Kazuho Morita
Graduate School of Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory
- Academic Year
- Master's Course 2nd
- Hometown
- Nara, Japan
- Background
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Osaka University
- University research
- Analysis of microparticles by magnetophoresis
- Graduate research
- Observation of electronic states in oxygen adsorption on Si(001) surface by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy
Why I chose NAIST
I majored in chemistry at university. However, I had a strong desire to study physics, so I chose NAIST because of its support for changing my major. In fact, I was able to learn a wide range of basic subjects. I feel that one of my greatest strengths is that I can also conduct experiments in the laboratory in collaboration with people from different majors. Another attraction was that NAIST has a high payment rate for Type 1 scholarships (no interest when repaying).
Introduction to our lab.
Number of People in the Lab (Unit: Persons)
| Professor | Associate Professor | Assistant Professor | Technical/ Administrative Assistant |
Master's Degree | Doctoral Degree | Researcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3(1) | 1(1) | 15(3) | 6(1) | 0 |
※The number in parentheses next to the number of persons is the number of female researchers.
At the microscopic level, materials exhibit properties that are different from their intrinsic properties. In our laboratory, we fabricate and measure such new materials and elucidate new physical properties through microscopic elucidation of atomic structures and electronic energy bands.
1. lab 2. living room 3. meeting room
My group consists of seven members who share a large experimental apparatus in the lab. We work in shifts, taking turns every 3 days to a week to run our own experiments.
We often collaborate with each other by helping with experiments and maintaining the equipment together. Since analysis of experimental data is a large part of the work, each student is provided with a PC necessary for analysis.
We currently have four international students and sometimes interns from overseas, so we have a rich international flavor.
Every year we have a welcome and farewell party, a BBQ and an end of year party. We also have many other parties with international students, such as Tako-pa (octopus party) and Nabe-pa (hot pot party). Many of the international students are friendly, cooking food from their home countries and actively talking with us.
September 2017 "Japan Society of Applied Physics" in Fukuoka
The conference lasted four days, so I went out drinking in the evenings with members of my lab who were attending the conference, and I was able to enjoy the sightseeing atmosphere.
The 8th International Symposium on Surface Science (ISSS-8), Tsukuba, Japan, October 2017
This is an international conference. I gave a poster presentation in English. I felt that the number of foreign researchers was slightly higher than in Japan, with about 20% of them being women. I was surprised by the difference in culture, as some people brought their children to the conference. I think it is one of the special features of international conferences that there is an abundance of food provided at the venue.
Dormitory Life
Point1 Lounge on the first floor of each dormitory building is available for use.
You can watch TV or bring your own food for a party.
Point2 Shared bathrooms and washing machines.
Separate for men and women. In winter, the common area is quite cold.
Point3 It is safe because it is on the school campus.
Security guards patrol the area at night.
Point4 It is convenient to have a car or moped.
There are many hills around NAIST, so it is a little hard to ride a bicycle.
Point5 Easy access to Osaka
It takes about 30 minutes by train from the nearest station to Namba.
Some female students may feel uncomfortable when they hear that NAIST has a 4:1 male to female ratio. There are many opportunities to make friends with girls in the same department during orientation and new student social events at the time of admission. In addition, one of the best things about this school is the health management center and laboratory facilities. The school itself is compact, so it is easy to use. It is not in the city, so it can be inconvenient at times, but life is fulfilling because I can focus on my research and we have drinking parties together.
The two years of graduate school life go by quickly, but I believe that at NAIST you will be able to spend an intense time in a new environment.
(February, 2018)
