Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences
Tohoku University

平成30年度成果報告会「FRIS Annual Meeting 2019」を開催いたします。 本研究所所属教員および各種研究支援プログラムの研究代表者が、本年度またはプログラム通期の成果報告を行います。 また、学際的な研究に携わる2名の研究者を招待し、講演を行います。 ご関心のある方の参加を歓迎いたします。 日時：2019年　2月22日（金）9：00～18：30 会場：東北大学片平さくらホール 参加申込：不要     2月22日（金） 9：00～18：30 詳細タイムテーブル /  TIME TABLE（PDF） 講演 亀井信一 氏（株式会社三菱総合研究所・研究理事）     柴﨑裕樹 氏（物質・材料研究機構・若手国際研究センター・研究員） 東海林亙 准教授（学際科学フロンティア研究所） 学際研究支援プログラム報告（口頭） 学際研究促進プログラム報告（口頭） ショートプレゼンテーション(新領域創成研究部) ポスターセッション&懇親会 懇親会 17:10～　※ポスターセッション時 お問い合わせ 学際科学フロンティア研究所 事務室 （022）795-5755 @       #s3gt_translate_tooltip_mini { display: none !important; }

Book "Research Handbook on the Law of Artificial Intelligence" Yueh-Hsuan Weng  (Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division) co-authored   The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has made tremendous advances in the last two decades, but as smart as AI is now, it is getting smarter and becoming more autonomous. This raises a host of challenges to current legal doctrine, including whether AI/algorithms should count as ‘speech’, whether AI should be regulated under antitrust and criminal law statutes, and whether AI should be considered as an agent under agency law or be held responsible for injuries under tort law. This book contains chapters from US and international law scholars on the role of law in an age of increasingly smart AI, addressing these and other issues that are critical to the evolution of the field.   Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing Date Published: December 2018 Format: Hardback ISBN： 978 1 78643 904 8   https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/research-handbook-on-the-law-of-artificial-intelligence  

The 2nd FRIS-TFC Joint Symposium Unlocking the Brain — from Engineering Approaches Brain defines who we are. It is the most complicated system in the universe, the function of which is so delicately performed via each individual neuron and glial cell. Endeavors from generations of enthusiastic neuroscientist have been dedicated to peek into brain, in order to figure out detailed mechanisms underlying their function. Unraveling such mysteries will not be possible if mere biological approach is adopted. We encourage interdisciplinary effort, across chemistry, physics, material sciences, electronics or engineering at large, work together to untangle such long-standing mysteries. Taking together, this symposium aims to bring people from different fields who endeavor to unlock the brain.   Date: Monday, January 21, 2019, 14:00 – 18:20 　　　〔18：20～20：00 Social gathering〕   Organized by: ・Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University (FRIS) ・Tohoku Forum for Creativity, Organization for Research Promotion (TFC) Co-organized by ・Career Development Project for Researchers of Allied Universities (FoXFoRD) ・Division for Interdisciplinary Advanced Research and Education (DIARE)   Venue: TOKYO ELECTRON House of Creativity 3F, Lecture Theater, Katahira Campus, Tohoku University [Access]   Speakers: Polina Anikeeva, Ph.D. （Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT） Haruhiko Bito, M.D., Ph.D. （The University of Tokyo） Ritchie Chen, Ph.D. （Stanford University） Norio Takada Ph.D. （Keio University） Ko Matsui, Ph.D. （Tohoku University）   More details on : The 2nd FRIS-TFC Joint Symposium Web   Contact : FRIS（Hashimoto） @

