Sahil Patel
Home Institution: Rice University
Status: Sophomore, Expected Graduation Date: May 2020
Field of Study: Material Science and Nanoengineering with a Minor in Biochemistry
Host Lab in Japan: Kyoto University – Institute of Advanced Energy, Matsuda Laboratory
Host Professor:  Prof. Kazunari Matsuda and Prof. Yuhei Miyauchi
Research Project Abstract & Poster: Understanding Carrier Density and Electric Field Effects on Valley Dynamics in 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (PDF)

Watch a Video of Sahil’s Summer 2018 Nakatani RIES Experience in Japan 

Why Nakatani RIES?

Coming into college I didn’t know what to expect. I spent my entire freshman year figuring out what I wanted to do and who I wanted to become. Midway through my first semester, I was introduced to research and I was hooked. As I proceeded to work on my own research, read publications, and attend seminars, it became apparent just how massive and global research truly is. This realization really pushed me to delve further into opportunities that would allow me to experience research on a broader scale, and ultimately come across the Nakatani RIES Fellowship.

I saw Nakatani RIES as a foundation to mature my research, and better understand what I am passionate about. I believe the program provides students, such as myself, a new lens for approaching the complex challenges society faces today. In addition to these aspects, I chose the program as it would allow me to see more of the human condition, thereby placing these complex challenges within the context of a more global community. I am really excited and humbled to have been selected for this program, and am looking forward to the adventure that awaits.

Goals for the Summer

• I want to be able to gain new technical skills related to the handling of 2D materials
• Meet and talk to as many people as possible
• Gain a working understanding of the Japanese language and culture
• Come closer to understanding how my research can impact society

Meaning of the Nakatani RIES Program
My Nakatani RIES journey began the fall of my freshman year when I was first introduced to the program at the yearly research opportunities fair at Rice University. It had everything that I had always wanted and seems too good to be true. I applied that very year, and to my dismay I was unable to even make it to the first round of interviews. I have to say I was extremely distraught; this was my dream and I had put my heart and soul both into my application and course work so that I would have a solid chance of making it. Needless to say, I used this disappointment to fuel my application for next year, and when I was accepted I had no words to describe how happy I was.

The rest of the year flew by, and before I knew it I was on a flight to Tokyo. It was a rainy day in Tokyo, but even that didn’t ‘rain’ on my parade. My time in Tokyo, flew by and it was full of new friends, new languages, and new experiences. That really sums up my summer in Japan.

In many ways, it still feels like a dream now that I am back in the United States, but what I can say for certain are that the connections, experiences, and skills that I have gained will stay with me for the rest of my life. At the beginning of this program I really just saw the Nakatani Program as a research program that just so happened to be in Japan. I now see it as so much more: something that has fundamentally helped me grow as an individual.

Research Internship Overview
This summer my project focused on getting a better understanding of valley dynamics in 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides. The goal of my project was to see valley response to electric field and carrier density effects within this class of materials. This was an extremely hard project for me as it required a lot of skill, patience, and most importantly time which is something that I was very limited on. This is a field that I am somewhat familiar in currently as my previous research experience was in spintronics, but that focused more on fundamental material science whereas my research in Japan focused on a more applied physics approach. I think that this a really cool field, but I think that my interests my lie in something that is more practical and less theoretical as of now. With that being said my international research experience was phenomenal and I hope to have more experiences like this in the future. From my time in the lab this summer I think that I need more experience to see whether or not a PhD is really something that is for me, as I realized that I love to talk to people about science and engineering, but I am much more focused on the application than the actual understanding of the science behind it. Once again, I am not sure if this is just how I think or the fact that this particular field of research may not be the thing that excites me the most.

I have to say that this was a really great experience for me. Without the support and guidance of my peers in the lab I would have never been able to accomplish anything. It really made me realize that in the future the group dynamic is just as important as the research goals of the group. For me I really want a tightly knit group that has a sort of family feel to it as it really made me feel at home during my time in japan.

Daily Life in Japan
Usually this meant waking up at around 9:00am to brush my teeth and get changed for lab. At around 9:30 I would head down and bike over to the lab. This was really annoying at times since my bike was so small and it was usually crazy hot in the morning (though I preferred this over rain). At lab I would usually settle down for a few minutes (let the sweat dry…) and then around 10:30 I would begin the days task. This meant either beginning to create samples for exfoliation or doing AFM from the stacking the night before. At times on days that I was doing low temperature measurements I would have to annoy Zhang-san so that I could get the liquid helium system set up. At 12 the whole lab group would head to the mess hall for food (I am going to really miss the Saba Miso Ni). After lunch I would continue doing the task I had started in the morning and I would continue doing this until 7:00pm when I would head to dinner with a few lab mates. After dinner I would keep working until either my task was done, or my brain was fried Ideally this meant around 11:00pm I would head home in the worst case it was around 2:00am. This was not because there was any pressure on me however, my hours were completely up to me and it was my own stubbornness that kept me going on so late.

Experiences with Japanese Culture
What I really like about this program is that they preface all the cultural differences between Japan and the United States before they send you into the thick of things. This way you are cognizant of these differences and can react and experience them properly. Some of my most meaningful experiences were the ones that caught me the most off guard. For instance, on the way to the top of Mt. Fuji I met three Japanese guys names Koki, Jiro, and Kohei. They were with me for the rest of the time and they were so much fun to talk to and experience Mt. Fuji with. Unlike the typical idea that Japanese people are usually reserved they were extremely fun and really made me understand that at the end of the day culture aside everyone is really just a human doing their best to get through each day. Visiting all the shrines and temples in Kyoto was also a magical experience that I will hold on to for the rest of my life.

• My favorite experience in Japan was… I have to say though that my favorite experience in japan has to be a tie between climbing to the top of mount Fuji and doing Karaoke with the Japanese fellows in Kyoto during the mid-program meeting. Once again this just ties back into the central theme of meeting new people and trying new things. If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever climb Mt.Fuji (Fuji-san) I would just laugh. Now I can proudly say that I climbed Fuji-san not only to the top, but also at night! (to be honest it was a superposition between one of the worst and best experiences of my life).
• Before I left for Japan I wish I had… I do wish what while I was in Japan I had spent more time adventuring and visiting more places. I really think that it is smart to get a JR full pass, as that is a really great motivator to get out on the weekend and explore all of Japan! I really wish I had spent more time in places like Hiroshima and even making a trip to Lake Biwa.
• While I was in Japan I wish I had… I wish I had packed some thinner long sleeves shirts as it was extremely sunny and hot in Kyoto while I was there. I also wish I had done more to reach out to the clubs at Kyoto University as once research began it was harder and harder to do things outside of lab. Also, I really wish I had spent more time on learning Katakana, while I had gotten pretty good at it in Tokyo I completely forgot how to read later on (lol).

Excerpts from Sahil’s Weekly Reports

• Week 01: Arrival in Japan
• Week 02: Language Learning & Trip to Mt. Fuji Lakes
• Week 03: Noticing Similarities, Noticing Differences
• Week 04: First Week at Research Lab
• Week 05: Cultural Analysis – Life in Japan
• Week 06: Cultural Analysis – In the Lab
• Week 07-08: Overview of Mid-Program Meeting & Research Host Lab Visit
• Week 09: Research in Japan vs. Research in the U.S.
• Week 10: Reflections on Japanese Language Learning
• Week 11: Interview with a Japanese Researcher
• Week 12-13: Final Week at Research Lab & Re-Entry Program
• Final Research Overview and Poster
• Follow-on Project
• Tips for Future Participants

Week 01: Arrival in Japan

When I had first found out that I had been accepted to this program I was overcome by a sense of accomplishment, excitement, and wonder. I dreamt of beautiful shrines, bright lights, and amazing food but as the date of my departure got closer and closer excitement turned into a sense of anxiety. Suddenly I found myself not romanticizing about Japan but about how simple tasks such as doing laundry, getting a haircut, or even commuting would become a challenge. To top it all off I had never before taken a single class in Japanese, and any language experience I did have were broken words and phrases I may have heard watching anime. As I arrived in Houston, these doubts were still jumbling around in my head along with new ones concerning my research project that made me question whether or not I was even qualified for the program. Top this off with the fact that I was meeting twelve people whom I had never interacted for more than a few minutes at a time before and you get one extremely nervous mess.

Surprisingly, the thing that settled my nerves the most wasn’t the presentations on how to create a research poster, or how successful previous students were with the program (though this was helpful). It was actually the icebreakers that we had on the first day where everyone struggled to memorize everyone’s name, host lab, university, and things they are most looking forward to doing in Japan that made me realize that everyone was in the same boat as me and that this was more than just a group of my peers, but as Sarah-san put it my “support network”.

