Voices of graduates/current students

• 

  Shota UEDADoctoral course completed on March 2019

  

  Shota UEDA

  Doctoral course completed on March 2019

  Invaluable experience

  I studied mechanical engineering during my undergraduate years. After that, I completed a master’s program and earned my Ph.D. degree in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management (Okamoto laboratory) in 2019. During my graduate years, I was engaged in research on severe accidents of nuclear power plants, which is known as a national topic. This research topic requires advanced-visualization experiments and state-of-the-art simulation methods, and therefore, it was abundant in creativity. Furthermore, it contributes to the Fukushima’s rebuilding. I have been feeling the worth and satisfaction in tackling this challenging topic. I was all wrapped up in my research day and night. I could steadily carry out research while being advised by my supervisor and the labmates and I encourage each other. I gained many chances for presenting the findings at international conferences, and some of the research achievements were published in international journals because the high-impact results were obtained. I also studied at Imperial College London in the UK with comprehensive support by the department and the laboratory because this research required international collaboration. It was an irreplaceable experience of participating in international joint research. Owing to these opportunities, I could meet brilliant researchers with various ideas and skills and have an active discussion with them, which lead to the improvement of my creative insight and logical thinking. Consequently, I graduated with a half-year reduced enrollment period and won the Dean’s Award (Outstanding Research Award) because the excellence of my research achievements was recognized. I obtained the permanent position in the research institute as I wished to though I was totally absorbed in the research activity during the programs. Invaluable experiences at the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management increased my self-confidence. I believe these experiences would be helpful and precious for me throughout my life.

• 

  Yuri YOSHIHARADoctoral course completed on March 2019

  

  Yuri YOSHIHARA

  Doctoral course completed on March 2019

  Fruitful student life in Nuclear Engineering and Management

  Since a research work for radiation measurement that I conducted for my graduate thesis was so exciting to me, I decided to enter the department of Nuclear Engineering and Management in order to explore radiation measurement more. I could improve communication skill in English because the all lectures of this department were taken in English. Besides, usual conversation with students from foreign countries or different backgrounds helped me with understanding diverse cultures and thoughts. About the research work, I belonged to Prof. Takahashi’s laboratory, one of the world-leading laboratories in radiation measurement field. I had been working on a research of gamma-ray imaging technologies for visualizing the distribution of radioactive cesium spread by the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which was a challenging topic proposed by my professor. Through working hard and encouraging each other with laboratory members, I was able to acquire deep expertise about advanced technologies with fulfilling student life. Because I was adopted as one of fellowship members (DC1) from Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS), I could concentrate my research work under economical support from JSPS. Besides, during the doctoral course, I could have an opportunity to join the collaboration research with UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for almost six months under the support of long-term overseas travel from a program for leading graduate schools (GSDM). I think my vision has expanded through the experience of the studying abroad, and this experience also helped me with growing as researcher. Looking back on my five-year student life at this department, I am satisfied with having such a fruitful time to acquire knowledge and experience through connecting with many people. After graduation, fortunately I obtained a research position of a private company where I can take advantage of my expertise cultivated through the student life. In the company, I would need to work together with various people more flexibly, but I hope to contribute to society through developing radiation-measurement technologies by utilizing the experience gained in this department

• 

  Yuki MoriD3 (as of April 2021)

  

  Yuki Mori

  D3 (as of April 2021)

  You can acquire the world-class abilities in this department

  After I graduated from SDM course in department of systems innovation, I was interested in research to combine numerical simulation and computer graphics, so I went to Sakai-Lab, which is in the department of nuclear engineering and management. The Sakai Laboratory has huge research achievements in multi-physics simulation, and the latest computer hardware and experimental equipment are introduced to the laboratory. The Sakai laboratory develops state-of-the-art physical models and try to reveal physical phenomena of multiphase flows. As international research activities in the laboratory, prominent researchers visit the laboratory from around the world, international seminars are held, and international collaborative research is performed. I was given an international collaborative research theme with University of Surrey in the UK and stayed University of Surrey for a month. It was worthwhile to actively discuss with co-workers during stay and improve the quality of the research, and a paper summarizing the research results were published in famous international scientific journals. In addition, I got a total of 8 awards at academic conferences both in Japan and overseas in the master's program. These research results were highly regarded, and I received the dean’s award (an outstanding research award) when I got a master’s degree. I decided to go to Ph.D. course, because I would like to improve my research. In addition, I will be selected the research fellowships for young scientists in JSPS when I go to Ph.D. course.
  Since all lectures are held in English at this department, you can increase your communication skills in English. You can also experience the global diversity through the communication with many international students. Consequently, I hope that you will be able to acquire world-class broad perspectives and abilities. We welcome you to acquire the world-class ability in our department.

• 

  Oyunbileg TugsMaster course completed on March 2019

  

  Oyunbileg Tugs

  Master course completed on March 2019

  Fun research in an environment full of possibilitiess

  The Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management School of Engineering is friendly with students from other laboratories and provides a friendly environment. There are many students from abroad or from other universities domestically and students with various backgrounds gather together there. I’m also from Mongolia and, although I studied at another university in the country, I was able to fit in immediately after matriculating into the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management School of Engineering. Also, at the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management School of Engineering, there are many studies being carried out including nuclear energy as well as radiation therapy, laser or accelerator development and it is possible to find a research topic that suits every individual. I became a member of the Ishikawa Sato laboratory which studies the latest interactions between lasers and atoms/molecules. It’s because I had interest in the behavior of electrons over an extremely short period of time. It differs from my research topic while at university, but I continue to have fun researching it every day.

