Developing real-world skills through "Exciting Research"

Shotaro Numano

Ph.D. in Science, March 2025
Information and Neural Networks (Guest Prof. Masahiko Haruno)

As someone with a background in the Faculty of Science, what impressed me most upon entering FBS was the culture of evaluating research based on whether it is "exciting," without being bound by disciplinary walls. In this atmosphere, the professors sincerely supported our challenges, and the curriculum was thoughtfully designed to allow us to focus on our research. I also felt that everyone – professors, staff, and students alike – worked together to foster interaction that transcended laboratory boundaries.
Graduate school, and particularly the doctoral program, is often viewed simply as a training ground for researchers. However, I see it more comprehensively as a place that nurtures "talent capable of enriching society."
For example, the skills cultivated through research – such as project planning, running cycles of hypothesis and verification, and explaining ideas logically to others – are universal assets required in any profession, not just in academia. Because FBS offers an environment where it is easy to cross disciplinary borders in pursuit of what is "exciting," I believe these skills are honed here to an even greater degree.
I encourage you to dive into this environment and use it to fuel your own personal growth.