1. Overview
This research grant-in-aid was established in 2004. It aims to support outstanding, self-financed international students who pursue their degree at the University and to promote the enrollment of outstanding international students.
Recipients will receive 200,000 yen per month as research grants-in-aid until the end of the standard program duration (up to one year for research students).
In 2023, 41 students --- 22 Master’s course students and 19 Doctor’s course students were newly selected as recipients.
In 2023, 121 students received research grants-in-aid in total.
878 students have been selected in total since The University of Tokyo Fellowship was established.
Application Guidelines for The University of Tokyo Fellowship (April 2024)
2. Application
The application should be done through the applicant's affiliated (proposed) Graduate School. Please contact the relevant section (international office) of your affiliated (proposed) Graduate School to check the details of the application procedures.
3. Donations to The University of Tokyo Fellowship
○ FU Delin Scholarship
This scholarship has been established through the kind services of Ms. Fu Delin, a philanthropist, and a member of the Fu family that can trace their origins as far back as the Chinese Ming Dynasty. Ms. Fu herself has for a long time supported on her own, Chinese and Japanese students going abroad, but from 2017, she has kindly offered to provide financial support for international students from abroad to enroll at a graduate school of The University of Tokyo.
This scholarship in principle follows “The University of Tokyo Fellowship Implementation Guidelines on Special Scholarships for International Students,” but is primarily aimed at providing support to international students who hold Chinese citizenship.
○ KOGA Shinsuke Scholarship
The beneficiary of this scholarship, Shinsuke Koga, has been predominantly active globally in the financial world following his graduation from The University of Tokyo. Having experienced studying abroad himself at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he obtained his Master of Business Administration, from 2016, Mr. Koga funded to provide financial support to graduate students coming to The University of Tokyo from the United States and the United Kingdom and established the Koga Shinsuke Scholarship.
This scholarship follows “The University of Tokyo Fellowship Implementation Guidelines on Special Scholarships for International Students,” but is aimed at providing support to international students who hold American or British citizenships.
4. Awardees of The University of Tokyo Fellowship
○ 2024
YU Zonghan
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
I deeply appreciate the generous fellowship from the University of Tokyo. My research interests include designing hybrid catalytic systems for greener and more economic chemical reactions, which can be useful in drug development. This award is a profound encouragement for me to focus on my research. I hope I will be able to make practical contributions to the field of chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences during my stay at this prestigious university.
LUO Jiaxiao
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
It’s such an honor to receive the Todai fellowship scholarship! I sincerely thank the committee for recognizing my efforts.
This scholarship is such a great financial relief to my family that I can concentrate on the following three years Ph.D. without worry.
Human beings must commercialize nuclear fusion to fight climate change and energy depletion in this century. Our laboratory is now working on a merging type spherical tokamak to fasten this process. I yearn to make my impact in this field and share with everyone the progress by then!
ANTHONY Colin Jeffrey
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
With the support of the Todai Fellowship, I am now able to fully dedicate myself to research and life in Japan. For my PhD at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, I will study how algae living inside corals release molecules that help maintain their symbiotic relationship. This research could reveal important processes that support coral reef survival in a changing climate.
NGUYEN Duy Dinh
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the prestigious UTokyo Fellowship. This scholarship is a significant milestone in my academic journey, allowing me to continue pursuing my dream and supporting fellow students at UTokyo. With my focus on sustainable agriculture methods within the International Program in Agricultural Development Studies (IPADS), this fellowship enables me to delve deeper into research on utilizing unused agricultural waste to create sustainable materials. Being a UTokyo Fellowship student has inspired me even more to strive for excellence and contribute to a more sustainable and better society. Thank you for this incredible opportunity.
CHEN Xiaoyu
Graduate School of Economics
I stand deeply honored and profoundly grateful to be named a recipient of the Todai Fellowship. Todai, a place where the pursuit of economics flourishes, offers an ideal ground for the study of economic theory, a field that finds here a unique resonance. Within its halls, brilliant minds converge, guided by the wisdom of renowned professors. I will treasure my time and commit myself to the path of becoming an economic theorist, with the full weight of my endeavor behind every step.
BERNARD Luc
Graduate School of Engineering
I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful to the UTokyo Fellowship for providing me the opportunity to advance my studies in such an inspiring academic environment and allowing me to focus fully on my research plan.
I developed a strong interest in quantum computing and its transformative potential. I believe the University of Tokyo is the perfect place to deepen my knowledge, especially in laser cooling and ion shuttling. Guided by Professor Hasegawa’s work, I have studied techniques to address decoherence—errors caused by environmental interactions with qubits—through improved ion stability and control.
My objective is to contribute to Professor Hasegawa's lab, working on systems that combine laser cooling with precise ion manipulation, essential for scalable quantum operations.
Again, I am sincerely grateful for the support of the UTokyo Fellowship in pursuing these research goals.
WU Wenhao
Graduate School of Engineering
It is a great honor for me to be awarded the UTokyo Fellowship. This fellowship is an inspiring recognition of my past experiences. This support from the University of Tokyo alleviates my financial burdens, and sheds lights on the start of my upcoming academic journey. The fellowship itself embodies UTokyo’s commitment to providing its students with a supportive and motivating environment. In the same spirit, I will dedicate myself to the study and research of business model design and logistics system engineering as a master’s student, with the goal of conveying this support to the broader community in the time that’s yet to come.
ZHANG Bingyi
Graduate School of Engineering
I am deeply honored to have been awarded the UTokyo Fellowship, and I wish to express my gratitude to the faculty for their trust and support. This generous fellowship not only recognizes my previous efforts but also motivates me to further pursue my studies with renewed dedication.
