Genome Information Engineering,
Bioinformatic Engineering
Associate Professor
Shigeto Seno
Do you have a message for students
who are planning to enroll in the graduate course?
The good thing about our laboratory is that we have a variety of research themes, whether you are interested in biotechnology or information systems. The field is quite wide. In addition, not only in bioinformatics, but also in any other field of work, there are many things that you need to study in addition to information science, your own field of specialization. For example, you need to have detailed knowledge about the products you are going to make, or about law and business. For most of the students in the Department of Information Science, biology is also an unknown field. They don't understand it at all. Therefore, I believe you will acquire the attitude of studying what you don't understand with a premise that you don't understand it, and I think that is very useful for everyone. I think it would be interesting to have many different people come.
I think it is more important for students to enjoy their research than to produce good results, so I recommend that they try various things. The most important thing is to enjoy research, but if there are other things you enjoy besides research, I hope you can take advantage of your position as a graduate student, the good environment, and the ample time. However, if you are doing well in your research, your student life will be more enjoyable. I think it is the same as with sports, music, or anything else - research is more fun when you gain a certain amount of skill. I want to tell students that studying and doing research is fun.
From a student
The first characteristic of this laboratory is that it is free, and you can do what you want. This is what I focused on when I chose my laboratory, and I have felt it since I joined. When I go to ask a question, they are waiting for me, and when I ask, they help me. There is no pressure to do research, so I can focus on what I want to do while I am a student. If you want to concentrate on your research, they will help you do so, and I think that kind of balance is one of the things that's good about it.
I often feel that the lab provides guidance tailored to each individual student, and supports them while learning about their personalities. I feel that no matter what kind of student joins, they will be able to provide support that fits the student's needs. For me, I felt that from the beginning, and I am grateful because of it. I would be happy if more female students would join as well. Because there are only a few female students, it may feel kind of small, but I have never had any problems in my student life and I don't mind it.
