An Advanced World Expanding from the Nanoscale. A Fulfilling Research Life in a Newly Established Laboratory.

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Graduated from Gifu Prefectural Gifu High School, Gifu Prefecture

At a high school that promoted a balance of literary and martial arts, he was active in the soccer club, a passion of his since childhood. It was during his high school years that he discovered the joy of physics and went on to the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University. Now in his second year of the master's program, he belongs to a recently established laboratory with a flexible atmosphere. The organic molecules he is researching there are expected to be applied to the development of new next-generation devices. We spoke with him about his desire to create things that help people after graduation.

[*] Year of enrollment at the time of the interview (November 2020).

Although my alma mater was a high school with a high rate of students advancing to higher education, it emphasized a balance of academics and sports, so I was on the soccer team for all three years. However, the coach's policy was not to force morning practices or excessive training; instead, efficient practice was encouraged. I feel that this liberal atmosphere was not just limited to the club but was the very culture of the school. The teachers were also unique; for example, the geography teacher would show us topography and cityscapes using Google Earth, and the physics teacher used handmade experimental equipment, giving us unique lessons that didn't just follow the textbook.

I started to get interested in math and physics in high school, but my interest in physics grew stronger because my physics teacher emphasized experiments. I was more drawn to experimenting than to calculating in my head, which made me want to pursue a science and technology field. However, I was late in starting to think about university entrance exams and couldn't quite decide what I wanted to do. For someone like me, the Gakumon system [*1] at the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology seemed very appealing. At the time of the entrance exam, I particularly wanted to study physics, so I enrolled in what was then Gakumon 1 (now Gakumon A [*2]). The process of choosing a department began around the end of my first undergraduate year, and I'm glad that the Gakumon system allowed me to make my choice after seeing the laboratories and what the senior students were like.

[*1] Gakumon system: A unique system at the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology where students choose one of five "Gakumon" (Fields of Study) at the time of admission. After enrolling, they gradually narrow down their field of interest according to their curiosity and concerns, and decide on their department when advancing to their second year. Note that the Gakumon system was changed for students entering the Faculty of Science and Technology in the 2020 academic year, and some of the departments accessible from each Gakumon have changed. For details on the Gakumon system, please refer to the link below.

[*2] Gakumon 1: The "Gakumon" that, at the time of enrollment in the 2015 academic year, allowed students to advance to one of four departments: the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Department of Electronics Engineering (now the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering), the Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, and the Department of Physics. For students entering in the 2020 academic year, its name was changed to "Gakumon A (Physics, Electrical, and Mechanical Fields)."

I think a major characteristic of the Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics is the breadth of research fields it covers. There are places that, like me, pursue physical phenomena or research measurement and control technologies themselves, and there are also laboratories that handle cutting-edge technologies like quantum computers. The classes taught by people conducting leading-edge research in each field are very interesting and broaden your learning options. This means you might have trouble choosing classes or a laboratory, but you end up gathering information on your own to make a choice, which has the added benefit of expanding your world in the process.

Also, and this isn't limited to the Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, but inside the Media Center for Science and Technology (Matsushita Memorial Library), there is a "Learning Support" corner where you can consult with senior graduate student staff about anything. It was a valuable place where I could feel free to ask about fields I was interested in or about my studies.

I am currently researching the photoreaction of organic molecules that have optical switching properties. There are materials that have the property of changing their structure and characteristics when exposed to specific light, and these are expected to be applied to the development of new next-generation devices. (A device is an electronic apparatus or machine, such as an electronic component.) Current devices generally use silicon semiconductors and manage information by turning switches on and off, but there is a limit to how small silicon can be made. What is attracting attention as an alternative is a group of organic molecules called photochromic molecules. If successful, this could not only make the devices themselves smaller but is also expected to improve energy efficiency.

The Shimizu Laboratory, to which I belong, owns two high-resolution probe microscopes called "scanning tunneling microscopes." Due to the nature of the experimental equipment, it needs to be used continuously for two to three weeks, but since the time available for each individual is limited, we work intensively about once every two months. This year, in particular, the period for experiments was limited due to the effects of COVID-19, and when we were able to resume, it was an extreme situation of choosing between experimenting or sleeping. The experiment is a painstaking process of being glued to the microscope and just watching molecules. It didn't go well at first, but after much trial and error, I was able to reproduce the molecular arrangement necessary for the research over a period of two weeks. It may sound like simple research at first glance, but it requires skill to achieve the exact photoreaction you envision. That's why, when the reaction occurred just as I had hoped, I was deeply moved by its beauty.

When I was an undergraduate, I joined a Russian language club called "Kalitso Russia no Kai." I initially joined out of curiosity, but I gradually got into it as I experienced the culture not just by studying Russian, but by getting together to watch Russian movies and cook Russian food. The members were full of character, and interacting with people from other faculties, like a knowledgeable senior student majoring in linguistics, was also part of the appeal. I also went on a short-term study abroad trip to Russia for about a month for two consecutive summer vacations. Since there were no interpreters and classes were conducted in Russian, I learned the importance of acting on my own and relying on others while I was there. I feel that the courage I gained at that time has been useful in my subsequent research life, in terms of being decisive and having the attitude to seek opinions from others.

The main reason was that it used a special microscope (a scanning tunneling microscope) that can visualize the nanoscale world. When I saw beautiful nanoscale atoms and molecules with a microscope that uses a quantum mechanical effect called tunneling current, I wanted to acquire that kind of skill myself.

The Shimizu Laboratory is a new lab, established three years ago, and I am part of the first cohort of students. Perhaps because of this, its flexible atmosphere is one of its charms. Professor Shimizu is also someone who values individuality, and when deciding on research themes, he considers our strengths and assigns them based on finding the right person for the right job. Also, unusually for an experimental lab, there were no set core hours (research hours), and time management was left to the students, which gave me the leeway to take on challenges outside of research. Currently, with the support of Associate Professor Shimizu, I am visiting RIKEN, which has the equipment necessary for my research. Conducting research among many researchers and international students is very stimulating and encouraging.

University and graduate students were also forced to exercise self-restraint, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with little free time, I too had to stay home or attend school on a staggered schedule, which was frustrating. However, even while I couldn't do research, I made detailed plans in preparation for when I could. In that sense, you could also see it as an opportunity to think about and devise how to conduct research time efficiently under restrictions. It may be difficult to return to the pre-pandemic state anytime soon, but I believe it is important to always take action on what can be done now.

I chose to find a job at a private company after graduation. This is because I wanted to create tangible things that are useful to people. The automotive-related company that gave me a job offer is a place where people from different fields gather and where I can be active globally. Although it is not a field directly related to my current research, I believe the coping skills I developed in the laboratory can be applied in the professional world. For example, when conducting research, you inevitably face problems that you cannot solve on your own. When you get stuck like that, communication with others is necessary to proceed smoothly, such as consulting with people, listening to their opinions, and trying different methods, rather than trying to solve it all by yourself. I think that interacting with diverse people through my university life and research will be useful both in job hunting and after I enter the workforce.