With my anxiety and concerns behind me (…well mostly) I tried to become like a sponge absorbing the enormous amount of material Sarah-san, Aki-san, Ozaki-sensei, and Kono-sensei began to provide me for the pre-departure orientation. After the initial ice breakers, we got down to business with lab safety training. It wasn’t the most exciting of times, but definitely something that is necessary to do well in the lab. This was followed by something that I was really looking forward to which was Ozaki-sensei’s talk on Japanese language and culture. This was a great way to understand some of the differences between Japanese and American society discussing some things like polite speech, how the Japanese people are very indirect, omiyage (gift giving) culture, as well as the hierarchy that exists within Japanese society. After some more lab training and Sarah-san’s very important talk on health and safety, I stayed back to guard the room full of everyone’s stuff (probably because people saw that I had ginormous biceps… just kidding) while everyone left to get their shiny new Rice IDs. During this time, I got to talk to some of the Alumni mentors from the panel a little early. My main take away from the alumni was that despite all the frustrations, anxiety, and discomfort that you may feel during the program it is still considered by many of the previous participants to be one of the greatest experiences of their undergraduate careers that really helped shaped their aspirations going forward.

After a reception full of good food and great company day two of orientation had Sarah-san provide us with another full round of her Dos and Don’t’s while in Japan as well as Kono-sensei’s talk on conducting yourself as an international researcher while abroad. With some concluding remarks about being on time and prepared to wake up super early the next morning (like 7:25ish not super early but still its early) we left for some free time in Houston. As we were waiting for the shuttle to take us back to the hotel, I actually ran into Kristjan Stone a friend of Kono-sensei’s and Sarah-san’s who had been a part of the NanoJapan program back in the day and who was also my tour guide and Rice alumni at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. As we talked he told me about his time in Hokkaido and how was it was going to be an amazing experience from every perspective. As I returned to the hotel I had a hard time falling asleep and before I knew it, it was showtime.

On the flight I tried to sleep for the first half and stay awake for the second half, but of course things don’t always work the way you plan them, so I just stayed awake the whole time watching movies (maze runner series is surprisingly good) and memorizing Kanji and Hiragana.

Arriving in Japan was such an amazing experience. All the fatigue and stress of being on a plane for so long vanished when we finally passed through customs at Narita airport. Of course, the first thing to do when you are in a new country when you are trying to learn the language is to read every single sign that you come across including the garbage can (it said bin in katakana). It was a quite a rainy day and as we passed through Chiba I remember thinking to myself just how clean, lush, and green everything around me was, which is not something that I would expect from such a densely populated country like Japan. When we arrived at the hotel it was still raining quite a bit and while I was super excited, the rain was freezing and made it hard to take in all the surrounding including Tokyo Tower which is only a block away. The night of our arrival we went to a ramen restaurant near the station and struggled through figuring out how to order as well as how to pay. As we followed Sarah-san back to the hotel after dinner I don’t think it had still hit me that I was now in Tokyo, and that this country would be my home for the next three months essentially.

This week has been full of broken Japanese, subway adventures, and kombini food, but I think the biggest theme has been the enthusiasm to learn and enjoy a new culture and country. The biggest challenge towards living in Tokyo is cultural/language barrier. I am still not sure when I should be bowing, how I should be ordering food, or if I am being disrespectful when talking to other people. Other than that, this trip has been a dream come true. While it is challenging, I feel as though I have done more in this past week than I have done in my entire semester at Rice.

Attending language classes has definitely helped me adjust to living in Tokyo. Classes are long and can be mentally draining at times, but I feel like a definitely have a better grasp of the language right now than I did when I began the program. My senseis at the language school are very kind and understand the limited time they have to teach me enough Japanese to make me a more productive person while I am in Japan. Since I am still a little bit jetlagged, after my morning run and gym session ( if you want to call it that) , I like to review the notes from the previous class and then review hiragana and katakana once more.  I have found that this strategy has worked great along with simply trying to incorporate more Japanese into my daily life whether it be at the convenience store, subway, or with another Japanese student.

Also, no matter how many times I think about it I can’t get over how amazing the public transport system is in Japan. Each station is massive with many floors and blocks that it spans, and the thing is that most of this is underground. It is almost as though there is an entire underground world beneath my feet, and I am reminded of that each time we take the subway to explore or attend program events.

There have been talks ranging from sumo to building the best supercomputer in the world, but I think that my time at Todai visiting the Tabata lab was the most rewarding experience that I have had. While Japan is definitely an exciting place that is full of adventure it is at time hard to feel as if people want you here or if you even belong here. Having lunch with the Japanese students as well as our networking session with the Tabata lab was eye-opening as it made me feel as if people were actually happy and enthusiastic to meet me. In addition, I got the see the more human and personal side of the students in a Japanese Lab. It’s really funny that one thing that allowed me to relate to the students was a mobile game that is quite popular in japan called Fate/Grand Order.

During my time at Todai, I got to see the beautiful campus, cutting edge research, but most importantly I got a better understanding of how a Japanese lab will function. This really put me at ease about my own coming lab visit and makes me excited to wonder how the Matsuda Lab will function.

Out visit to the Ikebukuro Life Safety Learning Center is also worth mentioning. Japan itself lies very close to a subduction zone that holds some of the oldest oceanic crust in the world close to 200 million years old. However, this makes Japan a very seismically active location, and of course this translates into two major things earthquakes and onsens (hot springs). Attending the earthquake center, I saw how seriously Japanese students take earthquake prevention, as well as the devastating impacts earthquakes can have. The highlight of this program was when we actually got to experience the 2011 Japan earthquake that devastated the island through the center’s earthquake simulator. Bracing under the simulator table I felt completely useless as the shakes were so violent it was hard to get any sense of my surroundings.  The earthquake center was an eye-opening experience that I will take hold with me for a long time.

On my free day, one of my friends from back home actually came to visit me and we walked eighteen miles all across Tokyo from Ginza, the imperial palace, Akihabara, Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Todai, and the Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa. We even went to a vegan ramen place in Ueno, as he is a vegetarian. I was so happy that I was able to share some of my experience with him and glad that he enjoyed himself while he was in Japan.

This week as a whole has been an amazing life changing experience. I have learned a lot about Japan from learning how to taiko drum to traveling to Takasaki via shinkansen to see ancient archeological sites. Even though I have learned so much about Japan I think what I have begun to find out more about myself is even more significant. Learning how to travel, live, and manage my time all on my own are all important steps towards me figuring out what it is I want to do and how I can accomplish those goals. I am extremely grateful to have been selected for this program and I can’t wait for the amazing stories and adventures still to come.

Question of the Week
At the end of this week the main question that I have about Japan is How did Japan develop the vast public transportation system it has today and what prompted its creation? As you can probably already tell from the overview of my week public transportation in Tokyo is a major part of life for the vast majority of inhabitants. I am really curious to see how Japan was able to integrate the subway and train systems so well into such a well-rehearsed and efficient machine. I still find it amazing how I can walk to the nearest station and all of a sudden, I can find myself at Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, or Harajuku. I really want to take a closer look into the planning and policy and motivation behind it in the coming weeks that I am in Japan.

• Check out some of the articles under our Transportation in Japan section on the Life in Japan resources page.

Research Project Overview
The field that I will be working on involves the optical properties of nano materials. I am not certain at this point in time what my exact project is as of yet, but I am excited to learn more about this field as I have very little background in optics. At Rice University, as a material science student, I am indeed familiar with 2D materials, the most famous of which is graphene. 2D materials are interesting because at the nanoscale new properties can be exploited to possibly create amazing new technologies and innovations. In addition, when I looked back on the project that my alumni mentor, Alex Hwang (a true legend), performed it seems that a lot of it involved transition metal dichalcogens like MoS₂. I am actually familiar with this class of materials as my previous research initially focused on fabricating diluted magnetic semiconductors through CVD by doping the MoS₂ lattice with magnetic elements. At the monolayer limit, MoS₂ is a direct band gap semiconductor which means that is has more properties that can be exploited for things like spintronics (reading electron spin). While my focus was not on the optical characterization of the properties of this device I have a bit of experience with photoluminescence tests and raman characterization which I believe could come in useful during my time at the Matsuda Lab.

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Week 02: Language Learning and Trip to Mt. Fuji Lakes

I have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with Japanese Language class. In many ways I know that I need it to be successful in Japan, but it can become a struggle when we have class for three and a half hours every weekday. I really do think it is helpful, but it leaves me mentally drained for the rest of the day for sure. I think that this is really the only frustrating part of language class: the fact that it is so long and that at a certain point I feel as though I have stopped learning and instead I’m just trying to stay awake.

The most exciting thing about attending language class has been asking the clerk at the supermarket whether something was pork or chicken as I cannot eat pork or beef due to religious restrictions. Even though it was a simple interaction, the fact that I did it all on my own and the fact that it went so smoothly was a huge confidence boost to me. Additionally, this week we had the opportunity to speak with a native speaker of Japanese at the AJALT office. Though daunting, it was a great way to test my conversational abilities and identify where my strengths and weaknesses lie. My partner, Max-san, was really cool and we talked about how in Arabic the number of corners in the number reflects the actual number itself. When we got ice cream together he told me that he was really surprised with my level of Japanese and encouraged me to continue studying hard. His words meant a lot to me and I can’t wait to keep learning.