  Book "Alexithymia: Advances in Research, Theory, and Clinical Practice" Michiko Kano (Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division) co-authored   Publisher: Cambridge University Press Date Published: September 2018 Format: Hardback ISBN: 9781108416641   Alexithymia is a personality trait characterised by difficulty identifying and describing subjective emotional feelings, a restricted imagination, and an externally oriented style of thinking. Individuals with high levels of this trait are at risk of developing several common psychiatric disorders. The concept of alexithymia has evolved considerably over the past twenty years, and this important new work responds to the need for a definitive book on the subject. The research, theory and clinical issues surrounding alexithymia are discussed in depth, examining the psychological, biological and social aspects of the construct and their related outcomes. Featuring contributions from researchers and clinicians in the field of emotion processing and regulation, chapters include methods for assessing and reducing alexithymia, and research findings from diverse fields of scientific enquiry including genetics, neuroimaging studies, emotion regulation, attachment and trauma research, and comorbidities with a number of psychiatric and medical disorders.   https://www.cambridge.org/jp/academic/subjects/medicine/mental-health-psychiatry-and-clinical-psychology/alexithymia-advances-research-theory-and-clinical-practice?format=HB%20? #s3gt_translate_tooltip_mini { display: none !important; } #s3gt_translate_tooltip_mini { display: none !important; }

Number of position and job 10 Assistant Professors Organization and Department Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division, Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan Research field ６ Research categories（1. Material and Energy, 2. Life and Environment, 3. Information and System, 4. Device and Technology, 5. Human and Society, 6. Advanced Basic Science）. Applicants are required to promote interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary sciences. Supporting conditions 2.5 million JPY (maximum) per year, which is changed by the personal evaluation in every year. Required qualification PhD degree Starting Date April 1, 2019 Term 3 years (with possibility of an one-time reappointment for 2 years through the personal evaluation) According to the Tohoku University’s policy, departments and/or institutes in Tohoku University consider the possibility to employ assistant professors of FRIS with excellent activities at the ends of the terms as associate professors. Treatment An annual salary and allowance will be provided in accordance with Tohoku University Remarks Applicants can select the 3 research categories at most in the proposal. Applicants are preferably requested to select the professor (or associate professor) in Tohoku University as your mentor. If you cannot get the approval, maximum 3 professors or associate professors in Tohoku University can be applied as the candidates. Application deadline Applications should arrive by October 31, 2018 Requested documents (1) Curriculum Vitae (including your photograph, lists of publications, presentation and collaboration). Please be sure to include your current mail and e-mail addresses, and phone number. (2) Brief statements of your research results (3) Proposal in our format (4) Approximately two academic references with e-mail addresses.   (5) Copy of less than 5 papers of your research results (All documents should be prepared in A4 or Letter size format.) Application Office of FRIS, Tohoku University 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan (Application should be sent by (International) delivery services such as post, EMS, FedEx, DHL, UPS etc. as documents (hard copy) with a description of "Assistant Professor position application". Electric data sent by E-mail or in recording media such as CD-ROM, USB memory etc. are NOT acceptable.) Recruiting advertisement Proposal More information at Professor, Managing and Planning Division, Junji Saida E-mail：@

FRIS will recruit Assistant Professors from April 2019. Applicant guidelines will be opened in late September 2018. Deadline of application is tentatively the end of October 2018. Details will be announced in our website around the middle of September.   Tentative schedule Beginning period of open recruitment: Late September, 2018 Deadline of application: End of October, 2018     More information at Professor, Managing and Planning Division, Junji Saida E-mail：@

After the gravitational wave detections, a wide class of modified gravity theories have been strongly constrained, and theoretical and observational understandings of dark energy should be expected more important than ever. We aim to bring together a wide range of cosmologists to discuss the theoretical ideas on models of the dark side, and relate them to current and future observations. We hope the workshop will provide a valuable opportunity to have active discussions in cosmology.   Invited Speakers: Claudia de Rham (Imperial college) Kazuya Koyama (Portsmouth U.)   Venue: Aoba-yama campus, Tohoku University, Sendai (Access) June 18-19 : N204, Science Complex C 2F (H-04) June 20 : Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (G-06)   Essential next steps for gravity and cosmology web sait   Contact Atsushi Naruko @

