Seeking deep insights into living phenomena

Q　What was your motivation for joining the program, and what about the program appeals to you?

I could name numerous attractions of the program, such as the rich educational curriculum, generous financial support, and intellectual exchange with people from other fields, but one thing that deserves special mention is the opportunity to get to know and work together with other graduate students aspiring to complete a doctoral program. The majority of students I know go out to work after completing their bachelor or master’s degree, so it is very stimulating to be surrounded in this program by Ph.D candidates. Spending the five years of the integrated doctoral program in such a special environment is sure to be a significant part of my journey as a researcher.

Q　What is your expertise and who do you want to develop it with the program?

Currently I specialize in eye movement. As an undergraduate student, I was in non-equilibrium physics, doing experimental research on self-organization. I also developed software for video analysis and mathematical analysis, simulation programs, and other tools as the need arose, so I am confident in my software-related skills. My goal in this program is to achieve some deeper insights into living phenomena and the technical applications thereof. I would like to come up with a concrete proposal, even in an imperfect form, for a machine that possesses the essential qualities of life.

Q　What are your future dreams and goals?

My overarching goal is to uncover the basic laws of mechanisms for control and ordering in non-equilibrium systems such as living phenomena, to establish theories, and to apply them to technology. I think that this would lead to energy-saving technologies that are far more robust, flexible, and sustainable. Once I have achieved some degree of success, I’d like to start working something else, like space exploration.