Going forward I want to try and learn more modern words and phrases so that I can have an easier time making friends when I am at my research internship. Meeting the Japanese fellows as well as interacting with my friends at Waseda University, I realized that I was being too formal with them and that made them feel a bit uncomfortable. With this in mind, I want to learn more common phrases and expressions that I can help me more closely relate to people my age and develop stronger relationships going forward. Ben actually gave me his Genki book (a popular introduction to Japanese book) that I think will be very helpful for my self-study going forward during my time alone in Kyoto.

Mt.Fuji Trip

I have no doubt in my mind that this recent trip to Mt. Fuji Five Lakes area was the coolest thing I have done since getting to Japan. Seeing the snowcapped peak of Fuji-san on the bus ride there I was overcome with a sense of wonder and excitement (especially since one of the things I really want to do is climb Mt.Fuji on my last weekend in Japan). Even though on the day that we visited it was cloudy and you couldn’t really see much from the top of the mountain, just being there with the US Fellows and Japanese Fellows was an amazing experience.

That brings me to what I think was actually the best part of the trip, which was actually meeting with our counterparts: the 2018 Japanese Fellows. While at the beginning it was a bit awkward as we were trying to figure out each other’s personalities and interests at the end of the day we came out as good friends. The funny thing is that even though we spent the entire day together on Saturday the thing that bonded us the most was playing two truths and a false in the hotel onsen. It was a great way to get to know the Japanese fellows not only as researchers but also as college students who had similar interests in traveling, relationships, and just having fun in general.

I could definitely see a lot of the Japanese cultural values that we had talked about in the pre-departure orientation and the weeks coming up to this trip. When talking to any person of higher authority they showed tremendous respect, and at times they also showed that respect towards me which made me feel a bit uncomfortable sometimes. However, as we got to know each other more and more in a way they became more “American” in the sense that they opened up and began to worry less about being polite and just having fun, Yuki-san and Gen-san really stood out in this regard as they told me about relationships in Japan and even challenged me to a strawberry eating contest (he won 48-47 unfortunately) on Sunday.

Spending time bathing, seeing Mt. Fuji, visiting the aquarium, and having a belly full of strawberries was the perfect end to this week. I was a little sad to see at the Japanese students leave, but I was able to get a lot of their line IDs and a few added me on Facebook as well. I’m also a little lucky to go to Rice University as in addition to the mid-program meeting I will see them when I go back home. This experience has just made me more excited for the future and I can’t wait for the many more stories I will have to tell.

Week 02 Overview 
Other than the trip to Mt. Fuji I had a great time this week going to JAMSTEC, the Tokyo-Edo Museum, Sumo tournament, and the listening to Professor Shimuzu-Guthrie’s talk on how Baseball can be used as a medium to see the interaction the United States and Japan.

Visiting JAMSTEC was an insightful way to see how Japan dealt with the harsh reality of living near a subduction zone. Seeing the ways JAMSTEC utilizes advanced technology to not only monitor the earthquake, but also learn more about deep sea life and ecosystems really stands as a testament to Japan’s commitment to the environment and earthquake safety. The coolest part of the trip (quite literally) was seeing the cooling system for the super computer. It was actually so loud that we needed headphones to listen to the sensei talk to us about the equipment there. Even though we were unable to see the actual computer room, the time at JAMSTEC was extremely informative and engaging.

The Tokyo-Edo Museum and accompanying Sumo tournament were other highlights of my week. It was really cool to see the development of modern Tokyo from the Edo period and draw parallels between them. Seeing the historical connections really helped me better understand why some of the things are the way that they are in Japan. From the quiet corridors of the museum to the rumbling stand of the Sumo complex I was thoroughly engaged all day. It is worth mentioning that I really had no idea what was going on during the sumo match and in the and I just began to yell the name of the sumo wrestler that that little kids next to me were screaming, it really was my finest moment.

On the Friday before the Mt. Fuji trip Professor Shimuzu-Guthrie of Rice University talked about how the spread of baseball between the United States and Japan started during the Meiji Reformation when civil war veterans traveled to Japan for work. It was a fitting way to get ready for meeting the Japanese Fellows as it should me the strong connections between our two countries that persists to this day.

Question of the Week
The question that I have for this week is what is the typical dinner for Japanese students? While I have been in japan there have been many instances where I have gone out to either a convenience store, super market, or restaurant but haven’t yet had the chance to cook my own food. I want to know what Japanese students usually do for dinner either at home or in the dorms.

Introduction to Science Seminar
This week also began a science seminar series and we had talks from Professor Kono of Rice University, and Otsuji-sensei and Saito-sensei from Tohoku University. These were really informative talks that discussed basic quantum mechanics, graphene, and carbon nanotubes.

Kono-sensei’s nice talk was a really helpful brush-up on quantum mechanics and really helped me better understand dimensionality, semiconductors, and applications of solid state devices. Otsuji-sensei’s talk on the development of graphene and its wonderful properties was intriguing as it really showed me the potential for 2D materials going forward and all the discoveries that may still be waiting to be discovered. Finally, Saito-sensei’s talk really helped put nano into perspective as well as the interesting properties that exist at the nano scale.

What I want to learn more about is the field of valleytronics itself. I’m am still not exactly sure that is being manipulated and what is being read in valleytronic systems. For my research project I am not sure what the exact material I am working with, but I will be working with TMDC with 2D dimensionality. I will be “evaluating the effect of strong electric field on TMDC optical property.” I believe that this entails photoluminescence, but I am not entirely sure as of right now. As for possible applications I believe that this material can be used in the development of valleytronic devices or perhaps even solar cells, but I do not have enough information on the actual project right now to know its precise applications.

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Week 03: Noticing Similarities, Noticing Differences

As I have probably talked about in previous reports transportation has been a huge fascination of mine since I have arrived in Japan. I think that it is amazing how so many people use the subways, buses, and trains every day without any hiccups or delays for the most part. I think a large part of the reason that things run so smoothly in Japan is due to the implicit rules that are followed during transit. For the most part I will focus on the subway as that is my main means of getting around Tokyo.

When you look down at the floors on many of the subway stations in Tokyo you will usually see markings that signal where to line up in an orderly fashion. While not everyone follows this rule, for the most part people are orderly and like to stand in a line outside the gate. Once entering the subway car people usually fill in any open seats followed by people who will stand in an orderly line in front of the people sitting down.  As more and more people come in they will move to the back of the car until all the room has been used up. There is also the rule of letting people off before anyone else can get on, so when the doors open there is no worry of being pushed back by people who are trying to come in.

As a person who is sitting gets up, another person will fill in that space so that once again no space goes to waste. Usually it is first come first served when it comes to seats with the exception of priority seating and elderly people and young children. These rules usually apply for most of the day, but sometimes things can get a bit different late (past 11pm late coming back from Shibuya) at night or when there are not many people at all. While on the subway it is usually very silent. People try their best not to talk, pick up their mobile phones, or even make eye contact (though that seems to be a common thing in Japan). Also eating and drinking is a big no, as people in Japan like to keep things as clean as possible. People usually read manga, listen to music, or just take a nap.

I am probably not the best person to compare public transportation, as coming from Florida the only form of transportation I use is a car. In Houston I have used the metro, but only in limited use for short distances. I think, all in all, public transportation is just a bigger deal here in Japan, and as such people are more orderly and there are more governing rules. I also think in many ways practicality and culture mix together when it comes to the way people behave in public subways. People here respect harmony, and at times I think that may be due to the immense population density of living in Tokyo as well as the limitations in natural resources. But in a way practicality and survival can at times dictate cultural attributes and I think that this blend of practicality and culture is pretty evident in the subway system. While utilizing all the space available and keeping to oneself are quite common through all of Japanese society I think in many ways this is a culture that may have emerged out of practicality, at least these are just some of my thoughts from my observations.

Orientation Program in Tokyo: Week Three Overview 
This week was a continuation of last week’s busy schedule full of morning language classes and afternoon science seminars. In addition, this week we were able to get most of Monday, Wednesday, and all of Saturday off to explore the city.

On Monday and Wednesday, after language class I really took these two days to relax and catch up on some much-needed sleep (although I didn’t really intend for it to turn into that kind of day…). Though I’m really happy to have found a gym that I can use whenever I have free time. It is called the Minato-ku Sports Center and by paying for a day I can use the gym and all of its other facilities for the whole day. I spent about three hours just enjoying my time and getting back into the groove of lifting weights. One thing that I have to point out is how different gym culture is in Japan in comparison with the United States. In the United States, gyms are generally quite large and taking a piece of equipment is first come first serve, and usually as long as it is not a ridiculous amount of time you can use it for as long as you would like. In Japan, I was surprised that I had to reserve the machine for a twenty-minute time period by grabbing a magnet from the wall and then waiting for the person before me to finish. If by chance you don’t have the magnet then expect at least a forty-minute wait before you can get your set in. Also, on the more common machines after each set you are expected to get off, wipe of the machine, and get back in line so you can do your other sets.

