Clips from the Discussion
This summary was made by Ayane Miura
Why did you decide to be a researcher?
To be honest, I just felt like doing it. I thought a researcher would be a great fit to me and tried to get a job after getting master's degree. But I changed my mind - I thought it might be better if I could do research on whatever I like at university without the need to follow orders from the corporate, even if I wouldn't be able to earn as much. Actually my first major choice was medicine, but ended up in the School of Fisheries and Agriculture because I didn't think I had good enough grades to be pre-med. There was a trending word, "Ocean farms," among my peers and it just sort of sounded interesting to me. So, in my opinion, you don't necessarily have to stick to your passion - things did work out for me in my case.
What do you like about being a researcher?
I like it when I come to be able to do something no one else can do, when I find something other people don't know, and when things actually happens as I predicted during research - I find them quite enjoyable.
I heard that researchers have very tight schedules -
do you get any time off to enjoy your personal life outside work?
Outside my job, I usually spend my time off playing soccer and taking care of the fish I keep in my lab. I don't have much personal time - well, I don't even need one, actually. Research is fun, but you'll have responsibilities - you have to go feed your fish and conduct experiments regardless of how tired you are or how reluctant you are to go to work. So, well, you will have both fun and tiring moments once you become a researcher.
Have you had any struggles as a researcher?
I always try to do what I want to do, which is to create new things and do something no one has ever done before. Then there won't be any machines or apparatus required for my projects, and I will need to make them myself. Blowing glass and cutting plastic - it requires effort but still, it's quite rewarding when I can make good ones. If I were to mention another struggle, I'd say it's doing all the paperwork when you win and receive research funds.