• 

  Yutaro Isono Master course completed on March 2021

  

  Yutaro Isono

  Master course completed on March 2021

  Fulfilling student life and the state-of-the-art research in an international environment

  After graduating from System Design Management Course in Department of Systems Innovation, I entered Ishikawa-Sato laboratory of Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management. I learned the depth of quantum mechanics and the frontier of numerical simulations during my graduation research in this laboratory, for which I was awarded the excellent thesis prize. The research experience also reminds me how it is important to make steady efforts to tackle with new challenges, just as I learned from my career in the University of Tokyo baseball club. I am currently working on the state-of-the-art simulation study for a deeper understanding of the interaction between radiation light and matters. I am enjoying a fulfilling and stimulating student life with excellent, international colleagues.

• 

  Yoshiki TANIMaster course completed on March 2021

  

  Yoshiki TANI

  Master course completed on March 2021

  A fulfilling research life in a privileged academic environment

  I was enrolled in Department of Nuclear Engineering & Management from E & E Course in Department of Systems Innovation. Fujii-Komiyama laboratory which I am belonging to mainly conducts large-scale numerical computational simulation analysis on energy systems and resilience. In my graduation thesis, I developed a world's most advanced global energy model in Fujii-Komiyama laboratory and analyzed the possibility of zero CO2 emissions in global energy sector. The structure of the global energy model is an extremely difficult mathematical model without advanced and large amount of knowledge for energy problems. Thanks to the careful guidance of excellent seniors and academic advisors in the laboratory, however, I gained interesting results ahead of the world. The results of my graduation thesis showed interests by faculty members in E & E Course in Department of Systems Innovation, and I was able to receive the Japan Atomic Energy Society Fellow Award. In Department of Nuclear Engineering & Management, you can definitely send a fulfilling research life in such a privileged academic environment. From now on, I will work hard with excellent colleagues, and would like to hold on to the world's most advanced research results and try hard to be recognized.

• 

  Yoshiki TsunemotoMaster course completed on March 2020

  

  Yoshiki Tsunemoto

  Master course completed on March 2020

  What I learned in Department on Nuclear Engineering and Management

  After graduating from the System Design and Management Course at the Systems Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, I went on to the Master's Program at Department on Nuclear Engineering and Management. I belonged to the Kasahara Laboratory for both undergraduate and master's programs. When I couldn't see the path that works for me, I could touch the personality of Prof. Kasahara, and I was convinced that he could grow me with little knowledge. I thought too that I could contribute to society through research on nuclear safety.
  After being assigned to lab, I was able to enjoy my research with the support of Prof. Kasahara and other staff members. Thanks to that, I received the Fellow Award for Atomic Energy Society of Japan for my graduation research, and also won the President's Award for master's study. Besides, through nuclear engineering, which is a comprehensive science and technology that combines expertise in various fields, I began to think from multiple angles about various systems that are becoming more complex in the real world. I was looking for a job in many fields but ultimately decided to work for a nuclear research institute because I can use my expertise. I will continue to engage in nuclear engineering, and I hope you can see me as a senior from this department.

• 

  Rinako YokoyamaM2 (as of April 2021)

  

  Rinako Yokoyama

  M2 (as of April 2021)

  Believing my endless possibilities

  After I have graduated from SDM course in Department of Systems Innovation, I joined Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management (Sakai lab). When I was a third-year undergraduate student, I was wondering about my future career since I could not understand my strengths and weaknesses. Prof. Sakai, who was my mentor, said to me, "You must be able to devote yourself to anything you should do.” This word changed my mind about my possibilities. When choosing a theme for my graduation thesis, I felt anxious about becoming a member of the elites in Sakai Lab, but I wanted to struggle under a high-level environment. So I decided to belong to the Sakai lab. In my graduation thesis, I worked on a granular flow simulation for pharmaceuticals. The latest computing environment was provided, and Prof. Sakai gave me a thorough explanation of problem setting, how to proceed with the research and logical descriptions. I was able to write my thesis as getting advice from senior students in my group and encouraging each other with my contemporary. I worked hard on my graduation thesis until I was satisfied and challenged myself to make a presentation in English. My effort bore fruit, and I won the Excellent Graduation Thesis Award. When I heard the news of the award, I said "I made it!" in spite of myself. Through my writing of graduation thesis, I realized that continuous efforts help me to be confident. As a member of the Sakai Group, I will keep doing my best to make my research results evaluated in Japan and overseas, like my senior students.

• 

  Mariko KobayashiMaster course completed on March 2020

  

  Mariko Kobayashi

  Master course completed on March 2020

  A place for research where individuals can demonstrate their abilities

  When I was an undergraduate student, I studied various disease mechanisms and treatments at the Faculty of Life Sciences, and became interested in cutting-edge research on medical applications of radiation. As with me, there are many students who have different backgrounds in fields other than nuclear engineering. I joined Prof. Takahashi’s Laboratory, which is evaluated highly worldwide in the field of radiation measurement and its application. My supervisor, Prof. Hiroyuki Takahashi, understood my undergraduate background, and gave me an interdisciplinary research theme so that I can fully demonstrate my abilities. Specifically, I studied the effects and behaviors of molecular labeling with radioisotopes and fluorescent molecules on glucose. I was able to advance my research with the support of knowledge and equipment from collaborators both inside and outside the laboratory. Through this scientific research, I was able to not only deepen my specialized knowledge, but also cultivate the ability to think and act on my own. Thanks to that, I was able to win the Excellence Award in the poster session of the conference, which I attended in the autumn of the second year of the master course program. In addition, the laboratory consists of internationally-oriented members, and lectures are given in English, so English became a part of daily life and English communication skills were also improved. After graduation, I will work in a medical device screening and safety organization that could utilize the expertise I gained during my student days, as desired. I would like to contribute to society by taking advantage of the experience I gained in the department of Nuclear Engineering and Management.