Mizuki Tenjinbayashi

Q1.What kind of research are you doing?

My research focuses on controlling nanostructures on material surfaces to manipulate how liquids wet these surfaces. Wetting phenomena are ubiquitous, ranging from everyday life to industrial processes. For instance, hydrophobic (water-repelling) and oleophobic (oil-repelling) materials are used in rain gear and cooking utensils, while hydrophilic (water-attracting) materials are used as primers for paints. By freely controlling wetting properties, we can design materials with surface functionalities. Specifically, I am concentrating on advancing superhydrophobic materials, developing technology that prevents water droplets from sticking at all, and technologies that allow liquids like water and oil to smoothly slide off.

Q2.What do you find appealing about NIMS?

One aspect that sets it apart from universities is that everyone around is a high-level expert holding a doctoral degree, coming from various research backgrounds in materials science. Forming teams under the common goal of materials research allows us to undertake highly specialized research. It's like forming a party with people from different professions to defeat the ultimate boss in a role-playing game. Since becoming a permanent staff member, I've actively engaged in discussions with experts from different research backgrounds, which has led to unexpected ideas, analytical methods, and applications.

Q3.What are your future career goals and aspirations?

As a researcher, I want to continue deepening my understanding of wetting phenomena, my area of expertise. Interestingly, there's a model that suggests the origin of life is related to "droplets". Since wetting phenomena deal with the behavior of droplets, it's a subject with wide applicability, not just in industrial applications but also in understanding life sciences, making it a rewarding field of study. To deeply understand and expand wetting phenomena across various fields requires the integration of knowledge, so the environment at NIMS, which is home to experts from diverse backgrounds, is ideal.

Q4.Do you have a message for students aspiring to research positions?

I recommend participating in internships to gather information about research positions. During my time as a student, I actively took on internships not only at NIMS but also at domestic and foreign material manufacturers to collect information that isn't easily accessible in university settings. As a result, I believe I was able to understand my aptitude for a job better. Internships are particularly recommended as they offer a risk-free way to obtain concrete information about research positions. Additionally, pursuing research in university is also important for nurturing your own expertise, so I encourage you to work hard at it.