My research focuses on creating innovative biomedical technologies to improve diagnostics and treatments, addressing key healthcare challenges. This fellowship motivates me to work harder and collaborate with talented peers, and I am eager to contribute to the academic community while advancing the field of biomedical engineering.
PAN Yaoying
Graduate School of Engineering
I am deeply honored to have been selected as a recipient of the UTokyo Fellowship. This recognition is a profound source of inspiration for my future endeavors, encouraging me to pursue a career meaningful to both human society and my life.
As an architecture student, I am determined to dive deeper into regional architecture, vernacular design, and urban renewal issues, for their role of contextually serving the present with a retrospective view of the past and a forward vision into the future. I want to build houses that grow from the history and memory of the place where they exist, making an effort to construct a better living environment capable of giving spiritual support to human society.
BAO Ruicheng
Graduate School of Science
I am deeply honored and grateful to be selected as a recipient of the prestigious University of Tokyo Fellowship. This generous support provides me with financial independence, allowing me to fully dedicate myself to my doctoral studies without external concerns.
As a PhD candidate in Statistical Physics, I am committed to making meaningful contributions to this fascinating field. I will dedicate myself to excellence in my research, actively working to advance our understanding of statistical physics and its frontiers. Through my research efforts and academic pursuits, I aim to honor this fellowship by contributing significantly to the field's development while representing the University of Tokyo with distinction.
CHEN Joseph
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Message follows in Japanese.
東大フェローシップの授与者に選ばれたことを大変光栄に思います。この支援を活かし、研究成果の向上に努めたいと思います。
現在のAIの発展は、人類の幼年期と同様、急速に成長していますが、その発展方向はまだ不明確で、未完成で、模索している段階です。今はまさにAIの発展方向を決定する重要な時期ですが、多くの人々がAIに対して恐怖を抱いている現状があります。AIによって創造された存在である人類が、自分を超える存在に成長し、自分を代替すること、そしてその創造物が制御不能になることへの恐れです。
私は、人類の幼年期と同様に、恐怖の中で成長するAI産業よりも、理解と認めるの中で発展するAI産業の方が良いと信じています。私の研究が、この新しい技術への理解を深め、社会がより受け入れやすくなる手助けとなることを願っています。
SHIN Eunju
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
First and foremost, I am deeply honored to receive the UTokyo fellowship. I believe that this fellowship not only recognizes my personal research achievements but also reminds me of my responsibility to ensure that my research benefits society at large. I try to make full use of this funding to broaden my research on the conceptual history of modern East Asia. With the support of this fellowship, I will be able to acquire a wide range of materials for my research, enabling me to be more innovative and expansive in my outlook. I will do my best to ensure that my research significantly contributes to the development of human knowledge.
SUN Pengyu
Graduate School of Medicine
It is my great honor to be awarded The University of Tokyo Fellowship.
As a PhD student at the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, my research focus on developing novel therapies for Heart Failure, which has become an increasingly frequent reason for hospital admission.
The fellowship not only allows me to fully dedicate myself to my studies and research, but also can be a great inspiration to encourage me to overcome the potential tough problems that may arise.
Again, it is grateful to receive this fellowship, and I will do my best as a graduate student in the University of Tokyo!
ZHANG Danni
Graduate Schools for Law and Politics
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for being selected as a recipient of The University of Tokyo Fellowship. This is a tremendous honor and a significant boost to my academic and professional aspirations.
Currently, I am studying public international law, focusing on the concept of complicity, which is attracting increasing attention from scholars. During my master's course, I analyzed this concept in the context of state responsibility by examining the drafting process of Article 16 (Aid or Assistance in the Commission of an Internationally Wrongful Act) of the International Law Commission's Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts. For my doctoral research, I plan to broaden the scope of my analysis beyond state responsibility. I will explore complicity not only between states but also between state and non-state actors, incorporating detailed research in the field of international criminal law. Building on previous excellent studies, I aim to uncover new insights and contribute to the understanding of the concept of complicity, particularly within several subfields of public international law.
Thank you once again for believing in my potential. I am also deeply grateful to my professor, international student adviser, and my department for their support with my application. As a recipient of The University of Tokyo Fellowship, I am committed to making contributions to the academic community and to making the world a little better.
KANG Kie
Graduate Schools for Law and Politics
I am deeply honored to have been awarded the University of Tokyo Fellowship. This fellowship has afforded me the invaluable opportunity to dedicate myself fully to my research on the history of East Asian international relations throughout my PhD studies.
It is valuable and essential to research history of East Asian international relations to remain peace and prosperity in the current situation. As a recipient of the U-Tokyo Fellowship, I will try to contribute to my field of study in the following years.
WANG Wentao
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Message follows in Japanese.
博士課程に進学し、また東大フェローシップ生に選抜されて非常に光栄に思います。修士課程の2年間は深夜まで実験する日々を送りましたが、つらいとは全く思わず、好きな研究ができて忙しい日常も楽しんでいました。
博士課程の3年間はさらにチャレンジに満ちた研究生活になると思うのですが、自分の知識をより一層深め、実験技術に磨きをかけて、より専門性の高い研究者になりたいと思います。
これからも東大フェローシップ生として精一杯頑張っていきたいと思います。
Zhang Xinyao
Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences
As a fortunate recipient of the University of Tokyo Fellowship for the second time, I feel immensely honored and excited. It is not only an encouragement but also a high expectation for my continued academic journey.
My research interests are mainly in algebraic number theory, which is a mysterious, fascinating, and challenging subject in mathematics. During my doctoral studies, I will relentlessly strive to achieve new breakthroughs and accomplishments in my field.