I think a lot of this is just again a case meeting immense demand with limited resources. While it is a bit of a learning curve at the end of the day I was just really happy to be able to do something that was such a big part of my life back in the United States. So even if I wasn’t able to go out and explore more of Tokyo I think Monday and Wednesday provided a great way to focus on my well-being and ensure that I am staying both mentally and physically fit (as well as catching up on some language study).

Speaking of language classes, we had our last day of class this Friday where we had a farewell party with our senseis and proceeded to hand out our omiyage (gifts). We also had our final speeches and boy was it an experience. Sam and Lincoln had by far the best speeches, with Lincoln explaining how to make/eat NeruNeruNeruNe (Japanese Candy that I think is kinda gross) and followed by Sam who serenaded the class with his amazing vocal abilities. While it was kinda sad it was amazing to see how much people had grown throughout these three weeks and made me feel very proud to have gone from having very little knowledge of Japanese culture to having almost an entire semester’s worth of knowledge all within three weeks (san-shu as sensei says). Honestly, just being able to do small tasks like ask for directions, apologize to people on the subway (I tend to do that a lot), and being able to read katakana characters have been major victories for me. It really feels as though I am putting together the pieces of a puzzle as I am able to decipher more and more Japanese each and every day. So, while this may be the end of formal Japanese classes, there are still many more learning opportunities that lie ahead for me. I will primarily just be working out of the Genki Textbook and trying to pick up new words and phrases that I will need in the lab.

In addition to my language learning experience, I have been introduced to more and more Japanese culture this week. My favorite talk of this week has been Ito-sensei’s talk on the Kimono and the Spirit of Japan. Itoh-sensei talked about how he wanted to unite people under the Japanese culture and, in order to do so, traveled to many countries in just a kimono to learn other cultures as well as introduce the Japanese culture to the native people. One of the key things that stuck with me was his plan to create hundreds of kimonos that can be used at the Olympics that will have designs that are indicative of each participating country. I thought it was amazing that a person was able to be so passionate and dedicated to an idea that they would pursue it to such an extent.

It was also an interesting talk because I was able to ask Itoh-sensei about his trip to India and I found that in many ways my own religion, Hinduism, is tied to Shintoism and Buddhism which are the two most prominent religions in Japan. After the lecture, I felt as though I had found a deeper connection to Japan and felt more at home in this new country.

I think it is also important to point out that this is my last week in Tokyo, and I will be travelling to Kyoto to begin research next week. On Friday after Itoh-sensei’s talk, Ozaki-sensei came in again to give us some last-minute tips on omiyage and being courteous to the rest of the lab group during my stay in Kyoto. It was really helpful and came at the perfect time

The next Saturday, I went out with Ken to visit Akhihabara to get some electronics, the Imperial Palace, and Shinjuku Gyoen (Gardens) (I also got a great morning lift in). It was a great way to wrap up my stay in Tokyo, and I am really excited to begin the next leg of my adventure in Kyoto.

Introduction to Science Seminar
This week we had lectures by professor Stanton, Ishioka-sensei, and Futaba-sensei. Professor Stanton’s talk was very informative and overlapped a bit with Ishioka-sensei when they both spoke on using ultra-fast femto-second spectroscopy. It was really insightful to learn about incoherent phonons and coherent phonons that can act as a seismometer of sorts to let you see under the surface of the material without damaging it. It was also helpful to learn about photons and light in terms of semiconductor devices as that is what I will be working on primarily in the lab.

Futaba-sensei’s talk on the development of carbon nanotubes and serendipity was really cool. We have talked a lot about carbon nanotubes before but what stuck about Futaba-sensei talk is the life of an American researcher in Japan. He explained how in many cases there are times when you will feel a little lost but it is best to just hang in there and keep doing your best. More than the actual science at times is the anxiety of working with a whole new group. Futaba-sensei’s talk really put things into perspective for me and put me a little more at ease for the rest of my time here.

Question of the Week 
The question I have for this week is: How do people with disabilities get around Japan? Keeping with my transportation theme I guess, I have seen many times when people with physical disabilities struggle to get around this modern metropolis. As I saw it more and more I realized just how hard it must be to walk so much every day, especially during the morning and evening commuting hours. In addition, on the way to the gym I pass a building that I believe helps people with all sorts of disabilities. I want to know more about how disabilities are viewed in Japan, and how people deal with them.

• For more on this, you might want to read some of the stories posted by Mobility International at their MIUSA: Japan page.  This is a website that promotes travel and study abroad for people of all abilities.
• See also the section for Students with Disability-based Needs on our Pre-Departure Resources page.

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Week 04: First Week at Research Lab

This was the week that we were all preparing for in Tokyo: it was time to go out on our own and enter our Japanese host labs. But before we could begin living on our own we had to get to our host cities first. So, at around 11:00 am seven of us set out of the hotel and headed to Tokyo station for our Shinkansen. Four of us would be going to Kyoto including myself, two would be going to Osaka, and one would be getting off first in Nagoya. My last few hours in Tokyo were an absolute pleasure to experience and were filled with laughter and conversations of what we thought our time in our research lab would entail.

I spent most of my time on the Shinkansen taking a nap and day dreaming while staring out the window watching the Japanese countryside passing by. Before I knew it, we were already at Kyoto station and Gavin, Janmesh, Kenneth, and I were rushing to get off the Shinkansen without leaving anything behind. I have to say Kyoto Station was one of the most confusing stations I had ever been to. There were so many people, entrances, and signs that I would’ve definitely gotten lost had it not been for the help of my lab mentor, Shimasaki-san, who took the time out of his day to greet me at station and to take me to the dorms.

My immediate reaction upon leaving Kyoto Station was, “Wow, they really put me in the middle of nowhere” (lol). From the train my surroundings were extremely different from Tokyo. Instead of densely populated streets with cars and trains passing by, I was greeted by small houses, residential communities, and lush fields and rivers. Getting off the train at Mukaijima Station, where the Uji campus is located, we were greeted by tall apartment complexes and the sound of something I wasn’t expecting at all coming from Tokyo.

Shimasaki-san helped me bring my bags to the room and then showed me the nearby convenience store, bike shop, the clinic, and the nearby drug store. The room is much better than the Sanuki Club and has a fridge and a microwave that is really nice to have. As I began to settle into my room it was really the first time that I felt alone since I had come to Japan. I know in the orientation leading up to this moment people had told there would come a point where you would begin to feel this way, but I really didn’t think it would happen to me as I am used to traveling and living abroad. However, I guess being in a more suburban part and realizing that I was going to have to begin to take care of myself really didn’t settle in until that first day.

In the morning I woke up around 7:00am and headed out and got some food from the convenience store that is CONVENIENTLY located right next to the dormitory. Then it was time to head to the lab, except I had no idea where to go. Pulling up google-sensei I passed through a couple of rice paddies, the Uji river, and finally arrived at this huge industrial looking complex that was Kyoto University’s Uji Campus. It was a forty-five-minute walk which means I really need to find a cheap bike that I can use to commute going forward.

Entering the lab, the first day was a really nerve wracking experience. I have to say though, I was really relieved to know that English is very commonly spoken in the lab and this means that there won’t be as big a language barrier as I initially thought there may be. After passing around omiyage and meeting both Matsuda-sensei and Miyauchi-sensei, Shimasaki-san gave me some training on how to use the Raman/PL nanophoton machine as well as the machine that allows you to create heterostructures. Throughout the week I have been working on getting adjusted to the lab as well as gaining the skills I need to be successful in my project. These so far having included learning atomic force microscopy, using the SEM, e-beam lithography, and creating gold electrodes.

Days are quite long, and it can get taxing at times, but the group atmosphere is amazing, and I love being able to talk to both of my senseis at lunch whether it be about research or just getting to know them personally. Walking back and forth to lab has been exhausting and in the dark it’s a little frightening especially when it starts to rain heavily (my backpack got soaked so many times), but these are character building events and I feel as though I am becoming more confident and resilient both in my research and as an individual each day. I really need a bike though, so I can have more mobility as the public transportation here in Mukaijima is not as convenient as it was in Tokyo.

Reflections on the Orientation Program
The orientation program was definitely a great way to get acclimated to Japan slowly while still having the comfort of mentors and peers to make you feel a little more at home (not to mention the fact that we had our beds made for us). I think the language study was by far the most valuable thing that we learned as I think it may have helped me fraud my way into this gym that is really close but only accepts people who understand Japanese (though Shimasaki-san and Ogawa-san helped as well). Also, I think having the opportunity to live in Tokyo was amazing, I got to have a lot of new experiences including meeting people from Waseda University, trying out new foods, and understanding the merits of public transportation.

I think the thing that I learned the most about myself is how much I rely on people. Not in the traditional sense in that I need them to help me, but just how much I value social interaction. I am a very extroverted person and so coming to Mukaijima has made me realize how much I like just being in the presence of people. It is something that I never really experienced in college as Rice is such a small and integrated community. I guess going forward this will help me come to decisions on what I want to do in the future as well as where I want to do it.

