I work as a Young Research Fellow in a division called X-star, which tries to answer the big questions of life’s origins and its connections to the ocean. My current focus is on a little-known microbial group called iron-oxidizing photosynthetic bacteria, which use light energy from the sun to directly “eat” (oxidize) iron compounds. Growing evidence suggests that these strange bacteria caused major climate changes in the Archaean Eon of the early Earth (approximately 2.5-4 billion years ago), driving the oceans from an iron-rich and oxygen-less state toward the oxygenated oceans we know today. I go to modern iron-rich ecosystems and hunt for new species of these bacteria to expand their little-known diversity, and I grow and study those species in the lab using physiological, genomic, and biochemical techniques. My work helps shape our understanding of how life functioned on the early Earth and how photosynthesis is linked to global climate. I started working at JAMSTEC in 2023 and have loved being able to synergize with other researchers here on my interdisciplinary project.
When I heard about the Young Research Fellow position, I had already been working in Japan for about a year and a half as a JSPS International Postdoctoral Fellow at a different institution. I knew that I enjoyed living in Japan and that there was a flourishing scientific community in my field of environmental microbiology here. It was a natural step for me to want to extend my research career in Japan, and the Young Research Fellow Recruitment was a perfect fit for that.
To me, the Young Research Fellow program really stands out for its flexibility. It gives early career researchers the chance to “spread their wings” working on an independent research topic, and you can tailor your priorities based on where you want to go next. In my case, I feel I’ve truly been able to launch my own research program through my short time as a Young Research Fellow, with support and guidance from mentors and admin staff who want to see you succeed. It's been a great next step for my development as a researcher and has the potential to be a launching board for my long-term scientific career goals.
JAMSTEC has been an excellent place to work. I have found researchers here to be very open to exchange ideas and think about collaborative projects, which makes it a great institute for doing pioneering science. The institute includes advanced analytical equipment and expertise, which means many challenging methods can be done in-house with direct communication. This makes the path from having a new idea to obtaining experimental data much more straightforward – great news for a scientist! Work-life balance at JAMSTEC is also important, meaning you can have a flexible schedule and that people are understanding about other commitments that come up in life.
There are many ways to find community at JAMSTEC. We have a shared lunch hour where it is common for people to gather at the cafeteria and chat. Depending on the day, I’ll join a meetup of internationals, learn about different seasonal fruits in Japan from a fun group of biogeochemists, or chat about science ideas with a colleague. Sometimes I join a volleyball club that plays on the JAMSTEC grounds over lunch, too. JAMSTEC also hosts occasional open houses or festivals, and I think that people’s enthusiasm at these events is a reflection of the positive work environment at the institute.
As a third generation Japanese-Canadian-American, I did not grow up learning much about Japanese language or culture but became interested in knowing more as I got older. Coming to Japan has been a great way to explore my own roots in that sense. My first time to Japan was a big step into the unknown, but I’ve gradually gotten to learn more Japanese since then and have enjoyed starting to understand and engage more with people. These days, I enjoy doing nature photography, exploring new places, and playing board games with friends. I find there is almost always something new to appreciate when living in Japan, whether a festival timed with a change of season or a meal you’ve never had before.
If you want to experience a mixing place between Japan and abroad with world-class researchers, equipment, and expertise, then JAMSTEC could be a good fit for you. I feel that JAMSTEC is working hard to provide good and thoughtful support for its staff, and I appreciate some helpful ways they have supported me as a researcher from abroad. JAMSTEC has a great community of administrative staff and scientists that I feel makes it a very positive place to work. If you do come to JAMSTEC, don’t stay in the silo of your field – try to get to know researchers with different expertise, and it might lead you to new ideas you hadn’t considered before. I wish you the best as you explore the best next steps for your future endeavours!
2024.07.04