While it may not be immediately apparent in lectures, all the professors here are deeply passionate about chemistry and education. In addition to conducting experiments in my own laboratory, I have the opportunity to experience a wide range of activities, such as visiting other departments and universities, interacting with international students, and participating in seminars from other departments.
I am conducting research on proteins that construct life. Specifically, I work with enzymes, which are catalysts in living organisms. I aim to change the substrate specificity of enzymes using small molecules to promote reactions that differ from those found in nature.
I find the process of formulating hypotheses and testing them enjoyable. It’s rewarding when things go as expected, but it’s also exciting when unexpected results occur, as it prompts me to think about why those results occurred.”
I want to leverage my background in both chemistry and biotechnology to become a researcher involved in using proteins for substance production.
In high school science classes, I often found myself unsatisfied as the conclusions were explained according to the textbook without delving into the detailed processes leading to those conclusions. Wanting to study the detailed processes leading to the conclusions presented in textbooks, I chose to pursue my studies at Nagoya University’s Faculty of Science, where fundamental sciences are studied extensively.
Initially, I was interested in biology. However, in my first year of university, I learned that understanding biological phenomena also requires knowledge of physics and chemistry. Since I wanted to research the mechanisms of reactions occurring in living organisms, I chose the Department of Chemistry, where phenomena are discussed at the molecular scale.