Research Project Introduction

I didn’t know what my main project was until this Wednesday, but it has me feeling both a bit excited and a bit pressured at the same time. As Miyauchi-sensei explained it my project relates to the field of valleytronics. One of the main limitations of this field is that the lifetime of the valley polarization is too short for gate actions as they currently stand. Therefore, either gate actions need to become faster or lifetimes need to become longer. It has been reported that dark excitons may have longer lifetimes than their bright exciton counterparts. The only problem is that as they are dark they are not able to so be seen which makes the calculation very hard. Thus, my project is to brighten a small portion of these excitons so that they can be seen and have their valley polarization lifetimes calculated.

To do this, the test will be conducted on monolayer WSe₂ and at very low temperatures. This is done because in this TMD the population of excitons at low temperatures is mostly in the form of dark excitons with bright excitons only contributing very little to the exciton population. To brighten these excitons, I will be applying an electric field to the material which, due to the Rashba effect, should be able to allow us to brighten 0.1% of the dark excitons by applying a 0.45V across the TMD.

To accomplish this task, I will be fabricating and designing the electrodes as well as the heterostructure for the study. To do this I will be using the SEM and e-beam lithography as well as the machine that deposits the gold on the substrate and then lifting off the resist and the excess gold. I have already begun this process and hopefully the excess gold should come off by the time I go back in the lab on Monday. In addition to this I have to stack on top of the first gold electrode hBN, then the WSe₂ monolayer, another piece of hBN and finally graphene which will be used to connect the two electrodes.

The process I will be using is mechanical exfoliation of the graphene, hBN, and WSe₂ materials in order to get the desired size. I am very nervous as a lot of this is just having good luck. In addition, I have to be able to know the thickness of the hBN I am putting on the gold, so I am using AFM and Raman to identify these materials. I will also be using laser annealing to ensure the graphene contact with the gold once the heterostructure has been stacked using the machine that I have been trained on. Then I will be moving on to cryostat optical measurements that will help the lab not only calculate valley lifetime but also exciton diffusion in these TMD materials. I am not sure of the exact set up of that experiment as of yet, but I will get to learn it once I finish creating the heterostructure.

To be optimistic I really want to have the actual device fabricated by the time of the mid program meeting. But there are so many variables that will just depend on luck and chance and factoring in the fact that this is the first time that I am doing all of these things I am very nervous to say the least. I also think Alex left some very high expectations, so I am trying my hardest to meet them as I am kind of an ambassador for researchers in America.

Question of the Week
Where does Japan get most of their food supply from? I pass a lot of rice paddies on my way to work so it has made me a bit curious as to what is going on.

• For more, see our Farming in Japan section on the Food in Japan resources page.

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Week 05: Cultural Analysis – Life in Japan

Working out is a big part of my daily life and makes me feel more connected and comfortable with the environment that I am in. So, when I first arrived in Kyoto my first instinct was to find a gym that I could use for the next two months. However, I couldn’t find a gym that was nearby and had all the facilities that I would need. The only one that came close was called Sports Club Axtos and it was a five-minute walk from the dorm that I am staying at, Mukaijima Gakusei Center. The only problem was that in order to join this club I had to understand Japanese. Now I know what you’re thinking “Sahil, I thought you took Japanese class every day for three weeks in Tokyo; this should be easy for you!”, yet alas as I could not read kanji or get past the first three sentences of the gym attendants Japanese I had given up all hope.

However, I thought that I would try my luck and have Ogawa-san from the Nakatani Program call the center to explain my situation. He went and ahead and called for me and they said I would be able to join as long as I had someone who spoke Japanese with me. At this point I would take it, the only problem now was, where was I going to find someone who spoke fluent Japanese and would be willing to trek with me to the gym in the evening? I turned to the only person I could think of, Shimasaki-san, my mentor in the lab. Now I was really nervous about this as I didn’t think anyone in their right mind would trek forty minutes on foot to help me get a gym membership. To top it all off, it was pouring rain that evening and I had resigned myself to a summer of sightseeing and research already (which is not bad at all in reality).

To my surprise however Shimasaki-san agreed and at 8:30 he showed up at the gym ready to help me out. What happened next was one of the most awkward experiences ever. When we got to the gym the guy kept on insisting that I should be able to understand Japanese. I told him in my broken Japanese that Ogawa-san had called ahead of time and that Shimasaki-san could translate for me, but for some reason this guy really wouldn’t give in. That didn’t stop me though, I mean I had asked Shimasaki-san to trudge through pouring rain to help me out; failure was not an option (wow I’m a really dramatic person or maybe I’m just writing this report too late). So, I finally told the guy that I was able to understand Japanese, but couldn’t speak, at this point I think he just resigned to the fact that I was here to stay, and we went ahead with the application process. At this point I put on an amazing charade as I pretended to read over what he was saying as well as nod along to facts that we pointed out to me when in reality it was like watching an anime with no subtitles (cue all the meme posts I’ve been tagged in). Finally, with the contract signed and the membership paid I felt super relieved.

To top it all off Tanaka-san from the lab joined us and we all got dinner together after the whole gym ordeal. It was my first real time interacting with the members of my lab outside of research and it really gave me some insight into the cultural values that we had talked about in the orientation in Tokyo before I arrived in Kyoto. Being in a lab here feels like I am part of a family more than just a research group. Once again, I see the sense of selflessness and community that is placed above the self. Maybe I’m just reading into the situation too much and trying to place it into the context of this week’s prompt, but I could not be more thankful for my lab mates’ assistance in helping me settle into Mukaijima and Kyoto University. While this was a really funny/awkward experience, it really meant a lot to me and will be a defining moment during my stay in Japan.

I also wanted to share the experience of my first earthquake. It actually happened Monday morning and actually woke me up. It was quite a violent shake, kind of similar to being in a roller coaster. Being my usual unaware self, I just stayed in bed as I was unable to fully comprehend what was happening. As soon as the shaking stopped the aftershocks hit and they were a bit smaller but for some reason they felt just as bad. As I made my way to the elevator for lab I was surprised that the buttons were not working so I had to take the stairs. As I made my way to Kyoto University the usual business of the streets (I live in a relatively suburban area) was pretty quiet and most of the trains were not running during my normal commute (I am normally stopped by the Nara and Keihan lines as they cross the street). It was a pretty surreal experience, especially when I realized how serious the situation actually was. I am glad there was no immediate damage around my area but there were reports of quite a bit in Osaka and even nearby stations.

Research Project Update
This has to have been the most frustrating week of research that I have ever done. I have managed to create my gold electrodes and laid down the first layer of hBN on both electrodes. However, on Thursday I began to look for WSe₂ monolayers from physical exfoliation. The only problem is I can’t find any. I have stayed in the lab still 12:30 on both Thursday and Friday and still can’t find any or any that are large enough. I even went into lab on Saturday for four hours to see if I can get anything, but yet again nothing seems to be working. It’s really stressing me out as I cannot move forward without creating this heterostructure and I feel like I’m just wasting time and its preventing me from really enjoying the rest of Japan, as I feel guilty for sightseeing. I know it is something that I need to overcome, but I think it has definitely showed me that I need to become better about balancing research and life outside the lab.

Question of the Week
This week I was able to visit Fushimi-Inari Shrine and it was one of the coolest experiences ever. While it is a shrine, near the bottom of the mountain I saw a lot of statues of Buddha was I was wondering why there was a Buddhist presence at a Shinto Shrine?

• Shrines and temples are often adjacent to one another. I’m not sure why this is, but this may be the reason. Shinto and Buddhism coexist in Japan because, to put it simply, Shinto deals with life and Buddhism deals with afterlife.
• For more, see the section on ‘Visiting Shrines and Temples under Religion in Japan on our Life in Japan resources page.

For more, see the Visiting Shrines and Temples section under Religion on our Life in Japan page.  See

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Week 06: Cultural Analysis – In the Lab

A lot of things have happened inside the lab this week that I want to talk about. A lot of these things have little to do with research and have a lot more to do with the actual relationship I have with the members of my lab. Looking back now it’s a little funny how scared I was thinking that I was going to be alone for the rest of my time in Japan just because I am the only undergraduate in my lab. This week really kicked off on the right foot when I went into lab on Monday and realized that it was Founder’s Day and the university was actually closed. Nevertheless, when I walked in I was greeted by the same people I saw everyday with the exception of a few due to the earthquake. It was really nice having my lab mates come up to me to ask me if everything was alright and whether I needed any help back at the dorms in case anything had broken. As I went about the day Tanaka-san asked me what I was doing for dinner and he said if I had no plans then we could actually go ahead and make some takoyaki in the lab!

Around six in the evening Tanaka-san came back to the lab and had a takoyaki grill, flour, octopus, and some chicken ready to get cooking. As we sat down Tanaka-san, Shinokita-sensei, and Xiao-san taught me how to grill takoyaki and curry chicken! It was a really cool experience because of the simplicity of the whole event. It was just us lab members cooking takoyaki in the It was even better when Matsuda-sensei joined us for dinner and I got to get to understand Matsuda-sensei a little more. All in all, it was an amazing night and memory that I will cherish for a long time.

