Joining our lab as a graduate student

Compared to other research groups, our lab has the following characteristics:

1. Utilizes a variety of methods from the field to the lab

2. Its core research topic is human evolution and adaptation

3. Interprets and discusses the results across diverse research fields

4. Also emphasizes skill development and experience acquisition other than research

1. Utilizes a variety of methods from the field to the lab

There is a room for a variety of techniques to be used to maximize the information obtained from a limited number of samples that are not necessarily perfect, and to reconstruct an individual's behavior that cannot be observed. We can collect data and samples through research in the field, process the collected samples in the lab to obtain data through various analyses, and build mathematical models to properly interpret and discuss the results obtained. If you like fieldwork, laboratory work, and data analysis and can't narrow it down to just one, our lab may be the right choice for you. But, of course, that doesn't mean you "have to" use a variety of methods. It's great to know what you are good at and to learn a technique that is appropriate to your research interests and to become an expert in a particular field.

It's also great to have experts from completely different fields (e.g., geology, botany, physics, humanities, and so on) jumping in. It can be a struggle at first, but in biological anthropology, where the approach and methods are "anything goes", having another specialty that others do not have is a huge advantage. Important new areas of research, such as palaeoproteomics and population genetics, were created by people with experience in other fields who came into different fields.

However, there is a disadvantage to the generalist approach of picking up a variety of methods. After all, you may have a hard time finding a job or submitting a paper because you cannot match the knowledge and especially experience of a researcher who specializes in that method or approach. You will also need to seek supervision from people who know the field better than you do, and continue to learn from textbooks and articles to ensure that you are not becoming a "fish in a barrel". It may also take some effort and time to build up your strength to the point where you can complete your research on your own.

2. Its core research topic is human evolution and adaptation

The PI's research interest is in human evolution and adaptation, so the research subjects are naturally pulled in that direction. The PI is also interested in primate and the use of plants and animals (livestock, hunting and gathering) by humans. We would be happy to help you choose your topic for your Ph.D. program, but PI may not be able to provide you with as much expertise on topics that are less relevant to human evolution and adaptation. However, if the methods used are similar, we can provide adequate methodological supervision.

3. Interprets and discusses the results across diverse research fields

Because biological anthropology is an interdisciplinary field, it draws on findings from a variety of research fields when interpreting and discussing results. For example, the following are just some of the things that come to mind immediately:

• Knowledge of the bone anatomy for age and sex estimates

• Archaeological and historical context specific to the period and region

• Principles and characteristics of the analytical methods

• Knowledge about the evolution and ecology of the target species

• Medical and epidemiological evidence observed in modern humans

Of course, you don't necessarily "have to" refer to them. You can publish a paper that discusses only the findings of a particular field without any problem. However, discussing human life from multiple perspectives can prevent misinterpretation and provide further insights.

The advantage of these features is that you can learn about various fields of science while doing research. We can confidently recommend it to students who are interested both in the humanities and natural sciences, who like to read books in various fields, or who enjoy acquiring new knowledge. On the other hand, the downside is that it takes a lot of time and effort to learn about and follow up on the latest findings in a field that is not your area of expertise. It may take a lot of effort to put together a body of research, but such effort is a source of originality, and I think it is best if you can enjoy this process.

4. Also emphasizes skill development and experience acquisition other than research

If you can increase the number of things you can do in directions other than research, such experiences may lead to new research ideas, help you when you are unable to secure academic job, and enrich your own life. If you are interested in something specific, you might be able to devote some percentages of your work time to such self-improvement. You are welcome to share the skills and experience you have gained in this way with your fellow researchers. (I would like to continue such self-improvement, but I have not been able to find the time to do so at the moment.)