Frontiers in Life Science Seminar Series " Hematopoietic stem cells from human pluripotent stem cells. " We will host a seminar by Dr. Ryohichi Sugimura on April 25th (Wed). Dr. Sugimura has succeeded in generating hematopoietic stem cells from human iPS cells (Sugimura et al, Nature 2017). He will give a talk related to this topic and his current research, which utilizes a bioengineering approach. The following is the detail of the seminar information.   Speaker: Dr. Ryohichi Sugimura (Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical school, USA)   Date and Time: from 4:30pm on April 25, 2018 Place: Seminar Room, the 1st floor at Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University (MAP)   Abstract; A variety of tissue lineages can be differentiated from pluripotent stem cells by mimicking embryonic development through stepwise exposure to morphogens, or by conversion of one differentiated cell type into another by enforced expression of master transcription factors. Here, to yield functional human haematopoietic stem cells, we perform morphogen-directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into haemogenic endothelium followed by screening of 26 candidate haematopoietic stem-cell-specifying transcription factors for their capacity to promote multilineage haematopoietic engraftment in mouse hosts. We recover seven transcription factors (ERG, HOXA5, HOXA9, HOXA10, LCOR, RUNX1 and SPI1) that are sufficient to convert haemogenic endothelium into haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells that engraft myeloid, B and T cells in primary and secondary mouse recipients. Our combined approach of morphogen-driven differentiation and transcription-factor-mediated cell fate conversion produces haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from pluripotent stem cells and holds promise for modelling haematopoietic disease in humanized mice and for therapeutic strategies in genetic blood disorders. Reference: Sugimura et al, Nature 2017, 545(7655):432-438     #s3gt_translate_tooltip_mini { display: none !important; }

Deadline : April 20, 2018   Outline One of the objectives of Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS) is adoption and promotion for basic research themes beyond the typical disciplines. FRIS has basic experiment facilities and devices to meet the demand of interdisciplinary studies.   We invite proposals for interdisciplinary themes and subjects in order to support the seminal studies of 6 domains of (1) Materials and Energy, (2) Life and Environmental science, (3) Information and Systems, (4) Device technology, (5) Human and Society, (6) Advanced basic science for “FRIS Creative Interdisciplinary Research Program”. Adopted themes for this program are supposed to be leading to developed program "FRIS Support Program for Interdisciplinary Research" in future. Submitted proposals are to be reviewed by FRIS committee. We encourage application from young researchers such as assistant prof., lecturer, associate prof..   We appreciate your application based on new original ideas and new points of view.   Research budget 1,000,000 yen for each fiscal year.   Qualification requirements Principal researcher (Research representative) should be a member of Tohoku University as assistant professor, lecturer and associate professor. Especially, we encourage application from young researchers. Application form and submission method Applicants should fill in the application form (A4 2 pages) and follow directions. Submit 2 hard-copies to administvative office of FRIS.  Deadline April 20, 2018   For details please see the application guidelines.   Guidelines（PDF） Application form（word） Contact Prof. Saida, (call extension 92-5752 or e-mail to @ ) Specially assigned associate professor Suzuki, (call extension 92-4353 or e-mail to @).

Deadline : April 6, 2018   Outline   One of the objectives of Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS) is adoption and promotion for basic research themes beyond the typical disciplines. FRIS has basic experiment facilities and devices to meet the demand of interdisciplinary studies. We invite proposals for the cutting-edge interdisciplinary themes or subjects in order to support the seminal studies of 6 domains of (1) Materials and Energy, (2) Life and Environmental science, (3) Information and Systems, (4) Device technology, (5) Human and Society, (6) Advanced basic science for “FRIS Support Program for Interdisciplinary Research”. Submitted proposals are to be reviewed by FRIS committee.   We encourage application from various researchers belonging to the department, institute and center except FRIS in Tohoku University. We don’t limit anything about position of research contributors if a research group meets the conditions as mentioned in guidelines.   We appreciate your application based on new original ideas and new points of view.   Up to 5,000,000 yen for each fiscal year (Up to 15,000,000 for 3 years).   Qualification requirements A research group should consist of members from more than three of faculties (schools) or institutions in Tohoku University. Application documents, Submission method Applicants should fill in the application form (A4 2 pages) and follow directions. Submit 2 hard-copies to administrative of FRIS.  Deadline April 6, 2018   For details please see the application guidelines.   Guidelines（PDF） Application form（word） Contact Prof. Saida, (call extension 92-5752 or e-mail to @ ) Specially assigned associate professor Suzuki, (call extension 92-4353 or e-mail to @). #s3gt_translate_tooltip_mini { display: none !important; }