Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences
Tohoku University

On-site Event   FRIS URO Student Exchange Meeting will be held.   Participants: Undergrad students interested in FRIS URO, FRIS faculties Poster presenters: FRIS URO student staffs, Recruiting FRIS faculties Registration is required for all participants and presenters. To register for the event, please click here ⇒ https://forms.gle/vxjmHVfDoGe5nHte6     FRIS URO is where FRIS faculties recruit TU undergraduate students who are interested in research as Administrative Assistants (AA) without interfering with their schoolwork. We started FRIS URO not only for FRIS faculty’s research progress, but also aiming to provide students with opportunities to experience working in frontier researches. Host：Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences Contact FRIS URO WG @   ◆FRIS URO Website

Assistant Professor Linda Zhang of the Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division has been awarded the Best Poster Award at the 7th Symposium for the Core Research Clusters for Materials Science and Spintronics and the 6th Symposium on International Joint Graduate Program in Materials Science and Spintronics.   The title of the winning poster: Tailoring Nanoporous Materials for Hydrogen Isotope Separation   This award was presented to 10 researchers who gave excellent poster presentations among 91 posters at the Symposium.     Best Poster Award Winners, The 7th Symposium for the CRCMS https://www.crc-ms.tohoku.ac.jp/en/news/2023/11/Symposium2023_Bestposter_index.html

Hybrid event Language: English   Due to due to unforeseen circumstances of the lecturer, this course has been postponed. The new date has not yet been determined and will be announced as soon as details are finalized.   The TI-FRIS Academic Impact Course is designed to help early career researchers acquire the skills necessary to generate world-class academic impact, including publication in top journals.   The talk “Publishing in Nature journals” will be delivered by Dr. Olga Bubnova, the Chief Editor of Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering, and is intended to cover the essential aspects of scientific writing and publishing in Nature Research and Nature Reviews journals with a strong emphasis on Nature journal standards and best practices. During this lecture, the participants will learn about the Nature family of journals, their hierarchy and editorial criteria. We will touch upon the editorial and peer-review process, publishing policies, cover letters and rebuttals. Finally, the key strategies for writing a Nature review article will be presented and the differences between the publication process in Nature Reviews and Nature Research journals will be discussed.   All members of Tohoku University and TI-FRIS participating universities are welcome to attend.     Date and Time: Monday, December 11, 2023, 13:30 to 14:30   Event Style/Venue: A hybrid of and onsite (at FRIS, Tohoku University, maximum number of on-site participants: 70) and online (via Zoom) participations.   Lecturer: Olga Bubnova, PhD (Chief Editor of Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering)   Lecture Title: Publishing in Nature journals   Topic: The talk “Publishing in Nature journals” will be delivered by Dr. Olga Bubnova, the Chief Editor of Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering, and is intended to cover the essential aspects of scientific writing and publishing in Nature Research and Nature Reviews journals with a strong emphasis on Nature journal standards and best practices. During this lecture, the participants will learn about the Nature family of journals, their hierarchy and editorial criteria. We will touch upon the editorial and peer-review process, publishing policies, cover letters and rebuttals. Finally, the key strategies for writing a Nature review article will be presented and the differences between the publication process in Nature Reviews and Nature Research journals will be discussed.   Lecturer Profile: Olga Bubnova received her master's degree in mechanical engineering in 2005 from Samara State Aerospace University in Russia. After graduation, she spent three years working as a system engineer in the electronics and automotive industries. In 2008, she began her studies on organic thermoelectrics at Linköping University in Sweden, where she went on to obtain her PhD. Later she worked at the University of Cambridge as a postdoctoral researcher, focusing on organic photovoltaics. Olga joined Nature Research in October 2015 and worked at Nature Nanotechnology first as Associate then as Senior Editor. She became Chief Editor at Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering in 2023 and is currently based in Tokyo.   Language: English   Host: Tohoku Initiative for Fostering Global Researchers for Interdisciplinary Sciences (TI-FRIS) Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University   Eligible Participants: Faculty and staff members and students belonging to TI-FRIS participating universities (Hirosaki University, Iwate University, Tohoku University, Akita University, Yamagata University, Fukushima University, Miyagi University of Education)   Registration: Please register using the participation application form the registration form. Registration Form   Registration Deadline: Friday, December 1, 2023 (for on-site participation; Will be closed as soon as the number of participants reaches the limit.) Wednesday, December 6, 2023 (for online participation)   Contact: TI-FRIS Secretariat ti-fris*fris.tohoku.ac.jp (replace * with @)    

Quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to process and store information in a way that is different from classical computers. While classical computers rely on bits like tiny switches that can be either 0 or 1, quantum computers use quantum bits (qubits). Qubits are unique because they can be in a mixture of 0 and 1 simultaneously - a state referred to as superposition. This unique property enables quantum computers to solve specific problems significantly faster than classical ones.   In a recent publication in EPJ Quantum Technology, Le Bin Ho from Tohoku University's Frontier Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences has developed a technique called "Time-dependent Stochastic Parameter Shift" in the realm of quantum computing and quantum machine learning. This breakthrough method revolutionizes the estimation of gradients or derivatives of functions, a crucial step in many computational tasks.   Typically, computing derivatives requires dissecting the function and calculating the rate of change over a small interval. But even classical computers cannot keep dividing indefinitely. In contrast, quantum computers can accomplish this task without having to discrete the function. This feature is achievable because quantum computers operate in a realm known as "quantum space," characterized by periodicity, and no need for endless subdivisions.   One way to illustrate this concept is by comparing the sizes of two elementary schools on a map. To do this, one might print out maps of the schools and then cut them into smaller pieces. After cutting, these pieces can be arranged into a line, with their total length compared (see Figure 1a). However, the pieces may not form a perfect rectangle, leading to inaccuracies. An infinite subdivision would be required to minimize these errors, an impractical solution, even for classical computers.   A more straightforward method involves weighing the paper pieces representing the two schools and comparing their weights (see Figure 1b). This method yields accurate results when the paper sizes are large enough to detect the mass difference. This bears resemblance to the parameter shift concept, though operating in different spaces that do not necessitate infinite intervals (as shown in Figure 1c).   Figure 1: Comparing sizes of two elementary schools on the map: (a) Cutting paper pieces into small sections, arranging them in a line, and comparing. This method is less accurate. (b) Shifting the measurement focus from area to weight, providing an exact comparison. (c) Drawing a similar representation of quantum computing, where physical properties are represented in quantum space, forming periodic functions. ©Tohoku University "Our time-dependent stochastic method is applicable to the broader applications for higher-order derivatives and can be employed to compute the quantum Fisher information matrix (QFIM), a pivotal concept in quantum information theory and quantum metrology," states Le.   "QFIM is intricately linked to various disciplines, including quantum metrology, phase transitions, entanglement witness, Fubini-Study metric, and quantum speed limits, making it a fundamental quantity with various applications. Therefore, calculating QFIM on quantum computers can open doors to utilizing quantum computers across diverse fields such as cryptography, optimization, drug discovery, materials science, and beyond."   Le also showed how this method can be used in various applications, including quantum metrology with single and multiple magnetic fields and Hamiltonian tomography applied to intricate many-body systems. He also meticulously compared the new approach to the exact theoretical method and another approximation model called the Suzuki-Trotter. Although the method aligned closely with the theoretical approach, the Suzuki-Trotter approximation deviated from the true value. Enhancing the results of the Suzuki-Trotter approximation would necessitate an infinite subdivision of the Suzuki-Trotter steps.   Figure 2: Comparison of quantum Fisher information calculated from three methods: theory (exact), Suzuki-Trotter approximation, and stochastic parameter shift. The stochastic method matches very well with the theory, while the Suzuki-Trotter approximation deviates from the true value and requires an infinite subdivision of the Suzuki-Trotter step to improve the accuracy. ©Tohoku University Publication Details Title: A stochastic evaluation of quantum Fisher information matrix with generic Hamiltonians Authors: Le Bin Ho Journal: EPJ Quantum Technology DOI: 10.1140/epjqt/s40507-023-00195-w Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/exploring_parameter_shift_for_quantum_fisher_information.html

Dr. Le Bin Ho of the Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division has been awarded "IOP Trusted Reviewer status" by IOP Publishing. The status acknowledges that he has demonstrated a high level of peer review competence, with the ability to critique scientific literature to an excellent standard.  