YANG Dongou
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
It is a great honor for me to be admitted to U-Tokyo and selected as an awardee of the U-Tokyo Fellowship. I appreciate the recognition on my past efforts from the university. The financial support will undoubtedly encourage me to focus more on my research. I am determined to try me best in the future and become worthy of the name of a recipient of U-Tokyo Fellowship.
LI Mi
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
I am profoundly honored to accept the Todai fellowship. This accolade serves as a profound affirmation and inspiration of my intellect and capabilities.
The generous support extended by this program fills me with immense gratitude, empowering me to embark on a journey of scientific exploration with unwavering resolve.
Henceforth, I commit to channeling my utmost efforts towards achieving extraordinary feats in the realm of science.
My sincerest thanks for this invaluable opportunity.
○ 2023
LUAN Yuncong
Graduate School of Economics
I am truly delighted and immensely grateful to have been awarded the UTokyo Fellowship. This scholarship is both a remarkable opportunity and a profound honor. It not only supports my academic journey and future aspirations but also significantly alleviates the financial burden on my family. I wholeheartedly express my gratitude to the scholarship committee for their trust in me. And I am committed to making the most of this opportunity and working diligently to understand the economic mechanisms behind Chinese housing prices.
LI Bin
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, Human and Engineered Environmental Studies
First and foremost, I am deeply honored to receive this fellowship. However, as a Todai Fellowship recipient and a PhD student at UTokyo for the following three years, I aspire for this to not be my pinnacle achievement. I am eager to fully utilize this funding to enhance my research on Brain-Computer Interface. With the support from this scholarship, I can focus more intently on my research and explore innovative ideas. I am hopeful that I will do better in my research and my research will significantly contribute to the advancement of human society in the future.
KIM Kibeom
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, Advanced Materials Science
Firstly, receiving this Todai Fellowship will be an incredible honor and a deeply meaningful milestone in my academic journey. I am regarding this as it represents not only recognition of my efforts, but also a significant vote of confidence in my potential. The financial support provided by this fellowship will undoubtedly contribute significantly to my academic and personal growth.
From the 20th century, the eagerness for developing the materials having higher strengths with more lowered weight has been continued. Various trials were also accompanied. After that, over the last 2 decades, High Entropy Alloys (HEAs) are being paid attention as a key solution. Moreover, HEAs having hexagonal close packed (HCP) structure can achieve this more easily than the other structure HEAs (BCC or FCC), by having a lower number of slip systems. Although many strengthening theories and mechanisms and the design for new alloys had been suggested, still those require various improvements and verification.
So, my doctoral research at U of Tokyo will focus on lightweight HEAs for high-temperature environments in pursuit of this goal. I plan to design alloys by alloying different elements to achieve specific microstructures and phase distributions, such as hcp + bcc (or fcc) bimodal phases. Additionally, I will explore phase equilibria influenced by complex elements and study deformation mechanisms to better understand how these alloys improve properties. Through these, I aim to advance as a researcher during my doctoral program, building on the uncovered knowledge additionally combined with the one I've acquired previously. I will also seek opportunities to apply these findings, to develop my skills further.
HONG Haoran
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, Socio-Cultural Environmental Studies
As a novice researcher, I am profoundly grateful and honored to have been chosen as a recipient of the University of Tokyo Fellowship.
From undergraduate years, my interests revolved around creating digital art projects that fostered audience engagement and contemplation. I passionately advocated for environmentally sustainable traditional dyeing techniques and promoted eco-friendly handicrafts. However, I soon came to realize the pressing need to genuinely engage people in critical environmental issues, such as wildlife conservation. To address this challenge, I conceived the idea of using HCI technologies to convey the joy of interacting with animals and underscore the importance of ecological awareness.
During my study life at UTokyo, my goal is to conceive and implement a series of interaction systems aimed at mitigating human-wildlife conflicts in urban environments while ensuring the welfare of wildlife. Leveraging external audiovisual stimuli, these systems will encourage animals to relocate, thereby reducing environmental issues. Through multimedia expression, I wish to facilitate efficient knowledge acquisition and evoke emotional responses among people. With these concepts in mind, I will strive to create an environment where both humans and animals can engage in playful activities, fostering mutual understanding to some extent.
ZHU Qingtian
Graduate School of Information Science and Technology
I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the prestigious University of Tokyo Fellowship as a PhD student. This remarkable opportunity fills me with excitement and a profound sense of responsibility, as I look forward to embarking on this journey of discovery and enlightenment. As I step onto this path, I will hold the aspirations that guide my actions and endeavors throughout my stay at this esteemed institution.
LI Kunhang
Graduate School of Information Science and Technology
Firstly, I extend gratitude to The University of Tokyo for kindly offering the Fellowship, which significantly relieves my financial burden and lets me focus on academic research. My research field is in Computational Linguistics, aiming to explore linguistic structures from a mathematical and cognitive perspective. Large Language Models have recently gained great success in industry applications, but scientific research on how and why they work well is still poor. I hope my research will shed light on underexplored areas like this, leading to meaningful scientific progress for human beings.
MA Mingze
Graduate School of Information Science and Technology
I'm very honored to have been selected as a scholarship recipient at the University of Tokyo. I'm deeply grateful of the support from the university, seeing it as both a recognition of my past efforts and a vote of confidence in my future research performances. This scholarship encourages me to redouble my dedication to my study and research.
My primary research interest lies in computer vision. Having graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, this is a new and challenging field for me. My goal is to apply my knowledge in this field to enhance the ways AI can benefit humanity.
