Join Us
We are looking for graduate students to join our lab!
The Structural Energy Bioscience Research Section, Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University (Katahira Lab, K-12, Bioenergy Research Section, Department of Fundamental Energy Science, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University) is seeking motivated graduate students.
If you have a background in physics, chemistry, or biology and are eager to explore research in fields such as cancer, AIDS, neural differentiation, prions, biofuels, and lignocellulosic biomass, we welcome you to apply.
To join our lab, you will need to take the entrance exam for the Department of Fundamental Energy Science, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University. For details, please check the graduate school’s website.
Entrance Examination Information for the Fundamental Energy Science Department
Introduction Video of Our Laboratory
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What academic backgrounds do lab members have?
A. Our lab welcomes students from a wide range of fields, including science, engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture.
Here are some examples of backgrounds
Applied Physics / Organic Chemistry / Inorganic Chemistry / Molecular Biology / Pharmacy / Medical Science / Mechanical Engineering / Biotechnology / Agriculture / Materials Science / Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Q. What countries have your students come from?
A. We have a diverse group of students from around the world.
Previous members have come from countries such as
China / Egypt / India / Indonesia / Japan / Malaysia / Taiwan / Thailand / Vietnam / Philippines
Q. What kind of career paths do graduates pursue?
A. Master’s graduates go on to work in a variety of industries, often in research positions at private companies.
Ph.D. graduates have taken research positions at universities, public research institutes, and private companies both in Japan and abroad.
Examples of career paths
▶ Master’s graduates
NTT Communications / Kubota / Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation / Shiseido / Kansai Electric Power / Toyota Motor Corporation / Sumitomo Rubber Industries / Mitsubishi Motors / Tokyo Gas / Osaka Gas / Sunstar / Nissan Motor / ENEOS / Iris Ohyama / Nikkei / Kaneka / JR East / Panasonic / Kyocera / Oji Paper, and more.
▶ Ph.D. graduates
Kyoto University / Osaka University / Nagoya University / Hokkaido University / Chiba Institute of Technology / Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences / RIKEN / Kao (R&D) / Kyowa Kirin (R&D) / Taisho Pharmaceutical (R&D) / Hitachi (R&D) / Indiana University / University of Malaysia Kelantan / Westlake University / University of Bristol / Zagazig University / New York University, and more.
Q. Do you have core working hours?
A. Yes, our core hours are from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays.
Q. I’m worried about balancing research and job hunting.
A. No need to worry! Many of our students plan their research schedules in consultation with faculty, and we are flexible with adjustments during busy job-hunting periods.
Q. How often do you have lab seminars?
A. We hold seminars twice a week to support smooth research progress
Monday : Briefing (experiment reports) – each member presents once a month.
Wednesday : Seminar (research progress and literature reviews) – each member presents once every three months.
Q. Do students present at conferences?
A. Yes! Almost all of our students have experience presenting at conferences.
For master’s students, presenting at least once before graduation is a common goal.
Main conference examples
▶ Domestic conferences
The Molecular Biology Society of Japan / Biophysical Society of Japan / NMR Discussion Group / Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry / The Japan Wood Research Society / The Protein Science Society of Japan / The RNA Society of Japan / Nucleic Acids Chemistry Symposium
▶ International conferences
International Conference on Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems (ICMRBS) / Asia-Pacific NMR Symposium (APNMR) / European Magnetic Resonance Congress (EUROMAR) / International Society for Magnetic Resonance (ISMAR)
Q. I haven’t taken any courses on biology or NMR. Will that be a problem?
A. Not at all! No prior knowledge of biology or NMR is required.
We design research themes that build on your previous experience, and we fully support you in taking on new challenges.
Q. Are there financial support options for Ph.D. students?
A. Yes. We encourage students to apply for the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellowship.
You can also apply for the Kyoto University SPRING Program.
JSPS Research Fellowship
Kyoto University SPRING Program
Q. What makes your lab unique compared to other life science (biomass-related) labs?
A. Our lab offers a unique environment where researchers from life science and biomass fields can inspire each other.
Another major feature of our lab is that we have three NMR spectrometers and an LC-NMR system available for daily use, which is quite rare.