We Are Recruiting Students for Our Laboratory !
Our laboratory offers a wide range of unique research topics and constantly
tackles new research challenges. Due to the competitive nature of our work,
we do not list the latest research topics or student projects on our website.
However, we are happy to provide detailed explanations to those interested
in joining us. Please feel free to contact us via email or visit our lab
for more information. We have many exciting research themes to explore.
If you have a specific topic you want to work on, please check with us
by email or during a visit to see if it is feasible in our lab. If you
are interested in our Brain Research Institute, please attend the Summer
Seminar. It will be an excellent opportunity to get to know various labs.
Our laboratory requires a diverse set of skills, so we welcome inquiries
from students in various fields, not just those in medical or science faculties.
However, there are certain conditions to becoming a full-time researcher
or faculty member (assistant professor, associate professor, professor)
at a company, university, or research institute.
1. A Strong Interest in Science: Discovering new things with your own hands
is inherently enjoyable, but experiments often don’t go as planned. Additionally,
not many people excel at all stages of research, from planning and executing
experiments to writing papers. Research inherently involves challenges.
While pharmaceutical and food companies also conduct research, university
laboratories often engage in scientific research that may not yield immediate
profits but is conducted for the distant future. Especially when research
is not going well, it is easy to lose sight of the goal. Still, pursuing
science as a career means engaging in research daily, so it is difficult
if you do not enjoy scientific research. Just as there are few soccer players
who dislike soccer, there are few scientists who dislike science.
2. Basic Academic Ability: While the specific faculty doesn't matter, a
minimum level of basic academic ability is important. Research is an extension
of study. Being good at studying does not necessarily mean you will excel
in research, but there are no excellent researchers without a basic academic
foundation. A diverse range of academic backgrounds is preferred, so we
welcome students from the faculties of medicine, science, agriculture,
engineering, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, life sciences, and others,
each bringing their unique strengths to our research environment. As of
2024, most of our members come from the faculties of science, pharmacy,
medicine, and veterinary medicine. We encourage you to understand your
strengths and make the most of them.
3. Understanding That Writing Papers is the Job of a Scientist: No matter
how good your experiments are, they will not be seen by anyone if you do
not publish them. Not writing papers is the same as doing nothing, and
those who do not write papers are not considered researchers. It is especially
important to write papers as the first or corresponding author. Today,
translation tools are excellent, so not being good at English is no longer
a valid excuse. Making research your profession means earning an income
based on the potential value of your work in the distant future, even though
it may not yield immediate tangible benefits. By publishing your findings
in the form of papers, you contribute to that potential. Even the smallest
details or negative findings, when documented in a paper, could one day
help save someone suffering from a disease in a future world after you've
lived your life. The value of your research is not for you to decide, but
for the future to determine.
These points are essential for our staff, and of course, very important
for students as well.
If you need financial support or reasonable accommodation, please do not
hesitate to consult us. We have several systems in place to support outstanding
students, but not just anyone can become a researcher. For example, Niigata
University's system offers a monthly income of 175,000 yen, in addition
to research funds and various other supports (https://www.phd.niigata-u.ac.jp/student/fellowship/).
International students may be eligible for scholarships such as the MEXT
scholarship. Other options may include the Research Assistant system and
scholarships unique to the Brain Research Institute. If your main affiliation
is elsewhere but you want to conduct research in our lab, please consult
us as well. We have two members affiliated with pediatrics, and it is not
a problem to have affiliations with other clinical departments, the science
faculty, the agriculture faculty, etc.
In our lab, I myself leave at 18:00, and students generally leave even
earlier. There is also the option to come only a few days a week to balance
childcare or clinical work. Our lab is definitely not a harsh environment.
Research is very important, but so is life and childcare. Balance everything
well. However, in terms of research itself, it is better to achieve one
significant accomplishment than to spread your efforts too thin. This does
not necessarily mean aiming for publication in journals like Nature, Cell,
or Science (although impact factor and the number of papers are also important).
Rather, it means having a research theme that makes people recognize "Professor
X is known for research on Y." I am still on this journey myself.
If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.