A group of researchers from Tohoku University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Rice University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have proposed a new mechanism to enhance short-wavelength light (100-300 nm) by second harmonic generation (SHG) in a two-dimensional, thin material composed entirely of commonplace elements.   Since UV light with SHG plays an important role in semiconductor lithography equipment and medical application that does not use fluorescent materials, this discovery has important implications for existing industries and all optical applications.   Details of the research were published in the journal ACS Nano on August 29, 2023. The study was selected as the cover issue.   Second-harmonic generation of 2D Janus MoSSe/MoS2 hetero-bilayers is optimized by stacking order and strain. (Credit: Nguyen Tuan Hung et al.) Janus Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs) are a specific class of two-dimensional (2D) materials, typically composed of a transition metal (such as molybdenum or tungsten) sandwiched between two chalcogen elements (such as sulfur, selenium, or tellurium). Named after the Roman god Janus, who had two faces looking in opposite directions, Janus TMDs do not have inversion symmetry between two surfaces of thin material. This built-in asymmetry makes Janus-TMD materials suitable for SHG, particularly when the two TMDs are hetero-stacked.   SHG is a nonlinear optical process in which two photons with the same frequency (ω) interact nonlinearly with the material, and as a result, a single photon with twice the frequency (2ω) (or half wavelength) is generated. Basically, it is a phenomenon where incoming light is converted into light with double the frequency or half wavelength.   SHG is important in various applications, including laser technology, microscopy, medical science and the solid state physics. SHG is used to generate light with shorter wavelengths, which can be valuable in fields like semiconductor lithography equipment and medical application as imaging technique that does not use fluorescent materials.   “Our team of researchers studied the optimized conditions of SHG in heterobilayers of the 2D Janus-TMD materials,” points out Nguyen Tan Hung, assistant professor of Frontier Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (FRIS), Tohoku University. “Specifically, we found that AA stacking, in which atoms in top layer directly overlap atoms in the bottom layer, and AB stacking, in which atoms in top layer do not directly overlap atoms in the bottom layer, resulted in a threefold enhancement of the former in the nonlinear optical response of the SHG.” This theoretical prediction agreed with the fact that the SHG peak intensity is four times larger for AA stacking than for AB stacking in the experiment.   “Thus, we have suggested that SHG intensity is also a useful way to determine how the layers of 2D materials are stacked,” said Nguyen. In addition, the researchers suggest that adding lateral strain (up to 20%) to these materials can further increase the light intensity significantly."   “Our research introduces a new category of materials that produce SHG, and we can make them in a flexible way using 2D materials,” adds Nguyen.   In addition to Nguyen, other participants include Professor Emeritus Riichiro Saito of Tohoku University, Professor Shengxi Huang and her group at Rice University in the United States, and Professor Jing Kong and her group at MIT. Publication Details Title: Nonlinear Optical Responses of Janus MoSSe/MoS2 Heterobilayers Optimized by Stacking Order and Strain     Authors: Nguyen Tuan Hung, Kunyan Zhang, Vuong Van Thanh, Yunfan Guo, Alexander A. Puretzky, David B. Geohegan, Jing Kong, Shengxi Huang, and Riichiro Saito Journal: ACS Nano DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.3c04436     Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/stacking_order_strain_boosts_second_harmonic_generation.html Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University https://www.sci.tohoku.ac.jp/english/news/20230926-12879.html

Researchers have unveiled an intriguing phenomenon of cellular reprogramming in mature adult organs, shedding light on a novel mechanism of adaptive growth. The study, which was conducted on fruit flies (Drosophila), provides further insights into dedifferentiation - where specialized cells that have specific functions transform into less specialized, undifferentiated cells like stem cells.   Until now, dedifferentiation has primarily been associated with severe injuries or stressful conditions, observed during tissue regeneration and diseases like tumorigenesis. However, the researchers have unearthed a previously unknown facet: enteroendocrine cells (EEs) within the intestinal epithelium undergo dedifferentiation into intestinal stem cells (ISCs) in response to nutritional changes, such as recovery from starvation.     Figure: Representative image of a dedifferentiating EE which is brightly shining like a star in the planet. (Credit: Hiroki Nagai et al.) “Through meticulous experimentation, we identified a subset of enteroendocrine cells residing in the adult midgut of Drosophila, which exhibit dedifferentiation into ISCs when nutrient levels fluctuate,” states Hiroki Nagai, first author of the study and a postdoc who was previously based at Tohoku University’s Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS). “By utilizing in vivo lineage tracing of EEs and single-cell RNA sequencing, we pinpointed the dedifferentiating EE subpopulation and developed a genetic system for selectively removing ISCs derived from dedifferentiation, a process known as ablation.”   Remarkably, the ablation experiments demonstrated that dedifferentiation is vital for ISC expansion and subsequent intestinal growth following food intake. Previous studies using mice relied on massive stem cell ablation to induce dedifferentiation. Yet, in the current research, stem cells were not lost but instead increased in response to nutritional stimuli. This crucial distinction demonstrates that dedifferentiation is not limited to regenerative contexts but significantly contributes to organ remodeling during environmental adaptations.   Furthermore, the team unraveled the molecular mechanism driving nutrient-dependent dedifferentiation: a deficiency in dietary glucose and amino acids activates the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in EEs, facilitating the conversion of EEs into ISCs during post-starvation recovery. When combined with findings from other studies, this implies that the nutrient-dependent dedifferentiation could be an evolutionary conserved mechanism across species.   Yuichiro Nakajima, also formerly based at FRIS and corresponding author of the paper, states that this could lead to being able to control artificial cellular reprogramming in vivo. “If we figure out specific nutrients and the detailed signaling that induce dedifferentiation, we could control cell fate plasticity by nutritional intervention and/or pharmacological treatments”   Looking ahead, they hope to focus on examining cell fate plasticity under physiological conditions beyond nutrition, such as reproduction, temperature, light, and exercise. Doing so may uncover novel mechanisms underlying environmental adaptations. Publication Details Title: Nutrient-driven dedifferentiation of enteroendocrine cells promotes adaptive intestinal growth in Drosophila Authors: Hiroki Nagai*, Luis Augusto Eijy Nagai, Sohei Tasaki, Ryuichiro Nakato, Daiki Umetsu, Erina Kuranaga, Masayuki Miura, and Yu-ichiro Nakajima* (*corresponding author) Journal: Developmental Cell DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.08.022 Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/nutrients_drive_cellular_reprogramming_in_the_intestine.html