DANG Qun
Graduate School of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
My research area is basic research about icing and frosting, which is not only about science, but also about art. The intricate structure of ice crystals that forms on a windowpane or a leaf during a cold winter's night is nothing short of mesmerizing. In the laboratory, researchers employ microscopes and imaging techniques to capture the delicate beauty of these ice formations, revealing the stunning intricacies that nature hides from the naked eye. The ethereal patterns that emerge, shaped by the interplay of temperature, humidity, and impurities in the freezing process, serve as a constant reminder of the marvels of the natural world.
Moreover, the laboratory is a hub of collaboration, where scientists from various disciplines come together to unravel the secrets of frost and ice. From physicists to chemists, meteorologists to materials scientists, the laboratory serves as a meeting point for minds eager to exchange ideas and share their expertise. Laboratory life in the realm of frost and ice research can be both exhilarating and challenging. It demands patience, dedication, and a keen eye for detail. Yet, it offers the satisfaction of unraveling the enigmatic properties of frozen matter and contributing to our understanding of the natural world. As scientists strive to decode the language of frost and ice, they paint a vivid picture of the beauty and complexity that lie beneath the frozen surfaces of our planet.
CHEN Jianqiang
Graduate School of Engineering, Precision Engineering
It is a great honor for me to be selected as the recipient of The University of Tokyo Fellowship. And thanks for the support of UTokyo, I can focus on my academic research and experience studying abroad in Tokyo.
For my doctoral research field, our final target is to establish design methodology of multi-agent systems including artificial agents, humans and working environments through clarifying the underlying structure and function in the intelligence and mobility of these agents. And I hope to bring my talents into research and achieve breakthroughs in the field.
LI Yifan
Graduate School of Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Information Systems
It is a great honor for me to be a recipient of the University of Tokyo Fellowship. It not only recognizes my work and ability, but also motivates me to continue working harder in the future. My research focuses on innovations in the field of human-computer interaction using wireless energy transmission technology to create a society where everything is interconnected to facilitate people's lives. It's a necessary and interesting research topic. In addition to this, I am also working on helping the underprivileged in society and striving for an equal and convenient future for them. I will enrich my knowledge and put it into practice in the future and do my research with all my might.
LIU Yijie
Graduate School of Engineering, Bioengineering
I am honored to have received this scholarship, and I promise to work tirelessly to realize my full potential and achieve greater success in the field of research. I will remain humble, continue learning, and give back to society by sharing my knowledge and experiences. I will make the most of this opportunity to benefit both myself and the community. I am grateful for the support of this scholarship, and I will not let this trust down as I strive for a better future.
XUE Dingming
Graduate School of Engineering, Systems Innovation
It's a great honor for me to be awarded the UTokyo Fellowship scholarship. My research focuses on how to better construct a data marketplace by creating artificial intelligence tools, thereby providing more creative ideas and solutions for people's production and work. We are in an era of data explosion, a stage where data science holds limitless potential. With the support of this scholarship, I believe I can dedicate more of my time to research and advance further in the field of data science and technology. Let us, as researchers, strive to create a better future.
GUO Zirui
Graduate School of Engineering, Systems Innovation
The University of Tokyo Fellowship affirms my past achievements and encourages me to further investigation of scientific truth. With very much honor and appreciation I am able to dedicate myself into multidisciplinary studies and cross-cultural communication at the UTokyo for the next two years.
During the matriculation ceremony, our President encouraged us to believe in our potentials, across disciplinary boundaries, stand on the shoulders of giants and apply the wisdom of those who came before. In the Department of Systems Innovation, we integrate scientific knowledge of multiple academic fields and create advanced systems in order to meet the needs of future society. The chance to concentrate on carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics research enables me to seek possibility for more efficient use of resources and energy, thus make contributions to net-zero emissions and sustainable development in the future.
WANG Ziyue
Graduate School of Engineering, Technology Management for Innovation
I am really honored to be rewarded by the UTokyo Fellowship. Tokyo University has always been my dream school and my hard work pays off when I received the admission letter. As a recipient of the University of Tokyo Fellowship, I will work hard to overcome the potential difficulties and contribute to my field of study in the following years.
HUANG Jingzhi
Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies
It is my great honor to be granted the UT fellowship scholarship, which not only provides financial support but also serves as validation of my past work and potential. I am interested in discovering the intimate relationship between AI and humans and its implications for social structures in the future, such as marriage and family. More specifically, how does AI obtain trust and establish meaningful relationships with humans in private and social environments even with limited technological affordances? How does AI’s socialization process gain or impact its social identity and roles as a friend, lover, and family member? How would that affect people’s perception of "good" relationships and interaction preferences in general? I hope my research could contribute to the understanding of human and AI interaction in the new era and may answer the seemingly narcissistic question: what is it to be human?
With all the support, I am eager to dedicate myself to the field and embark on a new chapter of my research journey at the University of Tokyo.
CHEN Mingyuan
Graduate School of Engineering, Architecture
First of all, I would like to appreciate the University of Tokyo and the department of engineering. It is my honor to be selected as an awardee of The University of Tokyo Fellowship. The fellowship is a great encouragement for people like me to make contributions to the research of different aspects.
I am a Chinese student majoring in architecture and my research interests are basically in city analytics, which is aiming to study how to improve our city by analyzing the data and feelings of people living here and images from the city. In order to realize my research target, I need to learn more modern techniques to assist me dealing with countless data and even select them autonomically. With the help of fellowship, there will be more time for me to overcome the obstacles in the research without wasting time on thinking of the economic problems.
