[No. 148] Reiko Kuriyama

When I was given the precious opportunity to write for this "Alumni Relay" column, I accepted without a second thought. However, looking back on my history as a student who was by no means highly ambitious, I was at a loss as to what to write. But I imagine that for you, the prospective students reading this, hearing only about model-student memories and success stories might feel a bit pressuring. With that in mind, I'd like to honestly share my own experiences at the Faculty of Science and Technology and what I'm up to now.

As a student advancing from an affiliated school, I was torn between the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Science and Technology until the very last minute for submitting my department preference form. In the end, I chose the Faculty of Science and Technology for the simple reason that "it seemed interesting." I was by no means strong in science subjects, but perhaps due to the influence of my father, who worked as an engineer at a manufacturer, I had a vague interest in "monozukuri" (making things). That year, there were more students than usual from Keio Girls Senior High School applying to the Faculty of Science and Technology (though still only about 15), and I was partly encouraged by the "there's nothing to fear if we all go together" atmosphere.

During my first and second years, I studied just enough not to fail my required courses, took breaks with general education subjects like psychology and French, and enjoyed my tennis club activities. I still have strong connections with the friends I spent my undergraduate years with, and we continue to inspire each other. For my department selection, I chose the Department of System Design Engineering (SD), which was then in its 11th year. A major reason was that I was drawn to the free and creative atmosphere unique to a new department. The intellectual and sharp aura exuded by the young faculty members who were themselves graduates of the SD department was particularly overwhelming. Another appeal was that SD had laboratories in a wide range of fields, including energy, mechatronics, information networks, production technology, and spatial design, allowing me to carefully consider what I wanted to do until the second semester of my third year. When life at the Yagami Campus began in earnest in my third year, the content of lectures and seminars became more practical, adding the perspective of how to apply what I learned in the real world. I pulled all-nighters almost every time before exams or report deadlines, but managing to get through them by collaborating with friends is also a fond memory.

For my laboratory assignment, I was drawn by the phrase "The micro world is the last frontier left for humanity" in a research introduction booklet and chose the Yohei Sato Laboratory, which deals with thermal-fluid phenomena in micro-domains. Everything was full of excitement: the lab that felt like a secret base with its optical experiment booths covered in blackout curtains and wind tunnel equipment; the senior students who skillfully operated devices and gave cool presentations; the discussions where unfamiliar terms flew around. Before I knew it, my life was centered around the lab. In the Sato Lab, I spent six years engaged in research on non-contact measurement of micro-flow fields using light, as part of fundamental research for the development of micro-TAS (total analysis systems) to achieve miniaturization and high efficiency in medical and analytical devices. During that time, Professor Sato patiently guided me on everything from basic research methods to effective presentation techniques and even health management. He also gave me many new experiences, such as participating in domestic and international academic conferences and visiting a research facility in Grenoble, France. I vividly remember the excitement I felt at my first conference, witnessing researchers from various universities and companies engaging in heated debates, thinking, "So a world like this exists!" It certainly took courage to decide to advance to the Doctoral Programs, but I honestly followed my feeling that "I don't feel like I've done enough research yet" and decided to stay in the lab.

After completing my Doctoral Programs, I was involved in the development of automotive exhaust gas analyzers at the analytical and measurement instrument manufacturer HORIBA, Ltd., and then began working as an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University. The Katsura Campus, where my laboratory is located, is on a hill overlooking the city of Kyoto, and I am often moved by the beautiful night view on my way home from work. In the Laboratory of Thermal and Material Mechanics, to which I belong, we are working on the measurement, control, and analysis of heat and mass transport phenomena in functional fluids whose properties can be switched by light, as well as in bio-fluids including cells and blood. Although I am in a position to guide students, I actually feel that I am relearning every day, thinking and struggling alongside them. I am still a novice as both a researcher and an educator, but I want to do my best so that students can also feel the same excitement I felt at the Faculty of Science and Technology.

I never imagined that I would go on to the Doctoral Programs and become a faculty member, but I believe it is the result of somehow moving forward step by step, while struggling, amidst the connections with and support from various people. For all the prospective students, I believe there are many wonderful encounters and events that will greatly change your way of thinking ahead of you, things you cannot even imagine now. When you stand at a crossroads in life, worrying too much about the future can paralyze you, but if you take a step forward in the direction that purely interests you, an unexpectedly wonderful path may open up.