March 24, 2025
The 14th SOKENDAI Award
SOKENDAI Award is founded in Academic Year 2018 to commend the students who have accomplished their outstanding research and have been conferred their degrees with the excellent doctoral thesis.
The 14th SOKENDAI Award was held in Hayama campus on March 24, 2025.
| Name | Department | Doctoral thesis |
|---|---|---|
| KANO Ryuichi | School of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Depratment of Infomatics |
Understanding Tree Ensembles Through Deep Learning Theory |
| NAKAGAWA Soya | School of Life Science, Department of Basic Biology |
Analysis of the mechanisms regulating petal development and establishment of a repetitive sequence analysis method in Japanese morning glory |
| IIDA Shiori | School of Life Science, Department of Genetics |
How nuclear environment influences chromatin motion and organization |
Comments from Winners of the 14th SOKENDAI Award
KANO Ryuichi
- School of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Depratment of Infomatics
- Doctorial thesis
『Understanding Tree Ensembles Through Deep Learning Theory』
Comment
I obtained my degree in the Department of Informatics (now the Informatics Program),
with the National Institute of Informatics (NII) as the host institution.
As AI rapidly advances and brings significant changes to society, having the opportunity to conduct AI research at the frontier of this field has been an incredibly valuable experience. I remain deeply grateful for the chance to engage in research within such a privileged environment while gaining exposure to cutting-edge knowledge.
The advancement of AI and other emerging technologies continues to give rise to convenient tools and services, but at the foundation of these developments lies the accumulation of fundamental research.
If you find excitement in creating new technologies and bringing new value to the world, then pursuing challenges at SOKENDAI will surely be an inspiring and fulfilling experience.
KANO Ryuichi
NAKAGAWA Soya
- School of Life Science, Department of Basic Biology
- Doctorial thesis
『Analysis of the mechanisms regulating petal development and establishment of a repetitive sequence analysis method in Japanese morning glory』
Comment
I was part of the Department of Basic Biology, where I had the opportunity to conduct research at the National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB) in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture.
NIBB not only offers state-of-the-art research facilities but also has specialists dedicated to each piece of equipment.
This allows students to easily seek guidance on equipment usage and experimental planning, creating an environment where research ideas can be readily brought to life.
I found it to be an exceptionally well-equipped and supportive setting for research.
Being surrounded by leading researchers in the field gave me valuable insights into different research styles and helped me clarify the kind of researcher I aspire to become.
The institute also offers dedicated student rooms where students can freely interact, exchange ideas about research and career paths, and engage in lively discussions. This environment was another highly appealing aspect of my experience.
NAKAGAWA Soya
IIDA Shiori
- School of Life Science, Department of Genetics
- Doctorial thesis
『How nuclear environment influences chromatin motion and organization』
Comment
I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious award. The guidance and encouragement of my supervisor, Prof. Maeshima, along with the support of my lab members and collaborators, have played a crucial role in my growth.
I studied how DNA, the genetic material, behaves and is regulated within living cells. I was fortunate to be surrounded by exceptional mentors and friends, allowing me to dedicate myself to my research. Thanks to the unique support provided by SOKENDAI, I had the invaluable opportunity to participate in international conferences and engage in collaborative research overseas, making these five years truly fruitful.
With the dream of one day changing the world through the power of science, I will continue to pursue my research.
IIDA Shiori