CHANG Shihua
Graduate School of Engineering, Architecture
I am deeply honored to have been awarded The University of Tokyo Fellowship, and I want to express my sincere gratitude for the trust in me by the faculty. This generous support from the university enables me to fully immerse myself in my architectural studies and serves as a driving force for my academic ambitions, and also creates a nurturing and motivating environment. I am eager to collaborate with fellow scholars and classmates who share my passion for architecture. I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions, exploring innovative design concepts, and contributing to the rich tapestry of knowledge within the university's academic community.
LUAN Yinan
Graduate School of Engineering, Bioengineering
I would like to sincerely appreciate UTokyo, for being awarded the UTokyo fellowship with great honor. Not only is it a recognition of my past studies, but also an engine of motivation for me to study harder and work better during my master's degree. I will try my utmost to live up to the honor and expectations.
My undergraduate major is Biological Sciences. During my study and research, I came to realize that Biology is a naturally fertile but of which the far greater part is uncultivated land, while chemistries especially polymers would serve as powerful tools. Therefore, my aspirations are to clearing this land, developing powerful tools, and moreover, comprehending the mechanism of their crossover and interaction.
ZENG Erli
Graduate School of Engineering, Urban Engineering
I am honored to be awarded the University of Tokyo Fellowship Scholarship. As a newly admitted Ph.D. student, my interest focuses on environmental behavior and psychology research to discuss healthy human settlements with the help of SPSS, AMOS, machine learning and other quantitative techniques. This is not only associated with physical health as decrease the prevalence of obesity by promoting walking, but also viewed as a potential path to improve people’s perceived safety and happiness to reduce depression from living environment perspectives, which is valuable in guiding landscape design and management. Relative research experience gave me an intriguing window into the way people live.
At the end of the drama Dragon-Zakura, Sakuragi sensei said, "There is only one correct answer to the entrance exam while many possible answers to life. Never deny yourself the possibility." So I am here, at Tokyo University, to question the existing, explore the possibility, and add great visions to the shared world.
“人生には答えは一つでない。頑張れば、必ず望みは叶う。”
YI Shiyao
Graduate School of Engineering, Urban Engineering
As an apprentice in city planning, I’ve always found myself intrigued by the topics of lands, especially land preservation and conservation. The American success of farmland preservation inspired me to delve deeper into this field.
It is a great pleasure and honor to be awarded the UTokyo Fellowship. This scholarship enables me to conduct more case studies, field trips, and data analysis in exploring how land preservation helps manage risks in today’s cities around the globe that are threatened by climate change.
I am planning on focusing on this angle and working to build that throughout my doctoral research. I will do my utmost to complete the course and contribute to the field of urban engineering.
Xin “Charlie” QING
Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies
I am truly honored to be awarded the UTokyo Fellowship and want to express my sincere gratitude to my mentor, all Itatsu Lab members, and everyone who has been supportive in my academic life.
My research explores narratives and violence surrounding the female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) industry in Japan and beyond. Amid a dearth of inclusive sex education, women still live in a reality in which natural diversity and variation of their bodies, especially parts that remain a cultural taboo, are regarded rather as imperfection and deformity necessitating a “treatment.” My study hence investigates propellants that drive FGCS recipients to the surgical suite and sources of widely circulated yet suspicious sexual and genital norms, from which treatment providers make profits. Continuing from my undergraduate study, I would like to further the discussion of how individuals’ struggles navigating their genitalia and the proliferation of genital aesthetics blur the boundaries between what is considered compulsory and voluntary, repressive and liberatory, patriarchal tyranny and technological promise.
With the Fellowship, not only can I better concentrate on my study and research, but I also became aware of my responsibility as someone looking into a rather under-researched and unspeakable realm filled with pain, trauma, and violence. I would like to take this opportunity to not only upgrade my analytic toolkit, but, more importantly, to always reflect on my research ethics. I will be sure to approach different communities with substantial sensitivity and understanding of their circumstances and strive for a world in which no one’s body is forbidden or mystified, in which everyone can navigate their body and sexuality unrestrictedly and safely.
YU Fuqian
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
Although many tools of technical analysis are currently being introduced into the field of archaeology, I believe that existing research is often limited in its abilities to explain archaeological phenomena using the results of technological analysis, because the fields of archaeology and natural science are very different. And since archaeology is at the same time a department that values human interaction, the University of Tokyo is an outstanding university in the world, with many excellent scholars and students from all over the world. Through the interactions that occur there, we may find new clues for our research. For these reasons, I hope to use my studies and research as a bridge to better connect scholars in different fields and to better interpret the meaning of archaeology.
WANG Zhixin
Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies
Message follows in Japanese.
まず、これから2年間は東大フェローシップ奨学金の援助を受け、研究に専念させていただけることに心から感謝を申し上げます。
法学部出身の私は、今AIがどう世界を変えていくのかに楽しみにしている一方、その無秩序な発展につれて不法使用及び権利の侵害問題に警戒心を持っています。人間の本位性を持ちながら、AIをライバルではなく相棒になる社会を達成するため、今後2年間を通じて更に知見を深め、AI自動生成行為の適法範囲を探って努力していきたいと思います。
LIN Nie
Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies
I will be supported by the University of Tokyo fellowships in the following study period. I sincerely thank the University of Tokyo for providing me with this opportunity to focus on my academic research.
I have been committed to the research of computer vision. As an interdisciplinary research of computer and AI, computer vision has been highly valued in the academic field. How to make AI think like human beings is the topic I will explore at the University of Tokyo. Explore the infinite possibilities of AI decision making and Intellectual growth by learning from the same first-person perspective as the human eye. The final hope is to make AI an assistant to assist the healthy and steady development of human society.
CHENG Xueru
Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology
Message follows in Japanese.