Another thing that I want to talk about really relates more to my research project, but it is still an event that I want to share. I mentioned in my last report how I was really struggling to find a monolayer flake for the device that I am creating. I was talking to Xiao-san and he saw how frustrated I was getting so he went ahead and showed me a special technique that would allow me to remove only the monolayer and not have any of the bulk surrounding the monolayer fall onto my heterostructure. Apparently, for TMDCs monolayers do not actually need that long to be stamped. Thus, simply leaving it under pressure for only ten seconds rather than the thirty minutes I was trained to do will only deposit the monolayer while the bulk will be peeled off. Using this technique, I was able to really accelerate my timeline and finally enjoy this weekend! These occurrences once again emphasized to me what a support network I have at the lab and have really taught me not to be afraid to ask for help. At the end of the day I feel as though in my lab every accomplishment is a shared experience for everyone, which is why everyone is so willing to help!

Speaking of this weekend, I was really able to go out for the first time and relax. On Saturday, I was able to meet up with my Mari, one of the Japanese along with the rest of Kansai squad (Janmesh, Gavin, and Ken). We met at Nishiki Market and after walking around a little bit had an amazing Okonomiyaki dinner near Gion. It was a great way to catch up with people and I can’t wait to see the rest of the fellows both Japanese and US next weekend. On Sunday, I went to Aarashiyama with Janmesh and spent the whole day sightseeing and visiting Tenryuji Temple, the Bamboo Forest, and just having a good time sitting next to the water.

To be honest, I feel like this was my biggest accomplishment outside of lab to date. I finally feel as though I have found some balance in my lifestyle here in Japan and that makes me excited for the coming weeks.

Research Project Update

This week I was able to finish constructing my device! This entailed finally depositing monolayer WSe₂ and then topping it off with hBN and then graphene to connect my two electrodes. Zhang-san was then able to help me connect the gold electrodes to my sample and I will begin my cryostat measurements hopefully on Tuesday. I am also getting ready my presentation for the monthly meeting this coming Wednesday in the lab, which will double as my chance to prepare my presentation for the Mid-Program meeting.

Question of the Week
One question that I have for this week is how active are kids my age in politics? Maybe it is just because I am a bit removed from the undergraduate population at Uji campus, but politics isn’t as big a deal as it is at Rice, and I was just wondering if this was just in my case or a usual phenomenon.

• There is actually a very simple, structure reason for this.  Up until 2016, you had to be 20 or older to vote in Japan.  The first time 18 year olds were able to vote was the summer elections in 2016.  This change was made to encourage higher voter turnout and political engagement among young people in Japan.  This means, the 2018 Japanese Fellows are among the first generation of students in Japan who had the right to vote at age 18.
• In comparison, 18 year olds got the right to vote in the U.S. by a constitutional amendment that was passed in 1971. So, it is not surprising that teenagers and young college students in the U.S. tend to be more politically active as they have a a ‘political voice’ through their voting rights for the past 47 years.
• For more on this topic, see Japan Times: Articles on Voting Age

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Week 07-08: Overview of Mid-Program Meeting & Research Host Lab Visit

This week marked what was essentially the halfway mark of my summer internship in Japan. These past two weeks went by so fast, and also offered a moment to reflect on everything that I have accomplished so far. To start out with during week 7, I was able to finish setting up the optical alignment of my optics table and after the mid program meeting I was actually able to run my first low temperature experiment using liquid helium. It was the coolest thing when we went down to 10K and the actual piping began to form ice all around it. I am still analyzing the data, but from preliminary results I think more testing under different conditions is still necessary.

This brings me to the most memorable part of these two weeks which was the mid-program meeting. It was actually really strange to see all the other US Fellows again. Even though it had only been four weeks since I had last seen my fellow peers, I felt like each and every one of us had matured or changed a little bit due to the time that we had spent alone. I think part of it may have just been realizing the subtle differences between interacting with Japanese people and those of us from the United States. I could definitely tell that when I went back to interacting with my fellow peers from the program I was much louder (to the dismay of a few). But more than just offering a chance to interact with the US fellows it offered a good chance to take a step away from my research and come to see research in Japan in a broader sense once again.

A big part of this was the presentation that we had to perform at Kyoto University for the mid program meeting. I wasn’t very nervous going into my own presentation that is until I realized that about 60% of the people in the room were from my lab. They had actually all come to show their support for me (I cannot thank them enough for this gesture). However, the anxiety of presenting went away as soon as I started as I think I had prepared well enough that I actually enjoyed my time on stage and through the presentation I think I gained a better understanding of my own research as well. Going forward, I want to do more of these kinds of presentations as I think a big part of research is making it more accessible to others.

Aside from my own presentation, I really enjoyed listening to the other fellows’ presentations and was really excited for all of them in regard to all the amazing research they have done. After the presentations, we got to tour some labs at ICeMs at the University of Kyoto. On the sight-seeing day we also got to visit parts of shrines and temples that are usually never open to the public.  These are also experiences that I will never forget and really made this week special for me.

Wait… I almost forgot that we were also able to hang out with the 2018 Japanese Fellows one more time before they all go to Houston. On the night I arrived at the hotel in Kyoto the Japanese and US Fellows were able to have a joint dinner. I took this time to get closer to some of the Japanese girls in the program (not in a romantic way…) as I wasn’t really able to get to know them during Mt. Fuji. The highlight of the night was a joint karaoke session in “downtown” Kyoto where we stayed up until almost 3am just singing and enjoying ourselves.

I really have to say that this week was full of fun, excitement, and has refueled me for my remaining time here in Japan. The mid program meeting was a great way to see what the other fellows had done and see my research within a broader context. I think that it was a great way to take a break and recharge for the coming weeks of research. I also think that having interactions with the Japanese fellows is just amazing and has always been one of the best parts of this program. It is always so much fun talking to them and I am so lucky that I get to hang out with them for six weeks when they go back to Rice.

I think the biggest part of the trip was the feeling of just how lucky I am to be in the position that I am in. When Horikawa-san explained how we got to see temples and shrines and are not usually open to the public it really puts in perspective what an amazing program this truly is. It is this sense of gratitude that I think was my biggest take-away from this program as well as the fact that the Japanese fellows know how to party.

Oh wait, one more thing that I forgot to mention is that Sarah-san and Ogawa-san were actually able to visit me in my lab this week. I think it was quite remarkable that they braved the flooding and pouring rain so that they could come and see me at the Matsuda lab. It was a great way to show the program that I was indeed doing work and their investment may have been worth it (lol). I think their visit really allowed me to better put my research into layman’s terms and once again every time I explain what I am doing it is easier for me to decide on what my next steps going forward are.

Question of the Week
One question that I have about Japan this week is: What does the typical home in Japan look like? I have been living in a dorm so far, but I pass so many houses on the commute to lab, yet I have no idea what they look like.

• They’re kinda like a townhouse (living area downstairs, bedrooms upstairs). They usually have the toilet and bathroom separate, no tatami inside (except for maybe one room), and no tatami either. They probably have a washing machine but no dryer, which is why clothes are hung outside. For more on this, see the section on typical homes in Japan on our Housing in Japan resources page.

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Week 09: Research in Japan vs. Research in the U.S.

One of the key differences between doing lab work in the United States compared to my time in Japan has definitely been the group environment. The way that people interact in my Japanese lab caught me a bit off guard at first, because it was something that was completely foreign to me. It started on day one when Shimasaki-san (my mentor) came to pick me up from Kyoto Station right after I had gotten off the Shinkansen.

Maybe it was just due to the circumstances of the situation, but from the very beginning it felt as though I was joining not just a lab but a family. The concept of welcome parties, group dinners, and eating lunch together were simply things that I would have never imagined doing back in the United States. That is not to say that the lab environment in the United States is not supportive, but it is not as interconnected. For instance, a big part of my project that involved the exfoliation and stacking of different 2D materials. This is a process that involves a lot of steps including physical exfoliation, photolithography, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and vertical stacking. At any time if I run into a problem I can call on multiple people from the lab to come to my aid at any time. So, even though I am technically in charge of this project, there are multiple people who are supporting me from behind the scenes for any progress that I make.

Back in the United States I barely knew any of the other members in my lab group. My work was confined and dictated by the goals that my mentor proposed, but what I do have to say is that in both instances I found a lot of guidance and support. It just comes down to the fact that in Japan I am a smaller part of a larger lab, whereas in the United States I am under the guidance of a single person and I get to know that person very well.

Another thing that is different is that in Japan, each lab group has its own equipment that any member can use at any time. I actually found out that this is due to the fact that in Japanese labs they are not expected to pay their PhD students, and that in the process this frees up a lot of money that can be used for equipment. I know the situation will probably vary from lab to lab, but this is something that has been really nice for me, but I am not sure about how I feel about my fellow lab members not being paid for putting so much time and effort into their projects.

So, in the end I think that that I have really enjoyed being able to talk to my sensei whenever I need to, as well as the access to equipment that is so convenient to have and makes projects move along so much faster. That being said, I do enjoy how in the United States professors pay their students so that it is easier for them to stay focused on their work.

