Department of Life Science and Systems Engineering
Biological Functions Engineering
Souwalauk Na Khampol
Q1：Why Kyutech?
First, I know several supervisors from Thailand who graduated from Kyutech, and when they talked about their activities, it sounded so interesting. Moreover, since January 2023 I have participated as an exchange student for 10 days in a PBL class with Kyutech Iizuka campus students, I also had an opportunity to visit the lab at both the Wakamatsu and the Iizuka campuses. After completing the project, I cannot stop thinking about Japan, and Fukuoka cityeverything was so impressive. As a result, I set a new goal to return, and I decided to study for a Master’s degree at Kyutech.
Q2：About Research
The enormous impact problem in the world is single-use plastic which requires solving. In our lab focus on the improvement of biomaterials can be instead of Petro based, then my research focus on biodegradation of biomaterials by superworms. Moreover, in this project have been studying how after superworms eat food fed for them, what is happening? When pass biodegradable is made it happens by superwoms, also is it can be reused or not.
Q3：Best point of Kyutech
The best point of Kyutech is the people, there are several people who come from everywhere in the world. Then you can learn about their culture and languages, because of diversity. In addition, Kyutech is one of the best universities in Japan, so you can get various knowledge from here.
Q4：My recommended place from Kyutech
It’s the first floor that has a table tennis table, also you can borrow table tennis stuff from the student section for free. I have found a lot of people there, it’s a good sport for breaking the ice with your friends.
Q5：What surprised me most in Japan
I think about “Transportation” which is different from Thailand, Kitakyushu it’s the southern part of Japan but there are many line trains you can use for travel, also buses. On the other hand, in Thailand if you are a person who lives outside Bangkok or the perimeter, quite hard to travel if you do not have your own car. Moreover, sometimes when you walk through children or someone, they will say “Konichiwa” to say hi to you this looks so kind.
Q6：What kind of life
I love to do activities, play games, do sports, and go to travel. In addition, I love watching Formula 1 and cars racing, then when I walk around the city I see a lot of cool cars, I am so happy. To be honest, I already paid for a Formula 1 ticket to the Suzuka circuit, but I do not have a friend to go with me, lol. Currently, I still find activities that I can do with friends, such as yakiniku or traveling somewhere, I am very enjoyable.
Q7：My future dream
In the future, I require work in research and development, either in the industrial or academic sectors, depending on the opportunity at that time. I plan to continue research that addresses reducing or eliminating single-use waste as much as possible. This will be quite challenging, both in terms of research and in making it a reality in the industrial sector.
Department of Life Science and Systems Engineering
Human Intelligence Systems
Alif Syafiq Bin Kamarol Zaman
Q1：Why Kyutech?
I chose Kyutech because it is a prestigious university renowned for its strong academic programs and innovative research. Additionally, Kyutech maintains an excellent relationship with my previous institution, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), which made the transition smoother. I had heard a lot about Kyutech's welcoming environment for international students, especially through opportunities like the MEXT scholarship. The diverse range of research topics available here presented a fantastic opportunity for me to pursue my academic interests.
Q2：About Research
In my research, I focus on neuromorphic computing, an innovative area of artificial intelligence that aims to mimic the computational processes of the human brain. While AI is increasingly prevalent across various fields, its complexity often leads to high power consumption. Neuromorphic computing addresses this challenge by enabling complex task performance with significantly lower energy usage, around 20 watts. My work involves leveraging material science to design and develop devices that can perform intricate computations efficiently, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional AI systems.
Q3：Best point of Kyutech
The best aspect of Kyutech is its dedication to accommodating both local and international students. The university goes above and beyond to create an inclusive and welcoming environment through various initiatives such as organized bus tours, mochi-making events, and other cultural activities. These efforts foster strong relationships among students from diverse backgrounds, making Kyutech a truly international and supportive community.
Q4：My recommended place from Kyutech
I highly recommend visiting the pavement in front of Kyutech, where the sakura trees line up beautifully, especially during the spring season. It's a serene and picturesque spot that I often enjoy taking walks in whenever I have the chance. The cherry blossoms create a stunning backdrop, providing a perfect place to relax and appreciate the natural beauty around the campus.
Q5：What surprised me most in Japan
What surprised me most about Japan is the rich language, unique culture, diverse cuisine, and the distinct four seasons. Coming from Malaysia, where we primarily experience hot and rainy weather throughout the year, the clear seasonal changes in Japan were quite remarkable. The cultural nuances and the variety of traditional and modern foods also provided a fascinating and enriching experience.
Q6：What kind of life
I maintain a balanced lifestyle by dedicating the five working days to intensive research and academic pursuits. On weekends, I take the time to rest, reflect on life, and engage in activities that help me unwind, such as playing games. This balance allows me to stay productive during the week while also ensuring I have ample time to recharge and maintain my well-being.
Q7：My future dream
I would like to make use of the knowledge I've acquired here in Kyutech to work in the semiconductor industry in my home country (Malaysia). I aim to be a research and development engineer in this industry and as a way of giving back to my country. I enjoy working with machines and in the clean room as it gives a sense of peace because doing precision work with 100% focus allows me to relax in way. The research I'm involved in now (Neuromorphic Computing) has a bright future and I'm positive I could be the pioneer or the one who will be responsible to bring this technology to Malaysia. This could open opportunities for future collaboration between Malaysia and Japan in terms of trade and knowledge transfer. Ultimately, I aim to be a humble servant of God, acknowledging that all knowledge belongs to Him and striving to use my abilities in service to others.