この度は、栄えある東大フェローシップの受給者として採用していただき、誠に有り難うございます。このような栄誉は自分に縁のないものと思っておりましたので、受給の通知を受けて、唯々驚いております。 これからの抱負について、私は様々な分野と連携できる研究者と日中文化交流に貢献できる研究者を目指したいと考えています。まず、私が研究対象とする『孝経鄭注』の受容は文献学、中国哲学、社会学、政治学、思想史学などの幅広い分野に関連するものであるため、私は様々な分野を結びつける役割を果たし、各分野の間の交流を促進した上で、中国哲学分野だけでなく、思想史、社会学、政治学などの分野においても有意義な研究を生み出すことを目標とします。
そのほか、私の研究テーマは日本近代および中国清代の漢籍の交流と受容です。当時の中国は鎖国状態であったため、政治の場における日本との交流はそれほど多くないです。しかし、商船によって様々な漢籍の流伝が可能となり、当時の両国の知識人も商人と交遊することで、自分の著作を日本・中国に輸入しました。私は、このような古代・近代において両国が盛んに交流していた足跡を振り返ることによって、研究者として日本に所蔵された漢籍及び日本の漢学の歴史を中国の学界及び一般人に紹介するとともに、漢籍の魅力を日本社会に伝えることに努めたいです。
今回の受給は、私個人の力で得たものではなく、研究室及び人文社会系の先生方からのご指導をいただいた成果だと身に染みて感じております。これからも初心を忘れずに、学界・社会に貢献できるよう頑張って参ります。
HUANG Ji
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Message follows in Japanese.
私は理論化学の観点から、これまでの研究でほとんど議論されていないプロトンのダイナミクスを考察し、体内埋め込み型燃料電池のプロトン伝導性を定量的に明らかにします。本研究の完成により、プロトン伝導体を探索するための新しい構造設計指針が得られ、埋め込み型電池に適した電解質膜を論理的に設計することも可能となると考えます。それによりグルコース燃料電池の性能向上、普及率の増加にも寄与できるはずです。
○ 2022
JEONG Inhyeok
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Message follows in Japanese.
まず、東京大学外国人留学生特別奨学制度（東大フェローシップ）に採用されたこと、光栄に思っております。
私はeスポーツプレイヤーの優れた神経的・身体的特徴を明らかにし、優れた能力に基づいた新しいトレーニング方法を開発する研究をしております。
eスポーツプレイヤーは認知アスリートとも呼ばれ、世界的に注目を集めていますが、日本ではまだeスポーツについての偏見が存在しています。そこで私はこのような偏見に立ち向かい、日本でeスポーツが新しいスポーツとして普及できるような研究に力を入れています。
ZHANG Han
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Message follows in Japanese.
夢を分析、自身を知れ、調和ある多様な社会へ!
この度は、憧れである東京大学に進学し、そして東大フェローシップの受給者に選んでいただけることに大変光栄に思っており、感謝で胸がいっぱいです。この研究奨励費のおかげで自分のやりたい研究や、将来の夢に向かい、専念して取り組むことができています。心より深く御礼申し上げます。
巨人であるフロイトらの肩の上に立ち、「夢を見ている睡眠に伴う創造的思考のメカニズムの解明」をテーマとし、夢を見ている睡眠において、新しくて有意義な着想を生み出す思考を促進する脳活動を解明します。また、夢を見ている睡眠に伴う創造的思考の数理的なモデルを構築します。将来、脳科学の未知な世界を多面的な視点で探索し続け、人間が主体性・創造性を保ちながら人工知能(AI)を使いこなし、AIと共存するための独創的な研究成果を産み出し、調和ある多様な社会全体の発展に貢献して参ります。
「意志あるところに、道は開ける」今後は、この貴重なご支援を活かし、日々の研究を楽しみながら、一日でも早くご支援くださる皆様のご期待に応えられるよう、地道に粘り強く研究活動を行って参ります。
SONG Jiacheng
Graduate School of Engineering
My research theme is about penetration performance of percussion rock drills under complex geological conditions.
I will try my best to complete the PhD study.
ZHOU Meng
Graduate School of Engineering
It is of great honor to be awarded and supported by the University of Tokyo Fellowship, which acts like an encouragement and a motivation to me. It seems to remind me that I can be a better one than I think.
It has been almost one year since I enrolled in the University of Tokyo, and my life as well as my study career have changed a lot. Currently, the research of my Ph.D. career is related to the combustion, which is always motivated by the improvement of thermal efficiency of IC engines, the reduction of pollution emissions, and the advanced combustion strategies. Specifically, my research topic is the low-temperature combustion kinetics of clean and alternative fuels. By experimental and numerical studies, our target is to provide more useful and solid evidence to develop further insight into detailed kinetics. Energy conservation and emission reduction are two of the most vital themes in the global world that are related closely to the progress of the society and the existence of human-beings, which motivates me to dedicate my passion and efforts into my research field. Furthermore, there are too many leading members and excellent researchers in my research field who I really hope to communicate with, and I think it is likely to realize in the University of Tokyo because it always provides us with more international stages and more precious opportunities.
Again, it is grateful to receive this fellowship. Wish I will experience a happy journey in the University of Tokyo!
FANG Zhong
Graduate School of Engineering
Being selected as a UT scholarship student is an incredible privilege, and I am filled with immense gratitude towards the University of Tokyo for granting me this prestigious award. I am truly excited about the opportunity to expand my horizons and enhance my knowledge at UTokyo. From this point forward, I am committed to studying and researching with even greater dedication, striving to achieve my academic ambitions. As a student with a deep interest in energy research, my ultimate goal is to contribute, albeit in my own modest way, to the ongoing energy revolution. With support of the UT Fellowship, I am confident that I can make a meaningful and impactful contribution to this crucial field. Once again, I express my heartfelt appreciation to UTokyo for recognizing my potential and granting me this scholarship.
