Prof. Kenji Kamishima
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University
255 Shimo-okubo, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
Message to Prospective Doctoral Students:
Our laboratory at Saitama University conducts experimental research on functional oxide materials, particularly magnetic iron oxides known as ferrites. Our research aims to discover new materials composed primarily of abundant and readily available elements.
Our approach is based on extensive, systematic elemental-substitution experiments. Rather than investigating only a few theoretically promising compositions, we synthesize and evaluate a large number of samples. Each student is generally expected to prepare and characterize more than 100 samples per year. Doctoral research in our laboratory therefore requires patience, persistence, careful record keeping, and the ability to learn from unsuccessful experiments.
Research Background Required:
We consider doctoral applicants whose academic and research backgrounds are closely related to our work. A suitable applicant should have substantial hands-on experience in experimental materials research, preferably including: (1) independent preparation of inorganic or solid-state materials; (2) repeated synthesis under systematically varied conditions; (3) structural characterization, particularly powder X-ray diffraction; (4) magnetic or other physical-property measurements; (5) interpretation of structure–property relationships; (6) identification and analysis of unsuccessful or anomalous results; (7) planning of subsequent experiments based on previous results; and (8) evaluation of reproducibility.
Experience limited mainly to carrying out instructed procedures, performing routine measurements, or preparing samples for analysis by other researchers is not sufficient for doctoral research in our laboratory.
Applicants must be able to explain clearly what they personally did in their previous research, including unsuccessful and unpublished experiments. Authorship of papers alone does not demonstrate the level of independent research experience required.
Initial Inquiry:
Before contacting us, applicants must: (1) read our research articles; (2) review the official doctoral admission procedures of Saitama University; (3) confirm that their previous research experience is relevant to our experimental approach; (4) prepare a concise account of their individual contributions to each research project and publication listed in their curriculum vitae; and (5) prepare a concise progress report on their master's research.
The progress report must include the approximate number of synthesis batches personally completed, including unsuccessful and unused batches; a list of experimental procedures performed independently; and one specific example of a failed experiment, including how the applicant investigated its cause and modified the subsequent experiment.
Generic inquiry emails, requests unrelated to our research, and inquiries from applicants who have not reviewed the official application procedures will not receive priority.
Master's Program:
This information is intended primarily for prospective doctoral students. The master's program is conducted almost entirely in Japanese and has a separate admission process. Applicants to the master's program must have sufficient Japanese-language ability to attend classes, complete administrative procedures, and conduct daily research activities.
Financial Support and MEXT Scholarship:
Admission to the doctoral program and nomination for a scholarship are separate decisions.
Opportunities for a MEXT Scholarship through university recommendation are extremely limited and are available only through designated programs and research fields. Our laboratory does not routinely support applicants for nomination for this scholarship.
Such support may be considered only for an exceptional applicant who has a research background closely aligned with our laboratory; demonstrates substantial independent experimental experience; provides clear evidence of the ability to identify problems, formulate hypotheses, modify experimental conditions, and verify reproducibility; has an excellent academic record; and satisfies all requirements of the relevant university and MEXT program.
Meeting these conditions does not guarantee support for nomination. Support from a prospective supervisor also does not guarantee nomination by the university, selection for a scholarship, admission to the doctoral program, or financial assistance.
Applicants should not contact the laboratory on the assumption that a MEXT nomination or other funding will be available. They should first review the current official scholarship and admission information and consider alternative sources of funding. Japanese government financial support through this route is not available to master's applicants, who must secure their own funding.
We welcome inquiries from highly qualified doctoral candidates who understand our research approach and can demonstrate the independence, experimental experience, and persistence required for systematic materials exploration.