it is possible to contribute to the creation of new drugs. To do this, it is important to know the structure of the enzyme targeted for functional modification, but there are many types of PKS, and the structure differs for each type. Therefore, I want to use cryo-electron microscopy, which is suitable for the structural analysis of giant enzymes, to elucidate the structures of various PKSs.

I have taken not only biology-related subjects, which are my research area, but also humanities and social science subjects. For example, I learn about environmental issues and recent environmental activities in environmental studies courses. I also tackled studies in the legal field, such as company law and civil law.

My decision to take subjects in categories different from my research, while considering balance, was based on these thoughts: that it might be necessary for applying my research results, and that it might be useful in the future for achieving the broader goals of my research. I think another feature of SFC is that once you know what you want to learn, you can flexibly study a wide range of fields from a broad perspective.

I believe SFC offers every imaginable learning option. I was able to engage in research in the field of biology, which I wanted to study, from an early stage. The degree of freedom is so high that I have an image of "SFC = Freedom." The professors sincerely support students who have goals. They give their full attention to students who take the initiative.

That's why I think it's important to have a solid core for your own ideas. I believe SFC is a very suitable place for people who are proactive and can clearly state, "This is what I want to do."