Prof. Hakuto Suzuki of the Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division has been awarded "The Brian R. Coles Prize" at the "International Conference on Strongly Correlated Electron Systems 2023".   This prize is awarded to a person who has made significant contributions to the experimental study or discovery of strongly correlated electron materials and phenomena, and who is active in research no more than 8 years after the PhD.     The reason for the award reads: "For the significant experimental development and creative use of a novel RIXS spectrometer in the tender x-ray region, that opens a new route for the SCES community for impactfully investigating a broad range of correlated electron materials and their physics." https://www.sces2023.org/main/pr_awards.htm    

Number of Positions Seven Assistant Professors (We especially encourage applications from women.) Organization and Department Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division, Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan Research Field and Job Description Six 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). Successful applicants will be required to promote interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary sciences as a principal investigator (PI). This recruitment is based on the “Frontier Researchers for Interdisciplinary Sciences Shoshi Program (FRIS Shoshi Program),” which is a university-wide system for fostering young researchers under the Tohoku University Comprehensive Package for Supporting Young Researchers. Please visit the following URL for the details of the “FRIS Shoshi Program.” # FRIS Shoshi Program: https://www.fris.tohoku.ac.jp/en/about/missions/fostering.html Research Funding The following research funding will be provided. A total of 11 million yen will be provided as basic research expenses over five years (2.5 million yen per year for the first three years, 2 million yen for the fourth year, and 1.5 million yen for the fifth year; flexible execution is possible through carryover). Expenses for overseas travel for presentations at international conferences and collaborative research, expenses for collaborative research with researchers in different fields, expenses for organizing international conferences, and expenses for publishing papers when excellent results are published in open-access journals, will be provided upon review. In addition to the above, successful applicants are expected to actively aim to obtain external competitive funds such as Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research. Required Qualifications PhD degree at the time of appointment Starting Date April 1, 2024 (subject to negotiation) Term 5 years (no reappointment) Based on the FRIS tenure-track system, the tenure review is conducted for assistant professors prior to the completion of the term of appointment. If they pass the review process, they will be appointed as a tenured assistant professor or a fixed-term (5 years) associate professor in FRIS. If they do not pass the review, they will still be employed as a fixed-term (1 year, maximum 2 years) assistant professor after a separate review. Additionally, it may be possible for FRIS assistant professors to continue to be employed as faculty members by other departments or institutes (not guaranteed). For details, please visit the following URL. # Tenure track system of FRIS: https://www.fris.tohoku.ac.jp/en/about/tenure-track.html Remuneration An annual salary and allowance will be provided in accordance with Tohoku University’s regulations Remarks on Application Applicants should select one of the above six research categories to which they wish to apply and describe it in their proposal. Please note that the research category will be reviewed and may be changed by the selection committee. Applicants should select a professor or associate professor of the University (but not a visiting or specially appointed professor) as their mentor. Applicants are required to obtain the prior consent of the mentor regarding the internal regulations on the mentors and the attached description of the responsibilities of mentors shown at the URL below. When selecting a mentor, applicants are expected to experience a variety of research environments, for example, by selecting a mentor from other than the applicant’s former laboratories. The TOHOKU UNIVERSITY Researchers website at the URL below is also helpful. # Internal regulations on the mentors and the responsibilities of mentors https://www.fris.tohoku.ac.jp/media/files/mentorregulations_rev20220620_EN.pdf (English) https://www.fris.tohoku.ac.jp/media/files/mentorregulations_rev20220620_JP.pdf (Japanese) # TOHOKU UNIVERSITY Researchers: https://www.r-info.tohoku.ac.jp/ Application Deadline Applications should be uploaded by 17:00, Wednesday, July 26, 2023 (JST) Requested Documents Please submit the following documents by following “How to Apply.” All documents should be prepared in PDF format and the total file size must not exceed 10 MB. Please use our provided format for (1) and (4), which can be