Student Recruitment

Main Requirements

The requirements for accepting graduate students in our laboratory are as follows: (1) having strong motivation, (2) wanting to study about human brain function, (3) being proficient in English and having a certain level of proficiency in Japanese, (4) passing the regular entrance examination. I do not accept research students. I also do not accept students in the joint application entrance examination with the Graduate School and Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering, Kyushu University. Additionally, I cannot provide support for document creation in Japanese for administrative procedures and applications to the ethics committee, so I do not accept people who are unable to read and write Japanese at all. Please read the details below for more information.

For those who wish to receive research guidance from Dr. Okamoto

Most of the people reading this page are probably interested in the brain and wish to study it. However, the level of enthusiasm for our laboratory varies greatly depending on the person, even if they are interested in applying to our laboratory. As I have been receiving various inquiries lately, I would like to write this again.

First and foremost, you need to be the kind of person that Dr. Okamoto can consider accepting positively. Unlike undergraduate programs, graduate school is by no means a place for just anyone who can just get a good score on an exam. Like many other laboratories, our laboratory prioritize accepting those who are actively interested in research. Motivations vary from person to person, but our laboratory does not have room to accept those who are not interested in research from the beginning, such as those who say "I didn't get into my first-choice graduate school or company, so I just found this one" or "I often hear about neuroscience on TV and it seems like a good job prospect" or "I just want a degree from Kyushu University." Although there are certainly cases where people try it out and become interested in research, Dr. Okamoto wants to work hard to ensure that those who are already enthusiastic can thrive, rather than trying to push people who are initially passive to become more active.

Even if someone says "I already know that without being told, I want to study brain research at Okamoto lab," there are significant differences in background and skills. Some may have already worked on similar research in their bachelor's thesis or in the past (although there may be variation in experience depending on the guidance received or their own motivation), while others may have little to no knowledge of topics such as neuroscience, psychophysiology, cognitive psychology, biostatistics, or programming despite their enthusiasm and motivation. Some may also struggle with English to the point where it may be impossible for them to write their thesis in English, which is a requirement at our lab, as Japanese-language theses are not accepted. Naturally, it is also important to present research in international conferences or journals, so if someone is hopeless at English, it will be difficult for them, to be honest. As a guideline, I would like applicants to have a minimum TOEIC score of 600 (if you really want to dive into research, I recommend a score of 800 or higher). However, if someone has a certain level of proficiency in reading, writing, and presenting in English and has enthusiasm and motivation, I will provide as much support as I can within the limits of our lab (of course, ultimately, they will have to figure things out on their own!).

As for frequently asked questions, such as core hours, seminars, conference presentation quotas, skills acquisition, job prospects, and number of successful candidates, I will answer them individually. First, our laboratory does not have set core hours. This is because I prioritize the content of the work rather than the time spent on it. Core hours have both benefits (e.g., habitualization of research activities) and drawbacks (e.g., inconvenience of time), so it is difficult to say whether they are good or bad. In experimental laboratories, there are often tasks such as caring for living things or maintaining equipment, so it is traditional to set core hours. In contrast, in theoretical laboratories, researchers can work on their own computers or notebooks, so it is less traditional to set core hours. Personally, as someone from a theoretical background, I believe that graduate students are already adults and should manage themselves properly. Especially for those who aspire to be professional researchers, it is important to develop a self-management attitude as the first step in managing everything related to research in the future. Even without core hours, I encourage students to actively come to the laboratory for research consultations (there are no time restrictions). It is also important to discuss with other students. Next, regarding the seminar, participation in the laboratory meeting held every Friday (with presentation on duty) is mandatory. In addition, it is required to summarize the research activities conducted that week and report them in person or by email. There is no basic quota for conference presentations, but there are a few that I recommend, and it goes without saying that it is better to present than not to present. The skills that can be acquired in our laboratory include measuring and analyzing bio-information such as electroencephalograms and electrocardiograms for humans, experimental design, knowledge and practical use of biological statistics, and so on. As for job prospects, please look to the member page. There is no set limit on the number of successful candidates, but due to the limited living space for students and the number of people that I can guide, I usually accept around two students per academic year. If there are two successful candidates in the summer entrance exam, I may not hold entrance exams in the fall or winter. Therefore, if you are interested in our laboratory, I hope you will take the summer entrance exam.

Graduate school life is not only the starting point or turning point of one's career path as a researcher, but also a very important period in one's life according to their age. If you are considering receiving research guidance from Dr. Okamoto and want to be involved in neuroscience research, please consult by email at the address below first. It is fine to inquire about our lab as one of several labs that you have interests, but those who do not reply even after receiving a polite response from me will never be accepted even if they later wish to take the entrance exam for our laboratory. I will not reply to any further email after that. The same applies if you make a mistake in my affiliation or name. Let us remember to observe the minimum courtesy.

okamotoartsci.kyushu-u.ac.jp