COBBINAH Prince Valentine
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
When I received the final decision email that I have been selected to receive the Todai Fellowship Award, it was the best news I have had especially during this difficult period of the pandemic. Humbly, I am highly honored and grateful for the award, and the recognition shows that hard work truly pays off.
My PhD research delves into the intentional use of the additive manufacturing process to control microstructures and texture in building Ti6246 alloy products. It is envisaged that with controlled texture building, unique properties of materials or alloys can be achieved. Thus, my research intends to explore this new avenue to induce new properties or enhance existing properties and performances of Ti6246 alloy components for low-pressure compressors of the turbine engine.
The success of the research will highlight additive manufacturing as an economical processing alternative which will help push further the incorporation of lightweight materials into the turbine engine to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve its efficiency.
It is a dream come true to be at The University of Tokyo and I can’t wait to get started and contribute to my field of study!!
WANG Wentao
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Message follows in Japanese.
東大フェローシップ生に当選できて光栄に思っております。これからは天然物合成化学教室にて複雑な天然物の全合成について研究していきたいと思います。来日からまだ一か月も経っていないんですけれども、だいぶ東大での研究生活に慣れてきました。この先は困難やわからないところはたくさんあるかもしれませんけれども、勉強しながら困難を乗り越えたいと思います。研究はつらくて、失敗する時も多いですけれども、その数々の失敗を積み重ね、成功にたどり着くことこそが研究の楽しむところだと思います。これからは東大フェローシップ生として精一杯頑張っていきたいと思います。
ZHANG Xinyao
Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences
It is my great honor to be selected for the University of Tokyo Fellowship.
I am an overseas student from China and my major is mathematics. More specifically, my research interests are mainly in number theory, which is a subject to study the fascinating and profound laws of the integers. My professional goal is to contribute to mathematics as a number theorist, and to leave my name behind some wonderful theorems. In order to realize my dream, I need to work hard to learn more modern techniques, and the fellowship is a great inspiration to encourage me to overcome potential difficulties in the future.
Also, I would like to appreciate all the people for supporting me.
CHAI Chengli
Graduate School of Engineering
First of all, please let me thank the University of Tokyo for giving me such a wonderful scholarship, it is the honor of my life to be awarded the UTokyo Fellowship. This proves the school's affirmation of my past achievements, and also inspires me to work harder in the next doctoral academic path, to achieve bigger and better results so as to be worthy of this honor.
There is a saying in my country that actions speak louder than words. As a doctoral student, I feel that I should be more down-to-earth, strive to explore unknown areas, and contribute to the scientific and technological progress of all mankind. This is my expectation and hope to bring encouragement and courage to all the students at the University of Tokyo. I hope we can all be better versions of ourselves tomorrow, thank you!
SHAO Tianyu
Graduate School of Engineering
It is my great honor to be awarded The University of Tokyo Fellowship. The University of Tokyo has always been my ideal university, and I feel really excited to have the opportunity to enhance my professional knowledge here.
For my doctoral study, I study the efficacy of using a machine learning method to predict the internal corrosion degree with the surface cracking of concrete. For many concrete structures exposed to moist environment, rebar corrosion takes place which causes structural deterioration. Surface crack can be used as an index to estimate the internal corrosion level, which is important to evaluate the structural performance, and maintenance of the structures can be carried out to ensure the serviceability and safety of the structures.
I will keep my enthusiasm for research works during my future study and show great perseverance in the face of difficulty. I believe I will acquire the knowledge, skills and versatility needed to achieve my goal with my best efforts at The University of Tokyo.
LIN Li-Yen
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
It’s a great honor to receive the UTokyo fellowship. It reduces my concern about the daily expenditure so that I can concentrate more on the research.
For my master’s degree, I investigated the crosstalk between autophagy and phosphate homeostasis. To continue a path of research on the improvement of nutrient utilization in agriculture, I found a great doctoral program provided by UTokyo. I will study the mechanism of rice root system promotion of biological nitrogen fixation activity in paddy soils by exploring the potential rhizosphere communication between rice roots and iron-reducing bacteria. This study may shed light on the potential alternatives to reduce the consumption of nitrogen fertilizer on rice production.
Besides, I appreciate the pragram’s positive attitude toward global issues. I believe studying in UTokyo will become a good connection to what I have been trained and extend my knowledge into practical use. I will take the support in heart and make an all-out effort to carry out my research.
WANG Zerun
Graduate School of Information Science and Technology
It is my honor to be granted the University of Tokyo Fellowship scholarship. I will definitely not disappoint the school's expectations.
As a doctoral student at the University of Tokyo, conducting research on deep learning-based computer vision tasks, which are widely used in automatic driving systems, medical lesion detection, and other fields. I found the problem that collecting and labeling new data consumes a large amount of workforce and electricity. For example, a famous dataset, ImageNet, which consists of over 400 million images, needs to be labeled and verified on a computer for 19 years if one person does all the work 24 hours a day.
Therefore, I intend to study further the specific problem of better utilizing existing web data for these tasks since web data can be easily collected by searching keywords on web engines. However, the difficulty is that the quality of web data is uncontrollable. So, the performance is limited if directly using it. I try to overcome this difficulty by exploring and imitating the mechanism of how humans learn to select and label noisy data by learning a few examples.
I believe my research at the University of Tokyo can help save considerable energy and labor costs for collecting new data as well as improve the performance of object detection methods, which can then facilitate the progress of automatic driving, AI-based healthcare, and other technologies.
WANG Zhiwei
Graduate School of Medicine
Message follows in Japanese.
