Diligently pursuing research to contribute to the field of synthetic chemistry. With the perseverance forged in club activities, she approaches results step by step.

Profile

Graduate of Caritas Girls' Junior & Senior High School, Kanagawa Prefecture

Dance, kendo, and painting. After spending her junior and senior high school years immersed in both athletic and cultural activities, she chose to pursue chemistry in college, a subject she had excelled at and enjoyed since junior high. Her active spirit, unbound by genre, continued at the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology, where she joined the Faculty of Science and Technology Athletic Association Shorinjikempo Team. She truly embodies the ideal of excelling in both academics and sports, having received awards for her achievements in both fields. We asked her about her energetic days, giving her all to both her research and extracurricular activities.

[*] Academic year at the time of the interview (November 2020).

I focused on extracurricular activities. On weekdays, I was busy with the dance club, and on weekends, I attended a separate dance school, went to a painting class to draw what I loved, and practiced at a local kendo club I had been attending since junior high. I poured my interest and time into club activities and hobbies, which limited my study time. Therefore, I made sure to listen carefully in class and concentrate on reviewing during my commute.

At my alma mater, a combined junior and senior high school, we had to choose between the science/math track and the liberal arts track when advancing to high school. I chose the science track because I had loved chemistry since junior high. I loved painting so much that I even attended a painting class, so I also considered going to an art university. Ultimately, however, my desire to contribute to society by specializing in chemistry pushed me toward the sciences. A major reason I chose the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology was its Gakumon System [*1]. Although I had decided on the general direction of chemistry, the world of chemistry is diverse, including organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physical chemistry. I couldn't decide on a specific specialty as a high school student, so the system that allows students to study various science fields for the first year and then choose a department after re-evaluating their interests was very appealing.

Another major motivation was my belief that the faculty had many highly capable people, and being in an environment of friendly competition would lead to my own growth.

[*1] The Gakumon System is a unique system at the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology where students choose one of five "Gakumon" (academic clusters) at the time of admission. After enrolling, they gradually narrow down their field of study according to their interests and decide on their department when advancing to their second year. Please 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.

Before enrolling, I had a glamorous impression of the so-called "Keio Boy/Keio Girl" and an image of talented people gathering from all over the country. That was mostly true, but a major characteristic of the students I noticed after enrolling was their diversity. For example, there were returnee students who always thought about things on a global scale, and people who loved math so much they were planning their lives to become mathematicians. There were so many students with different backgrounds and aspirations. Seeing their completely different perspectives and their unique approaches to academics up close was eye-opening. I felt my own world rapidly expanding after I enrolled. The inspiration I received from my classmates became a driving force for my own academic motivation and growth. When I think about it, I believe this diversity that doesn't fit into a mold is one of the benefits of the Gakumon System.

I would point to the department's unique events, starting with its "small-class education," "curriculum," and "department social gatherings." With about 20 faculty members for approximately 40 students, a 2:1 ratio, we can concentrate on our studies and learn in a close-knit, high-density environment, which is only possible with small class sizes. For example, when I submitted an assignment for a certain class, it wasn't just marked as correct or incorrect. The instructor provided feedback tailored to my individual level of understanding, explaining why I should or shouldn't think a certain way. This environment, where a cycle of input from lectures and experiments, output through assignments and discussions, and feedback from faculty is a daily occurrence, allows for deeper learning. The curriculum was also appealing, as it's designed for students to learn the basics of chemistry by their second year and then delve deeper into their specialties.

The department social gatherings are events where everyone, from second-year undergraduates to master's and Ph.D. program graduate students and faculty, comes together across laboratory boundaries. There are also department-specific futsal and softball tournaments. These events create not only horizontal connections (with classmates) and vertical connections (within one's lab) but also diagonal connections that transcend specialties. I think it's very meaningful because it helps us develop the research skills and creativity to think beyond our own fields.

The activities of the Faculty of Science and Technology Athletic Association Shorinjikempo Team. It was a sport I had no experience in, but I was originally interested in martial arts. Since it was the Faculty of Science and Technology's Athletic Association, practice started after the fifth period, so I thought I could balance it with my classes and research and decided to join.

In my second and third undergraduate years, I received the Koizumi Sports Awards [*2] from the university, and in my fourth year, I received the Fujiwara Prize [*3] from the Faculty of Science and Technology. However, these are not awards I received on my own. Research progresses with guidance from academic advisors and hints from discussions with senior students and classmates, so it's all thanks to the support of those around me. The Koizumi Sports Awards are also the result of the support from my coach, faculty advisor, club mates, and family. I feel it's an award we all received together.

[*2] The Koizumi Sports Awards are presented to Keio students (current students) belonging to the Keio University Athletic Association (including the Faculty of Science and Technology Athletic Association) who are of excellent character, in good health, and have enhanced the reputation of Keio University through sports.

[*3] The Fujiwara Prize is awarded by the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology to individuals who, while diligently pursuing their studies, have made exemplary contributions in fields such as social, cultural, athletic, academic, or artistic activities, or to those who have played a central role in such activities within a group.

The electives "Seminar in Humanities and Social Sciences (Representation and Culture)" and "Art and Science" come to mind. In particular, "Seminar in Humanities and Social Sciences (Representation and Culture)" was taught by a lecturer active in the world of Western art history research. It was a specialized course where we studied various aspects of painting, such as iconography, iconology, production techniques, and the artists' creative consciousness, using the decorative wall paintings of a chapel in the Vatican, which were co-created by multiple artists, as a case study. My love for art hasn't changed, so I was very happy that even after choosing a path in science, there was an environment where I could study fields that interested me.

The Reaction-Oriented Organic Chemistry Laboratory, to which I belong, is a lab that develops new organic synthesis reactions using the knowledge and methods of organic chemistry. Specifically, I am developing reactions that utilize transition metals and carbon dioxide. The lab has a history of researching what is known as "carbon dioxide fixation," which involves incorporating carbon dioxide into organic compounds. Building on this background, my research focuses on developing a catalytic reaction that transforms the products obtained from carbon dioxide fixation into even more useful compounds by reacting them with a transition metal.

Conventional carbon dioxide fixation reactions have been developed primarily with the goal of reducing carbon dioxide by incorporating it into organic compounds.

However, my research can be seen as focusing on a new way to utilize carbon dioxide, as it uses it as an activating agent for organic compounds. Furthermore, the molecular structure I am targeting for synthesis can be widely applied in pharmaceuticals and natural product synthesis, so this research holds the potential for applications in the pharmaceutical field as it progresses.

The molecular structure I was working with was new to our lab, so the research was full of twists and turns. I had days of hitting a wall with nothing but unfavorable results. However, by patiently scrutinizing the reaction conditions, I discovered that a transition metal element that had rarely been used in organic synthesis was effective. Right now, I'm in the final stages of preparing to publish these results, aiming for publication in an international academic journal.

When research gets tough, I remember the words of my club mates: "You create your own environment; don't complain about it." I am always conscious that how you create your environment is up to you. You change what you can with your own hands, accept what you can't, and do your best in the given situation.

I have received a job offer from a chemical manufacturer and plan to work in a research position. During my job search, I considered entering a completely different industry to leverage my broad interests, including the science fields I studied as a student. However, as I progressed with my research, I came to feel that I wanted to pursue a path where I could more directly give back to society what I had learned—the path of a researcher.

After joining the company, I will be involved in developing daily necessities and cosmetics that support many people's lives. Motivated by the fact that I can envision the faces of the people who will actually use the products, I want to do my best to contribute by utilizing the knowledge and experience I have gained.