Research Project Update

My research project I believe has hit a little bit of a hiccup. I have been collecting a lot of low temperature measurements, but I am not seeing any observable change in spectrum by applying a voltage across the device. I even applied about 6V, which should have had even a little bit of change, but unfortunately nothing seemed to change. I think I have to better analyze the data as well, but I think I need to fabricate another device as I believe something may have gone wrong with the way that I stacked the material. This essentially moves me back to the beginning of my project, but hopefully I will be faster and better at the fabrication. It makes me a little stressed out that I realized this so late, but I guess this is just the nature of research and something that I need to get over.

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Week 10: Reflections on Japanese Language Learning

One of the biggest indicators that you are in japan, well besides the obvious change in the appearance of the people and places is the appearance of these hieroglyphics on signs that are all around you. Fear not; you have not arrived in ancient Egypt, but rather modern day japan where kanji and kana are the two main forms of writing. Another indicator that you are now in Japan is that when people talk to you, at times you may not have any idea what they are saying.

This was my life the first few weeks that I was in Japan and at times it became a very daunting experience for me just to do everyday tasks like buy food and ask for directions. However, things are a bit different today. One aspect to this change is the fact that I am just more familiar with my surroundings now and I use certain phrases and expressions over and over again to the point where I know what they mean. At the same time, I don’t find people as scary as I used to. Being in a new physical and cultural setting is scary at first, but once you realize that these are still just regular people (and really nice most of the time at that) it becomes much easier to approach people and ask for help.

Another thing that has really been helping me is just using my Japanese in the lab. I have not had time to actually use a Japanese textbook like I thought I would be able to, but I think this everyday practice is really good for someone on my level who essentially started from nothing.

Also, this is going to be unorthodox (well not really) but watching a lot of Japanese Anime has also been really helpful in picking up phrases and expressions that you normally would not find within a typical Japanese textbook. Trying new expressions with my lab mates, really helps me create a memory that I can then use to better remember the new word or expression that I have learned.

To me this is the most interesting and useful way of learning Japanese especially given the limited amount of time that I am here for. I can’t say that there has been any time that my lack of Japanese found me in any trouble, but knowing more just makes transactions and daily life that much easier. I definitely want to continue to learn more Japanese as I progress, and I think that rather than using a textbook as a primary means I think learning phrases through anime or visual novels is much more appealing to me.

Research Project Update
Research has been really taxing on me this week, so much so that I have given up my entire weekend to it. Miyauchi-sensei wants to change the device to remove the second layer of hBN so that carrier density and electric field are being changed at the same time in an attempt to see whether or not our set up is working, and to see if any interesting effects take place. I have managed to finish this device on Saturday (at 1:00am) and then I have also begun to construct the original device again and hopefully will be able to test it out at least once before I leave. The biggest issue is that my abstract will have to be changed now as the scope or focus has broadened a bit. I am really feeling the pressure but I am glad I am getting this experience as an undergraduate, so I know how things will be if I do decide to pursue graduate school.

Question of the Week 
One question I have about Japan this week has been about the schools here. Do kids usually go to school on Saturday and Sunday? I say this as I always see group of school kids on the train or bus on the weekend and I am not sure why they are dressed like they are going or just came back from school.

• Japan used to have a standard, 6-day school week but that was phased out in 1992 and 2002. However, many schools ignore the 5-day school week and continued to schedule lessons on Saturdays and most students have to attend Saturday classes/lessons at least once or twice a month. Since not all schools observe the same schedule for which Saturdays these are, you will likely always see students in school uniforms on the weekends or holiday breaks in Japan.
• Japan Considers 6-Day School Week Again (Japan Today)
• 9 Ways Japanese Schools are Different (Mental Floss)
• 10 Things to Know About Japanese High Schools (Go Abroad)
• For more, see the Education in Japan section on the Life in Japan Resources page.

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Week 11: Interview with Japanese Researcher

Student Interview: For this interview I chose to talk with Shimasaki-san. Shimasaki-san is my mentor at the Matsuda lab. He is a current second year Ph.D student and is interested in the proeprties of 2D materials and applied physics. He is a really hard-worker like everyone else at the lab, but is extremely humble and is always willing to learn new things and improve himself, as he knows where he is lacking and how he can get better at it.

Sahil:What is your degree in?

Shimasaki-san: Master’s at Kobe University majoring in Electric and Electronic

Sahil: What did you decide to pursue this field?

Sihmasaki-san: I want to become a good researcher, and I think getting a PhD is necessary, in terms of qualifications, to become what I want to be. I need to stand on the shoulder of giants like Matsuda-sensei and Miyauchi-sensei, I am still learning how to be a good researcher and I have to rely on a lot on my superiors and supervisors.

Sahil:What do you want to do after you get your PhD?

Shimasaki-san: I want to get a new job in a Japanese general company or a Japanese research institute. I want to be involved in fundamental or applied physics research. I also would find it interest to be involved in 2D materials research

Sahil: How do you think a US lab functions? How do you like your current work environment?

Shimasaki-san: In this lab we can experience many things from discussion to fabrication to measurementation. I have no idea how a US lab works.

Sahil: How do you picture a US lab?

Shimasaki-san:I’m really not sure, maybe they can experience things very similar to us, but I do believe it is as dynamic as it is in Japan. For instance, some people may focus only on fabrication, some may only focus on making devices. I believe that this may at times be a more efficient approach.

Sahil: Do you have any international research experience?

Shimasaki-san: I’ve attended an academic conference only once in China. Quite a famous university in China and I reported on my research at the time.

Sahil: How was it to be in another country, reporting on your research?

Shimasaki-san: I actually received an award in the oral presentation, and a lot of it was due to Miyauchi-sensei and Matsuda-sensei’s help as I was well prepared to answer any questions anyone had. Some people gave me advice to help advance my research further. It was a very useful academic conference for me.

Sahil: How would you say the state of research is in Japan vs. the United States?

Shimasaki-san: For fundamental physics research Japan and the United States are equivalent in the type of publications that are published. For applied physics however, the United States has a bit of an advantage over its Japanese counterparts. I think Japanese researchers need to learn how to more efficiently perform applied physics research.

Sahil: Why do you think this way?

Shimasaki-san: For example, things like IoT AI all these ideas originate in the United States and foreign countries. Japanese researchers are followers and have never really pushed a new frontier. I want Japanese researchers to take bigger risks and think outside the box.

Sahil: Is there anything you would change about your past that would better prepare your for where you are at now?

Shimasaki-san: I wished I had changed my earlier research project. In my previous lab, I researched rare earth ion optical properties. I was much more interested in quantum dots or solar cells and other low dimensional devices. I think that this kind of project is more fascinating to me and I wish I had pursued it more eagerly.

Sahil: What are the qualities apparent in any good researcher?

Shimasaki-san: For now, I have many things that I still have to learn. So, I think that need a great mentor. So, I think great researchers must have great mentors as well. Recently, especially in this one year I feel loyalty is required to follow the advice of your mentors, at times it can be hard. Matsuda-sensei and Miyauchi-sensei always tell me to follow the advice because they speak from experience and time is restricted. Also, you have to be a hard-worker to succeed in this field.

Post-Doc Interview: For this interview I chose to talk with Someya-san. Someya-san is a post-doc researcher at the Matsuda lab who only joined a few months before I did. He is originally from Chiba and is now living in the Kyoto area. Someya-san is an immensely hard-worker and sometimes we compete to see who stays in lab the longest. He is a great researcher and even greater person.

Sahil: Why did you choose to pursue a post doc?

Someya-san: I decided to be a post doc because I have had great experiences when I was Ph.D student, such as attending international conferences and working with researchers overseas. These were really special experiences that I do not think I would get if I just started working for a company.

Sahil: What attracted you to research?

Someya-san: When I find something new, it is really fun to investigate deeper using my own knowledge and insight. It is exciting to think that my own ideas can have an impact on the research community.

Sahil: What do you feel about research in the US vs Japan?

Only few a Ph.D students can get fellowship (salary) in Japan but I heard in US it is usual that Ph.D students receive a salary. I think that is why almost all Japanese graduate students do not want to pursue a Ph.D course and decide to work at company instead. I think that is this policy is not good for the future of research in Japan.

Sahil: What qualities make a good researcher?

Someya-san: Hard-working, attention to detail, and immense amount of background knowledge in their respective field.

Sahil: What are your future plans?

Actually, I don’t have any future plans right now. I have three years working as a post doc and in this time period I just want to be able to promote my own research, while having an impact on the scientific community.

Reflection: After speaking with Shimasaki-san I can definitely say that I am really impressed by how humble he is. Shimasaki-san is an incredibly hard-working person who is still early on in his career and understands the importance of due diligence and dedication. I hope that one day I can possess the same humility and work ethic that Shimasaki-san exemplifies each and every day.

With Someya-san I was really surprised by how he does not have any immediate future plans right now. It is actually interesting how a lot of researchers I have met here are just following their passions and what they are interested in without second thought. I have always been someone who worries a lot about the future and it is a bit refreshing to see someone with such a different approach.