downloaded from our website as shown below. (1) ▶Resume Form 2023 (4) ▶Proposal Form   (1) Curriculum Vitae (Please be sure to use our provided format, and to include your photograph, current postal and e-mail addresses, and your phone number in the resume.) (2) List of research achievements such as publications (original papers, international conference proceedings, and books and commentaries), conference presentations (distinguish between domestic and international, contributed and invited presentations), awards, patents, competitive research funds, achievements collaboration, other notable items, etc. (3) Brief statement detailing your research achievements (less than 400 words) (4) Research proposal (in our provided format, within 4 pages) (5) One letter of recommendation (in any format) (6) Brief introduction of up to 5 major papers (preferably with journal impact factor and number of citations) or up to 5 major achievements (NOT necessary of a copy of each paper or achievement) How to Apply Please apply from the following application website. After completing the pre-registration, please register using the URL you will be notified of and upload the required documents from “My Page.” After the upload of your documents is complete, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to you. Application website https://rct4osp.fris.tohoku.ac.jp/en # You can also visit above website from the recruitment information posted on FRIS’s website below. https://www.fris.tohoku.ac.jp/en/ Inquiries Professor Junji Saida, Managing and Planning Division, FRIS E-mail: kikaku_atmk_fris.tohoku.ac.jp (Please replace “_atmk_” with “@”) Others An information session for this recruitment will be held online on Monday, June 19, 2023 from 14:30 to 15:00. If you wish to attend, please register below. Information session registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0pdOCqqzgoG932Fqj-YeZnEef4Drh4rScd Added June 22, 2023: The information session has ended. The recording of the session (except for the Q&A part) and the questions and answers are now available. - Recording of the information session - Questions and answers After the first screening (examination of application documents), successful candidates will be contacted for an online interview scheduled on Friday, September 29, Monday, October 2, or Tuesday, October 3, 2023. Detailed announcements will be informed by early September 2023.   FRIS is developing FRIS CoRE (Cooperative Research Environment), a new form of “start-up support” proposed by young researchers at FRIS to promote interdisciplinary fusion and explore the frontiers of knowledge, by providing under-one-roof access to basic research facilities in different fields (a research environment that enables a series of daily experiments and discussions). Currently, the experimental facilities are for life science, chemistry, and engineering, but in the future, FRIS CoRE will expand to a collaborative environment that includes researchers in the humanities and social sciences. The FRIS CoRE will also provide facilities in fields different from the mentor's expertise. Please visit the following website for the status of the FRIS CoRE. # FRIS CoRE: https://www.fris.tohoku.ac.jp/fris_core/en/   Tohoku University promotes gender equality and encourages people of varied talents from all backgrounds to apply for positions at the university.   Pursuant to Article 8 of the Act on Securing, Etc. of Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment, Tohoku University shall, as a measure for increasing the presence of women among the academic staff, prioritize the hiring of women deemed qualified for each job opening, based on impartial evaluation.   Tohoku University has the largest on-campus childcare system of all Japanese national universities. This network comprises three nurseries: Kawauchi Keyaki Nursery school (capacity: 22) and Aobayama Midori Nursery school (116), both open to all university employees, as well as Hoshinoko Nursery school (120), which is open to employees working on Tohoku University Hospital. In addition, Tohoku University Hospital runs a childcare room for mildly ill and convalescent children which is available to all university employees.   See the following website for information on these and other programs that Tohoku University runs to assist work-life balance, to support researchers, and to advance gender equality. # Tohoku University Center for Gender Equality Promotion: http://tumug.tohoku.ac.jp/en/   In cases where the person hired for this position takes childcare leave, the term of employment may be extended by up to the number of days taken off for that leave, if such extension is deemed necessary for educational and/or research purposes. # Tohoku University Human Resource Department: https://c.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/jinji-top/external/a-4-kosodate/

Assistant Professor Sai Sun received Tohoku University ECEI Excellent Young Researcher Award (東北大学電気・情報系若手優秀研究賞).   This award awards young researchers who have published many leading papers in excellent journals.