Researcher Introduction
CD-FMat, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Postdoctoral Researcher Taro Fukazawa

Motivation for Becoming a Researcher

Even when I was a child, I liked to imagine the reasons why things exist or occur, so it felt natural to become a researcher. I have also loved programming, and this has turned out to be useful in my work as a researcher. Another motivation for becoming a researcher was to help people through successful research.

Your Greatest Strengths

In my research, I search for new high-performance magnet compounds using a simulation of electrons called first-principles calculations, and machine learning. My skills and experience in first-principles calculations for magnetic materials has turned out to be a great asset in this project. I have also had previous experience in machine learning. With the combination of these strengths, I believe I can achieve the goals of the project.

What Makes Your Research Interesting or Worthwhile

It is challenging to use the state-of-the-art simulation of electronic structures in condensed matter in order to search for new high-performance magnet compounds. Today, we have fast computers, as well as tools and methods of first-principles calculations and machine learning that did not exist in the past. It is enjoyable to consider the different ways we can use them, then trying and failing over and over until eventually succeeding.

Other Research That Interests You

My goal in this project is to find a new high-performance magnet compound. I believe that understanding the mechanism of magnetism in magnet compounds and developing new methods of electronic simulation and machine learning will be of great help toward achieving this goal. I want to work on both of these aspects—the development of methods and the search for compounds—simultaneously in combination.

Interests Other Than Research You Would Like to Pursue

I occasionally play Go and shogi (Japanese chess), only to find that my skills never progress! I hope that someday I can achieve 1 dan at both of these games, but it seems that I have a long way to go. I also climb mountains as a hobby. Although I always go to smaller mountains like Mt. Tsukuba and Mt. Takao, I usually feel exhausted during the trip back home due to a lack of regular exercise.