Message from the Principal Investigator
Metallic materials used in the treatment of bone, joint, vascular, and dental conditions are required to function safely and reliably over long periods in the unique environment of the human body. To achieve this, it is essential to build on the fundamentals of materials engineering while designing and evaluating materials with medical applications in mind. Guided by this perspective, our laboratory is engaged in the development of next-generation biomedical metallic materials and medical devices that incorporate them.
I welcome students from any undergraduate background. With a solid foundation in science or engineering, students can acquire the fundamentals of materials engineering and knowledge of biomedical metallic materials through research. More important, in my view, is the willingness to take a real interest in experimental and simulation results, to formulate one’s own questions, and to continue thinking deeply about them.
In the master’s program, students systematically learn the fundamentals of materials engineering, acquire experimental and simulation techniques, and work on their individual research topics. In our laboratory, I place great importance on careful and ongoing discussion tailored to each student’s level of understanding, so that every student can make steady and meaningful progress in their research. The critical thinking and problem-solving skills developed through this process provide an essential foundation for identifying challenges, reasoning through them, and working toward solutions, whether students go on to careers in industry or in research institutions. Those who wish to deepen their research further or pursue a research career are strongly encouraged to consider continuing to the doctoral program.
In the doctoral program, students build on the knowledge and experience gained during the master’s program and aim to grow into independent researchers who can define their own research questions and propose new concepts and materials design principles. By engaging proactively in research without being afraid of failure, and by learning through repeated trial and error, students develop both the breadth and depth expected of a mature researcher.
In our laboratory, I encourage active discussion regardless of academic year or position. Organizing their own ideas and communicating them clearly to others helps students structure their thinking logically, which in turn deepens their understanding of the research itself. I also encourage students to take an active part in academic conferences and research meetings from the master’s level onward. Presenting research outside the laboratory and encountering a diversity of perspectives often leads to insights that cannot be gained through discussion within the laboratory alone. In this way, students not only deepen their research but also broaden their perspectives.
I warmly welcome students who are interested in cutting-edge research on metallic materials and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of medicine, dentistry, and engineering, and who wish to grow through research. I look forward to working with students who are ready to think deeply, engage in discussion, and conduct research with us.
Masaaki Nakai