Research Project Update
I have had to reconstruct the device to understand both carrier density and electric field effects. I have done two of three layers making sure I get a large monolayer sample. I will try to do one low temperature experiment tomorrow, but I think I may not be able to redo the dark exciton brightening given the limited time I have.

Questions of the Week
The question for this week is about the role of assistant professors in Japanese labs. In the US a lot of assistant professors have their own lab group, yet in Japan they are under a professor. Do assistant professors have their own grants and projects, or are they just there to assist the professor? This is a question I should probably already know at this point…

• Think back to Prof. Kono’s seminar on doing research in Japan as part of the Pre-Departure Orientation and the pyramid lab structure he showed you. Typically, an Assistant Professor joins the lab of a Senior Professor and can only move up the hierarchy if someone on the level above them vacates that position (for example when the senior professor of the lab retires).  It is a different structure than in the U.S. where an Assistant Professor is hired by a university to set up their own lab and must secure their own external funding to be able to hire students and ‘grow’ their research portfolio.
• Academic Ranks in Japan (Wikipedia) 
• Insider’s View: Japanese Research Culture (Science) 
• Crisis in Japanese Science Leaves Young Researchers Struggling to Find Long-Term Jobs (Japan Times)
• Working with Japanese Labs (Science)
• University Job Titles in Japan that Mean Wildly Different Things (Jobs in Japan)
• Spotlight on Foreign Researchers in Japan (Nature)

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Week 12-13: Final Week at Research Lab & Re-Entry Program

My final week of research went by so fast it was kind of scary. This week I had to complete my device and then test it one more time under low temperatures. While this was happening I also had my farewell party. It was a little surreal as it felt as though it was just yesterday that I was being welcomed to the lab. I don’t know where the time went at all and as I look back on the events on my final week at the lab I still get a bit emotional remembering all the relationships and new experiences that I was able to forge. In many ways, I was the youngest member but that never stopped any of my senior lab mates from listening to my opinions or helping me out. They always seemed to prioritize my needs and comfort and for that I cannot be more grateful. On my final day I had to go into lab a little late as a I had to clean my room and have my room inspection as well as ship my bags back to Tokyo. My last day I spend handing out thank you cards and some extra souvenirs that I had brought with me to Japan. We took some pictures and I handed over my bike to Xiao-san as he gave away his bike to a new member of the lab that had just joined. It was during this walk back on my last day that really gave me a moment to process what had just come to fruition. The next day I grabbed the Shinkansen to Tokyo and met up with Kaitlin and Kenneth to buy supplies for Mt. Fuji.

That very day we took a train to Mt. Fuji and began our hike up the mountain at 8:30pm. It was a pretty exhausting experience that was met with amazing views and three new friends Kohei, Jiro, and Koki who we met on the way up the mountain. It was an amazing experience but something I don’t think that I would want to do again. After returning to Tokyo and relaxing for a little bit, the final presentation at Todai crept up on me before I knew it. The presentation went by pretty fast and actually felt a bit informal compared to the mid-program meeting, probably because my entire lab didn’t show up this time. The rest of my time in Tokyo passes by really fast from the exit Japanese interview to my last dinner in Japan at an Izakaya in Azabujuban. The next thing I knew I was on a flight back to Houston.

Re-entry program at Rice University
Coming back to Rice was a little bit surreal to me. Everything was familiar, yet foreign at the same time. I do have to say though that I really enjoyed not having to play charades to ask for simple things, and also having the ability to take things on the go. I do think that living abroad has really changed my perception of the United States. I think it is really easy to criticize things that are easily available to us, but not having them for three months really makes one grateful. With that being said I definitely miss the public transportation in Japan, it definitely is a little annoying that I have to Uber everywhere I want to go in Houston unless the Metro works.

This program also had a profound impact on my personality. I think I am much more comfortable with myself as a person going forward. Before this very minor details in my life would lead to enormous stress for me but living by myself for three months has really given me the time to come to understand myself better and my needs. In terms of what I want to do career wise the program has really showed me that I am a person who is more obsessed about the end goal rather than the path to get there, or as Dean Matsuda put I think more along the lines of an engineer rather than a scientist. I think that I still need to find a research field that gives a bit more interest, but I can say without a doubt that science is what I want to do.

The Nakatani RIES program as I have stated before was a truly transformative experience and one that I will never forget. It has given me so much in terms of technical knowledge and hands on lab skills, but also more confidence in myself to meet the harder challenges that I am about to encounter as I continue on with my education.

Final Question of the Week
What is an enviable job in Japan? Is there a specific field or specialty that is looked upon as being very prestigious?

• This would be a great question to talk with the 2018 Japanese Fellows about as I think the answer probably depends on what types of jobs/fields you are naturally

  

  drawn to and also what generation you belong to. Speaking to Japanese STEM students who are close in age to you therefore could be a good place to ask this question.  But, you might also want to talk with them about what makes a ‘good life’ in Japan. Most things may be very similar to what young people in the U.S. desire, but you may also find some areas of difference too.

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Final Research Overview and Poster

The final presentation in Tokyo was a really great experience as it really once again helped put my research into perspective with all the other cools things that people are working on. It really helped remind me that it is important to be cognizant of all the different approaches and motivation we have for many of the same overarching problems that are currently found in society. I think I was definitely more relaxed for this one even while I was definitely less prepared. It really felt more like a conversation and less like a presentation with the way things were set up which made me enjoy it a lot. In the future, given more time I want to work on adding animations to the slides, so it is more interesting for the audience.

I think overall the poster session at the Smalley-Curl Summer Research Colloquium went pretty well, I felt confident about my poster and I felt like I could really explain everything on it. I think that I need to work on being a little more enthusiastic on my poster so that people can feel excited about a topic that they may have very little interest in, but other than that I think it went well. It was a good experience to get my first poster session out of the way and I am glad I could present in such a familiar and supportive environment.

Research Project Abstract & Poster: Understanding Carrier Density and Electric Field Effects on Valley Dynamics in 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (PDF)
Host Lab in Japan: Kyoto University – Institute of Advanced Energy, Matsuda Laboratory
Host Professor:  Prof. Kazunari Matsuda and Prof. Yuhei Miyauchi
,Mentors: Wenjin Zhang and Masafumi Shimasaki

Introduction: How can we manipulate/understand valley dynamics primarily valley polarization by tuning carrier density and by applying an out of plane electric field? Basically how can we use these two effects to lengthen the amount of time information can be stored in these materials so that they can be used in logic operations.

Big Picture: Conventional electronics are silicon based and as chips get smaller and smaller we start to run into new quantum effects like immense heating and electron leakage. In order to continue to develop more advanced and energy efficient chip sets we need an alternative to conventional silicon-based computing. Valleytronics where we use the valley degree of freedom (electron momentum) can help us reach this goal and understanding how to keep/manipulate information using this degree of freedom is the goal of my research this summer.

Approach: We first set out to create a heterostructure using a combination of electron lithography, sputtering, physical exfoliation, raman spectroscopy, and PL spectroscopy. After finding the materials that need to be stacked, I used a special microscope that would help me stack all of my materials on top of one another. After this step I would laser anneal and then attach electrodes to the device. Once that was done it would be connected to a cryostat and then placed in our laser setup where we would conduct the experiments at low temperatures.

Results: I would that in the device that tested both effects that as the voltage increase the valley polarization seemed to increase as well

Discussion: The results may show a correlation with increased carrier density and valley polarization, but more tests need to be performed before anything conclusive can be said.

Future Research: Repeat these experiments once again and be sure to better isolate both effects. I think that going forward perhaps even creating a stacking of two different TMDCs may prove to be promising.

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Follow-on Project

For my project I will be  presenting at the Student Opportunities/Research Fair at Rice University in the fall semester. I also may want to hold a session for my Residential College, but I do not know the exact details yet, but it will probably be a PowerPoint along with a short movie of videos I put together during my time in japan.

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Tips for Future Participants

Pre-departure Tips

• I think it would be great to plan out/book everywhere you are going this summer. I would highly recommend getting the Full Japan Rail (JR) Pass as I really enjoyed the time I had just going to Hiroshima for the weekend, and I wish I had the ability to go all around Japan.
• Also, Katakana is your best friend learn it first and then hiragana.
• Disclaimer Omiyage is to be given on the first day, doesn’t have to be big I just got cookies for the entire lab group and something more personal for my PI.

Orientation Program in Tokyo

• You will be really tired after the lectures, but still try and go out!

Mid-Program Meeting

• Get your Kyoto pal’s and explore. The presentation is important, but Kyoto has a lot to offer.

Working with Research Lab

• I can only speak for Matsuda-lab, but while being cognizant of cultural differences don’t be afraid to be yourself. I think they will really embrace you and anything new that you bring to the table.

Living in Host City

• Your every free minute should be spent exploring. Well, if you really need a day to relax that’s fine, but try to see everything and do everything. When you walk away from your experience you will have a lot less regret that way.

Language Study Tips

• I really should have studied more but just try to use what you have in lab to at least keep what knowledge you have. I learned a lot from just talking to members and some (a lot) of anime.