Department of Life Science and Systems Engineering
Biological Functions Engineering
Ikeno Laboratory
Ahmed Mustafa Kamel Saber
Q1：Why Kyutech?
In September 2022, I came to Kyutech on the Sakura Science project invited by Professor Ikeno and a graduated PhD student from his lab Dr. Khaled Metwaly. During this period, I found a lot of research that is being done in Kyutech and the friendly research environment that helps excel your abilities. By the end of the program, I decided that I would like to do my Master's Degree here in Kyutech.
Q2：About Research
Environmental stress represents a big challenge for human on Earth, the lack of natural resources due to increasing the population are demanding that researchers and decision-makers provide food security and clean water to the next generations. Functional peptides when applied to plants can do various biological functions based on their sequence and one of those functions is combating abiotic stress. Nanoparticles have been used extensively in the delivery of biological macromolecules inside biological systems. My Research is focused on loading short functional peptides that are considered to have a function in combating abiotic stress in plants on different nanoparticles and testing their activity on plant biological systems.
Q3：Best point of Kyutech
There are a lot of good points in Kyutech but if I had to choose one, I would choose the people. The professors, staff, and students in Kyutech are very kind and decent and always meet you with their smiles and answer your inquiries.
Q4：My recommended place from Kyutech
I enjoy staying and working in the lab and my office, the view of the green sights from the window of the lab is fabulous, but if I have to say a place outside the lab and the office is the worship and Masjid room on the 7th floor. I am glad to Kyutech for supporting different religions and for assigning a prayer room for Muslims.
Q5：What surprised me most in Japan
When I first came to Japan, I was fascinated by the robots that are almost everywhere I found them in the airports and different restaurants. I do not know if you know that or not but back in my country Egypt or Arabic culture, we consider Japan as a different planet that is coming from the future that’s due to the numerous technological advancements that Japan has and you could not find it anywhere else on the planet. Also, I liked the nature of Japan and the green sightseeing but I think that every country has a nature of its own that is beautiful and different from what you have seen in your life before. What I see distinct about Japan is that once you land in Japan, you will realize that you have arrived in a country from the future, a different planet.
Q6：What kind of life
I am the kind of a person that does not like free time, so, I try to fulfill it with activities that I enjoy and also give me a return, so, I do like reading, playing chess, playing sports, and working out at the gym. When I first arrived here, my lab members were very friendly and helped me to find a good gym to exercise at. Also, I like watching football games, movies, series, and anime recently. So, outside working in the lab, I do a lot of activities either with friends who share the same interests or alone and that helps me to fulfill my spare time with good activities and also enjoy doing them.
Q7：My future dream
My future dream is to have the ability to apply the science from experiments in the lab into applications for society as I believe that the biotechnology market has a lot of investments to come since there is a high demand for food security and pharmaceutical industries and that is where science can come to solve problems.
Department of Life Science and Systems Engineering
Human Intelligence Systems
Inoue Laboratory
Nazmun Nahid
Q1：Why Kyutech?
In 2020, I visited Japan for the Sakura Science Program at Osaka Prefecture University. I then fell in love with the Japanese way of life and decided to further my education in Japan. I researched the programs of many Japanese institutions and spoke with several professors. I knew this was the lab I wanted to join for my graduate studies after my interview with Sozo Inoue Sensei. In addition, I spoke with my seniors, who were students at Kyutech at the time, and the environment felt appropriate for me because the study here is more research-oriented.
Q2：About Research
I enrolled at Kyutech as a master's student, and currently, I am in the 2nd year of my Ph.D. under Professor Sozo Inoue. My main research focus is Human Robot Collaboration and Interaction for Well-being. For my master's, I worked on the Yaskawa Robotics project, but in my Ph.D., I switched my focus to the nursing care facility. Our project is funded by JST. I am overjoyed to have had the opportunity to work on such fascinating projects.
Q3：Best point of Kyutech
My favorite aspect of Kyutech is its student-friendly policies. The staff here is quite cooperative. We also have a lot of financial and other kinds of help. It is difficult for us international students to support everything with our limited funds, but Kyutech is always willing to lend a helping hand in those situations. Kyutech also assists us in integrating into life here by alerting us about various activities and gatherings.
Q4：My recommended place from Kyutech
Kyutech has three campuses; however, I have yet to visit the Iizuka location. My favorite spot on the Wakamatsu campus is my lab table. My table has one of the nicest views, specifically the sunset and night view. In addition, I admire the side path near the parking lot. The sunset and autumn views are the greatest. In Tobata, I like the entrance gate since different Kyutech histories are inscribed around it.
Q5：What surprised me most in Japan
The time management in Japan surprised me the most. The services here are extremely well-organized. I have visited multiple countries in Europe and Asia, but I have never seen such punctuality and organization anywhere else.
Q6：What kind of life
The people here are quite friendly. Now I say I have two families, one at home and one here. Kitakyushu has a very serene and pleasant way of life.
Q7：My future dream
If possible, I would prefer to work in academics. I am not sure if I'll be able to acquire a job here because my Japanese language proficiency is lacking. Even if I am unable to obtain a position here, I would like to collaborate with Japanese researchers and Kyutech.