Introducing the 2021 Toshiba Fellow 

What were you doing before your Toshiba Fellowship and what made you apply? 
I was at the University of Cambridge, working at the interface between optics and electronics in nanostructured thin film devices, particularly molecular electronics. Although very interesting, the research was rather fundamental, and I started searching for something more applied. I was looking for a new challenge in a different field, but also a complete change in environment, where I could still leverage the interdisciplinary skills I acquired during my training and research. When I came across the Toshiba Fellowship Programme, I just knew it was the right thing for me.

What research are you doing at Toshiba?
I am working on improving the performance of gas sensors. My project has two main research lines. On one hand, I am applying measurement methods that are often used in optics to the readout of existing commercial gas sensors, to suppress noise and extract a higher sensitivity. On the other hand, I am exploring new thin film materials for gas sensing and experimenting with unconventional systems to deliver gas onto the sensing surface, with the aim of improving sensor response and recovery time.

What do you like about working for Toshiba in Japan?
I really like that I can conduct my research independently and I am given a lot of freedom in the work I do. I get to spend a lot of time in the lab planning and running experiments, which is something I really enjoy. At the same time, I often interact with other group members to bring my own academic experience to the team, for example in writing research papers. There is a very positive and collaborative atmosphere in the research group, and we are encouraged to keep a healthy work-life balance.

What do you enjoy outside work in Japan?
Most of all I enjoy travelling. I have a passion for hiking and photography, and there could hardly be a better place for these activities. From the vibrant coral reefs of Okinawa, to the majestic cedars of Kyushu, the rocky peaks of the Japanese Alps, the secluded onsens of Tohoku, all the way to the remotest islands and national parks of Hokkaido, the diversity of landscapes and locations is just incredible. If this was not enough, each place is completely transformed by the seasons, so the opportunities for discovery are endless. Paired with delicious food and great hospitality, travelling is pure joy.

Introducing the 2020 Toshiba Fellow 

What were you doing before your Toshiba Fellowship and what made you apply? 
Before applying to Toshiba, my PhD and PostDoc revolved around the research of solid-state electrolytes and other battery materials using mainly NMR, XRD and electrochemical characterization techniques.
While pursuing my PhD I came across the Fellowship, at first thinking it would be too early to apply but soon realized that (under normal circumstances) the timing would be ideal. Most importantly, I found a topic that was similar enough to my previous research about solid-state electrolytes for Li-Ion batteries for me to be a good candidate, with sufficient new aspects to be interesting. I was especially interested in getting some experience in an industrial research lab and living in Japan for a year and experiencing a different culture is a nice bonus.

What research are you doing at Toshiba?
My research at Toshiba deals with investigating the conduction mechanism of hybrid gel electrolytes. These are a mixture of gel polymer electrolytes (quite common in use now, e.g. Li-Po) and inorganic solid electrolytes. Application of pure inorganic solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries presents many challenges. The hybrid of these two electrolytes is promising but the details of the conduction mechanism are still under debate.

What do you like about working for Toshiba in Japan?
My colleagues are all very friendly and Toshiba RDC has a large battery research facility with new interesting equipment. In addition, due to several decades of research at the facility, it is quite common for the equipment I need to already exists somewhere and it just needs to be found. The project is relatively independent and feels how I would imagine an industrial PostDoc to be like.
The support by Toshiba in helping me get to Japan and settle down was also invaluable.

What do you enjoy outside work in Japan?
I spend most weekends travelling all over Japan and exploring the country (e.g., Kyoto, Tohoku area, Okinawa,...). Visiting far away places is easy with the Shinkansen network (or by plane or bus) and renting a car and driving through the countryside and mountain roads can be a lot of fun and lead to unexpected discoveries.
There are just too many places worth visiting, but if I don’t spend the night, I often go hiking and running in the nearby mountains, which are easily accessible by train from Kawasaki. Japan and the Tokyo area has a very active trail running community and hiking is very widespread all over Japan. If I don’t feel like being active or the weather is not great, Central Tokyo is just a short train ride away, also a lot of fun to explore and offers a stark contrast to the countryside.