The current situation for academic job search anywhere in the world is challenging, and while the number of PhDs continues to grow, the number of faculty positions at universities and research institutes remains flat. There is an overwhelming inequality of information and opportunities for academic job market, and it is important to have a systematic knowledge of the recruitment process and academic job system if you would like to get a job at a university or research institution. Young researchers are educated as researchers, but not as job seekers. Furthermore, there is a huge information gap and mindset difference between graduate students/postdocs and faculty. We will provide this kind of information and support about academic job search for graduate students/postdocs. (Science is not supposed to be that way, but with the way the academic job system has become the status quo, I think it would be wise to understand the rules of the "game" and behave effectively to survive in academia.)

Institutional matters

If you would like to be independent as a researcher in a short period in your graduate program and achieve brilliant attainments that will reduce your future hardships, it is important to start earlier. Even if there is still some time before the graduate school entrance examination or if you are a high school or junior high school student, I suggest that you contact us as soon as possible if you are interested in joining our lab. Not only will you be able to consult with us in advance about how to effectively conduct your research in your PhD program, but you may also be able to know beneficial research and educational opportunities. It is also important to match people with each other, so I think it will help you and me to get a sense of each other's personalities and make important decisions.

The shortest way to join our laboratory is to pass the graduate school entrance examination of the Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, School of Advanced Science, the Graduate University for Advanced Studies. The graduate school entrance examination is held twice a year (August and February). In the Master's program, students are provisionally assigned to the lab in the first year and officially assigned to the lab in the second year. You can find detailed information about the entrance examination on the department's website.

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies has several programs to support graduate students financially and academically. For example, the RA system provides financial support and a multiple advisor system with one primary advisor and two secondary advisors. The ratio of faculty members to students is far greater than that of other graduate schools, and students can expect to receive excellent supervision in a variety of areas.

Joining our lab as a postdoctoral fellow

Please contact us about accepting postdoctoral researchers with fellowships such as JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships. We can to provide an environment in which researchers from a variety of fields can continue their research without being limited in terms of research themes and methods.

If we are able to obtain external funding (e.g., Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, etc.) and decide to recruit a postdoctoral researcher, we will post an open call on JREC-IN and other web sites. We will post an announcement on this website as well.

Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in collaborating with us.

On balancing research and life

PI has seen and heard a lot of discourse that researchers are destined to work hard, and some people say that you have to work at least n hours every day, even on weekends or holidays, to make it as a researcher (with n being an arbitrary number). This may be true in some aspects, but I don't want it to be so in many other aspects. The PI believes that we should be a good human being before being a good researcher. If you want to work hard, you can do it (I envy you that you are in the situation where you can do it), but there is a possibility that it is at the expense of someone else (e.g., a housewife/husband's career) or that you are not able to work hard against your own will if you cannot work hard anymore. I think it is important to be aware of the possibility that one's identity may be compromised (e.g., a sudden accident may leave you with an after-effect, or you may not be able to find a job no matter how hard you try).

However, the current Japanese academia is not a good environment to pursue the ideal work-life balance. There are structural problems, and it is difficult for individuals with no formal position or power to solve them from the ground up. However, I don't want to give up on my research and life, and I don't want others to give up on their research and life even under the current tough situation. By managing in the difficult situation and surviving in the academia without giving up on research and life, we will be able to fundamentally solve the structural problems. (Of course, it's important to try to change the status quo by communicating and speaking out, even though our position and power is weak.)

If you have an idea for balancing research and life, please do not hesitate to ask us for advice on what you would like to do, even if it looks impossible. Together we will explore flexible ways to live with one's partner, pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, elderly care, etc., and make the best use of the systems available. The PI has experienced working remotely for a year before the COVID-19 pandemic, taking a year's parental leave to raise a child with a partner living far away, and conducting a field work abroad with my child. PI may cause problems for the students and colleagues due to these circumstances, but these problems are mutual. On the other hand, it is also unhealthy to have a situation where people who have less obligations in life are overburdened to support those who have more ones (e.g., single works overtime to cover the work of a researcher with children). Regardless of the personal situation, I hope that people can do their research in a creative manner and live a healthy life. Let's continue to seek a flexible and innovative work-life balance while producing good research results.