Career Path

Ryo MATSUMOTO

Dr. Matsumoto joined the Nano Frontier Materials Group as a master’s student in Master's Program in Applied Physics, Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba in 2015 as well as a NIMS Junior Researcher. After completing his master's degree, he went on to Doctoral Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba as a NIMS Junior Researcher, where he worked on the search for new superconducting materials. In 2022, after completing his research activities in ICYS, he took a position as a permanent researcher in the superconducting materials group where the group leader was his academic advisor, Prof. Takano. He is currently working on the exploration and application of superconductors, creating temperature- and pressure-controlled environments, and synthesizing new functional materials.

Jan LABUTA

As a Ph.D. student at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, I studied phase-separation phenomena in temperature-sensitive polymers. I used mainly nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques to acquire data about the sample behavior. During my first one-year stay at NIMS under the ICGP program for doctoral students, I learned basics of porphyrin and supramolecular chemistry and various experimental techniques. This first NIMS stay, back in 2006, certainly shaped my next scientific career. After Ph.D. graduation in 2008, I joined NIMS as a JSPS postdoctoral fellow. I started studying chirality detection by symmetric porphyrin molecules, a topic we are still working on today. Soon we established a new concept called pro-chiral sensing mechanism. Since then, we have made whole series of porphyrin compounds with interesting properties. We also started to combine these with temperature-sensitive polymers. That was the moment when all my knowledge from doctoral studies came in handy. Since then, I have been developing a theoretical description of these systems in terms of chemical equilibria and host-guest complexation. I am currently studying these systems for various sensing and imaging applications, such as enantiomeric excess detection (ideally spatially resolved), selective detection of anions or impurities, or colorimetric detection of pH or temperature.

César Moreno

Wonderful experiences with ICYS

I am immensely proud to belong the ICYS family. Young scientists are well aware that to survive the jump into the void to make research independently under their own themes and make progress they must face, the sooner the better, to explore new ideas under their own risk. For that purpose, ICYS as tenure-track position allowed to me to put in practice divergent thinking with funding and easy-going administrative support. ICYS, as a scientific soup of different countries, cultures and thinking approaches, acted like a breeding ground to boost my career path. Still nowadays I am collaborating with NIMS researchers. Two years ago, we signed a memory of understanding between ICN2, my former institution, and MANA-NIMS. During the last years I had the opportunity to enjoy several business trips to NIMS, and last year a Ph.D. candidate under my supervision was awarded with a NIMS Internship program fellowship for to perform research during few months. She really enjoyed her NIMS experience! Beyond science, I really enjoyed Japanese hospitality, gastronomic culture including Ibarakian natto and Umami flavor, and of course, Onsen in winter times!

Ajayan Vinu

Wonderful experiences of ICYS

I became an ICYS Fellow at NIMS in January 2004 and was among the initial members of the ICYS center. The extensive research support and the proactive administrative system, staffed with English speakers, significantly influenced my research experience in Japan. Under the outstanding leadership of Prof. Yoshio Bando and the guidance of Prof. Katsuhiko Ariga, coupled with advanced research infrastructure and a collaborative environment, I flourished as an independent researcher at an early stage. The ICYS program left a lasting impact on my career, offering a clear path to continue at NIMS after completing my two-year fellowship.

The freedom to conduct research and mentorship from international academics, including Nobel Laureates, fostered an environment that allowed me to establish an independent research group at NIMS. Japan's unique and humble culture, marked by kindness and a welcoming attitude toward foreigners, has always been a draw for me. I remained in Japan until September 2011, when I accepted a position as a full professor at the University of Queensland. My two sons, born during my time in Japan, consider themselves Japanese, highlighting the inclusive nature of Japanese culture. My family and I cherished our time in Japan and truly miss the country. I often tell my wife that given the opportunity, I would always choose to return to Japan for high-level research, as it holds a special place in our hearts.

Currently serving as a Global Innovation Chair Professor and Director of the Global Innovative Center for Advanced Nanomaterials, leading a team of over 65 researchers, I attribute my current role to the guidance and support received from ICYS and NIMS. I am deeply grateful to Japan for transforming my academic career. The connections established in Japan have created a robust collaborative platform, facilitating my team members' visits and collaborations with NIMS researchers. Beyond science, I formed lasting friendships in Japan and enjoyed its rich culture, diverse cuisine, and breathtaking scenery. My sentiments remain that I truly miss Japan.