Researching Light × Medical Sciences and Challenging Diversity. Opening Future Possibilities with Passion and Action.

Profile

Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering (School of Engineering and Design, Master's Program 1st Year [*])

Born in Hiroshima Prefecture, graduated from Chuo University Junior and Senior High School in Tokyo

During high school, she devoted herself to cheer dance and achieved a brilliant record of 3rd place in the national competition. On the other hand, she says that what she wanted to do was not yet clear at the time of entering university. After entering the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology, she encountered the world of "light." Fascinated by the possibilities of light × medical sciences, she is currently working on building mathematical models to support the treatment of malignant brain tumors through simulation, while also pouring her passion into various fields, such as founding the student organization "Ulink" to improve diversity. Both research and extracurricular activities. What is the driving force that turns everything into her own growth?

I devoted my passion to cheer dance in my club activities. It was an Athletic Association-style environment, but the time spent working toward a single goal with my teammates was very fulfilling. As a team, we achieved 3rd place in the national competition.
I also challenged myself in various ways academically. The turning point was choosing Chemistry in my third year. The high school I attended had a Curriculum for working on graduation research, and I chose the Daniell cell as my research topic. During that research, I felt for the first time that "electricity is fun!" During the entrance interview for the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology, I spoke passionately about my efforts in Daniell cells and cheer dance.

Since I was at an affiliated high school, there was an option to continue internally. However, I decided to take the entrance exam for a university strong in the electrical field, which I was originally interested in. The deciding factor for choosing the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology was the Gakumon system [*]. The Gakumon system is a system not found in other universities. Instead of finalizing your department at the time of entry, you can decide on your major while studying a wide range of fields over a year. Although the keyword "electricity" was in my mind, my interests were not yet clear at the time, so the sense of security provided by the Gakumon system was very attractive.

In the Faculty of Science and Technology, there are many people who take their research and assignments seriously. Before entering, I had an image of a "sparkling and free university," so to be honest, I was surprised by the atmosphere of the Faculty of Science and Technology at first. Between classes, everyone naturally gathers at the library (media center) to study together. In high school, I felt that I wanted to study in an environment where I could focus more on learning, so it was exactly the environment I was looking for.

The biggest feature is that the range of what you can learn is very wide, from hardware to software. From electrical systems such as circuits and electronic devices to information systems such as programming, information processing, and image processing, a variety of subjects are available within a single department. I think it's a perfect department for students who don't yet know what field suits them.
I think the "Light × Medical Sciences" I am researching now is a theme I was able to find precisely because I was in the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, where I could learn broadly. When I was a third-year university student, I encountered the keyword "light" in a class and was surprised by the breadth of its application. I was amazed that so many different things could be done across fields, from medical care to the world of fashion.

I am researching interstitial Photodynamic Therapy (iPDT). I aim to establish a new treatment method for glioblastoma, which has a particularly high degree of malignancy among malignant brain tumors. Conventional brain tumor treatment has mainly been surgery to open the skull and remove the tumor. However, if residual tumor remains, it can lead to recurrence or shortened survival time. That is why iPDT is attracting attention. iPDT is a treatment method that inserts optical fibers into the head and causes tumor cells to undergo necrosis through a chemical reaction of drugs, light, and oxygen. Since it does not involve craniotomy, it is characterized by a significantly lower burden on the patient.
However, because the skull is not opened, you cannot visually see how light is being transmitted within the brain. That is why simulations to predict the treatment area are important. I am working on building a mathematical model that comprehensively incorporates elements of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Once completed, it may be applicable to parts other than the brain, such as spinal cord tumors. In the future, I would be happy if my mathematical model could be used in various hospitals.

Among the multiple themes presented by the laboratory, I chose it because it has a high degree of social contribution and I wanted to do "research that directly helps cure diseases." Also, I felt that simulation suited me better than experiments.

In 2025, I launched a student organization called "Ulink." It was triggered by a conversation while having tea at YIL [*] on the Yagami Campus with four people: an international student friend from the same lab, a senior, and my academic advisor, Associate Professor Ogawa.
Ulink aims to create an environment where various minority students can feel comfortable. Women are a minority on science and engineering campuses, but Ulink's target includes not only women but also international students and students in Doctoral Programs. As a first activity, we installed sanitary products in the women's restrooms on the Yagami Campus. We collected user surveys and submitted the visualized data to "KeiDGs" [*], an internal organization responsible for Keio University's SDGs promotion activities, which led to university-wide initiatives.
We also held a lecture and a networking event simultaneously at YIL, inviting female researchers who graduated from the Ogawa Lab or completed Doctoral Programs and entered society to share their stories. Since students in Doctoral Programs tend to become isolated, I also feel it is meaningful to provide a place to create connections.

Until now, I had been on the "participating side" of various events, but once I moved to the planning side, the fun of giving shape to ideas was on a different level. In connection with Ulink's activities, I was also given the opportunity to give a presentation at the Tokyo International Forum. I was not good at speaking in front of large groups, but through experiences like this, I feel I have gained the ability to take action when challenging new things.

I am currently job hunting. I am interested in the DX field. I want to utilize the fact that I studied a wide range of fields in the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, as well as the skill of "integrating complex phenomena into a single model" cultivated through mathematical model construction. For example, I believe that work that models the complex real world, such as the flow of people and traffic in a town, and connects digital and real, can directly utilize the way of thinking cultivated in research.
On the other hand, through Ulink's activities, I have also awakened to the fun of connecting my ideas to action. I am also considering the possibility of starting a business someday.
Finally, to all high school students. The anxiety of "not knowing what I want to do yet" is rather an entrance to the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology. Because of the Gakumon system, you can take your time to find what you really want to do after admission. In the wide world of science and technology, there is surely something that you will find "interesting!"