Akimitsu Ishii
ICYS Research Fellow, International Center for Young Scientists(ICYS)
Hobbies
Trading card game
Specialties
Programming
C.V. (As of September 2024）
Bachelor, Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2018
Master, Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2019
Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Doctor, 2022
JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC2), April 2021 - March 2022
Current post, April 2021- 
Q＆A
Q：How did you come to know about NIMS?
A：I first became aware of NIMS when I was given a tour of it as an undergraduate student. Later, at a conference, I met an NIMS researcher who had been conducting research in the same field as I was, and that researcher recommended working at NIMS, which led me to apply for a position at the institute.
Q：What is the attraction of NIMS?
A：Since I started working at NIMS, I have been given opportunities for collaborative work with researchers in various materials fields, some of which are big projects involving several companies. I think the fact that even a young researcher like myself can participate in such a large project with a certain degree of discretion is an attractive feature of NIMS.
Q：What is your research topic, and what attracts you to it?
A：My research interests are the development of numerical simulation models to predict microstructural evolutions during sintering, and the improvement of the accuracy and efficiency of the simulations using data-science techniques. I enjoy using physics-based computational approaches to elucidate complex changes in materials that are difficult to experimentally observe. I find an attractive aspect of my research is that the models, methods, and techniques I have developed can be applied to a wide variety of materials.
Q：How did you get involved in materials research?
A：To tell the truth, I was not strongly interested in materials science. I was good at programming, so I wanted to acquire computational techniques for numerical simulation and artificial intelligence when I joined a research laboratory. However, in the Department of Mechanical and System Engineering to which I belonged, there were few laboratories that used such techniques in their research, except for one that specialized in mechanical materials science. Along these lines, I started my research career in computational materials science.
Q：Did your image of NIMS change after you accepted the position there?
A：As for research-related matters, I did not feel a big gap from what I had imagined before working at NIMS. On the other hand, regarding other administrative matters such as purchasing equipment, taking business trips, presenting results, taking leave, etc., I felt that the rules and procedures were stricter than at a university. However, unlike when I was at the university, I can get the majority of my support from the administrative staff. I am very grateful for the support.
Q：Did you have any worries about the environment or living conditions in Tsukuba?
A：I am originally from a rural area in the countryside, so I was not worried about living in Tsukuba. After I started living here, I found it to be a more comfortable place to live than I had expected (although a car is a must). I was pleased to know that, not only can I get to Akihabara in less than an hour by train, but also, there is an express bus that goes directly to Tokyo Station, Haneda Airport, and Narita Airport.