この度は東京大学フェローシップ生に採用していただき、誠にありがとうございます。
私は今、口腔顎顔面外科学分野の研究室で、薬剤関連顎骨壊死（MRONJ）の病態に関する研究をしています。
ご存知の方は少ないかもしれませんが、MRONJは患者さんのクオリティ・オブ・ライフを大幅に低下させる深刻な病気の一種です。
これからは一歯医者として、一研究者として、このような病気の解消に励んでまいります。
大学院卒業後も引き続き臨床と研究を両立し、日中両国の口腔外科における連携を推進しつつ、患者さんの苦しみを少しでも取り除けるよう頑張りたいと思います。
CHEN Hongruixuan
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
I feel really honored to be awarded as the Todai Fellowship.
My research has always been motivated by how to better monitor, describe and understand changes in our planet's surface, thereby contributing to urban planning, resource management, environmental protection, and sustainable development. To this end, during my past and current research experience, I focus on exploring and developing effective artificial intelligence technology for processing and analyzing multitemporal and multisource remote sensing data, especially focusing on land-cover and land-use change detection and building damage assessment tasks. Over the past years, I have worked very hard in my research field and several fruits have been yielded. More importantly, the research experience trained me with fundamental quality and ability, increased my dedication, strengthened my determination, and enhanced my confidence to further exploration in scientific research.
Therefore, I am now choosing to continue my study for a doctorate degree in UTokyo, under the supervision of Prof. Naoto Yokoya. After receiving my doctoral degree, I intend to find an academic research position in a top university because I want to continue scientific research and make some contributions to the world through my scientific research achievements. Over the next three years, I hope that through the funding of Todai Fellowship, I will be able to receive more in-depth training in scientific research, accumulate more significant academic publications, work in an interdisciplinary environment, and interact and collaborate with more academic peers, thereby supporting me strongly to achieve my academic goals. More importantly, with this great chance, I hope that I can become a future-oriented researcher. I have always believed that a good researcher should be concerned with the future, including the future of the research field, the future of this society, and the next generation of researchers.
For the first point, I want to be a researcher who can bring new ideas and even revolutions to my research field. When conducting research, I do not ask myself, “Has this method ever been published before?” but rather to ask myself, “Will my research create new knowledge and inspiration for the field?” Secondly, I hope I can keep reflecting on what contributions my research and skills can bring to our society rather than only limiting myself to theoretical innovation. I will therefore actively seek opportunities to collaborate with international organizations, government departments, and companies to apply my research to real scenarios. Finally, I believe that a good researcher should not only focus on his/her research but also on passing on his/her knowledge and experience to the next generation. Therefore, I intend to construct my own research group at a top university or research institute and help these potential researchers become the researcher they want to become.
Furthermore, I will continue my current collaborations with some professors and researchers in different universities and international organizations, including Wuhan University, University of Buffalo, University of Maryland, United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). On the one hand, the in-depth collaborations between labs can contribute to valuable research results. On the other hand, the cooperation with international organizations provides me with the chance to apply my research work for serving the community.
LI Yilang
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
Since the 20th century, the rapid development of science and technology has promoted economic development and improved people's living standards. However, at the same time, mankind has also paid a heavy price. Due to the emission of industrial waste, automobile exhaust, sewage irrigation, the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, soil, water quality and atmosphere have been seriously polluted. In order to curb the expansion of this pollution, many measures need to be implemented to repair the environment, so as to create a healthy living environment for future generations. CRISPR technology, which has sprung up in recent years, has the potential to accelerate biological research. In the next three years, thanks to the scholarship, I will be able to dedicate myself to optimizing technology for pollutant transformation. I aim to identify and solve specific issues, paving the way for my lifelong research, one step at a time.
LI Lanshu
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Message follows in Japanese.
東大フェローシップを受け、誠にありがとうございました。今後私は大学院から提供する資源とチャンスを十分に利用して、さまざまなスキルを身につけて、より本質的な生命科学原理を探索し、検証します。未知を恐れないで、異なる分野でも常に情熱を持って挑戦に直面する勇気を持って、より望ましい自分になることを目指しています。修士課程であれ、今後であれ、自分にとって面白く、学界に促進され、社会医療健康に役立つ研究をしたいと思います。
YU Zhongtian
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
I feel honored to be selected as a recipient of the University of Tokyo Fellowship. Ahead of all, I would like to show my gratitude to the fellowship foundation and the division for global campus initiatives to give me this favor.
I have been having a keen interest in the field of pharmaceutical sciences from a very young age. When I was just a little kid, I kept wondering how does nature take birth to us and at the same time take us by various diseases. As I grow older, my scope of knowledge was broadened and my contact with the world was strengthened. On the aim of investigating more sophisticated science and having a better look of this world, I chose to come to the University of Tokyo for further study in the Lab of Natural Product Chemistry at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
For my future study, I will mainly focus on the field of biosynthesis and enzymology. Natural products have long been used as a abundant source of therapeutics. For example, artemisinin is a good medicine for malaria extracted from Artemisia annua, while taxol is a star molecule with anti-cancer effect that scientists found in Taxus chinensis. However, some of the effective natural products are secondary metabolites and their content in the natural samples are very low. With the strategy of biosynthesis, we can synthesize these compounds at promising rates and adjust their structures to people’s need. For my first project, I will work on the biosynthetic pathway of Agrocin, an antimicrobial and Sulphostin, a very potent inhibitor of human DPP4 protease, which is an ideal therapeutic target for diabetes.
I will always remember this inspiring title of a recipient of the University of Tokyo Fellowship. In future study, I will do my best to explore new science and make contribution to this world.
