International Internship program “G-RIPS (Graduate-level Research in Industrial Projects for Students) Sendai” by Tohoku University and UCLA

Japanese

G-RIPS Sendai 2023G-RIPS Sendai 2023

In 2018, the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) at Tohoku University launched the G-RIPS Sendai program in collaboration with IPAM (Institute for Pure & Applied Mathematics), targeting graduate-level students in mathematical science and related disciplines. Participants from the U.S. and Japan work on cross-cultural teams on research projects designed by industrial partners. This year, G-RIPS Sendai 2023 was held as follows.

Outline

Period June 19th to August 8th, 2023 (7.5 weeks)
Venue Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University
House of Creativity, Tohoku University
Number of Participants 10 students from US, 1 from Africa and 10 from Japan
Industrial Partners Fujitsu Limited, IHI Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, NEC Corporation
Host Mathematical Science Center for Co-creative Society (MathCCS), Tohoku Forum for Creativity (TFC), Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR)
Co-host RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS), Institute for Pure & Applied Mathematics (IPAM)

Information related to programs offered by IPAM can be found at “Student Research Programs.”

Projects

Project01Fujitsu Limited

Enhancing explainability of modern AI

Project02IHI Corporation

Mathematics for trajectory extrapolation using vehicle and human traffic data toward zero traffic fatalities

Project03Advanced Technology
R&D Center,
Mitsubishi
Electric Corporation

Construction of metrics for map matching between travel trajectories and map graphs

Project04Information Technology
R&D Center,
Mitsubishi
Electric Corporation

Novel technique to estimate wave spectra using ocean HF radar for environmental monitoring

Project05NEC Corporation

Automated negotiation for supply chain management

Program Schedule

  • Opening Day

    A representative from each partner company explains the details of the project. After the explanation, each team discusses the details of the project.

  • Submission of Work Statements

    Each team discusses how to proceed with the research, taking into account the background of each team member, and compiles it into a Work Statement.

  • Start of Research

    After receiving approval of the Work Statements from the Industrial Partners, students start the research and work intensively on the research five days a week. Industrial mentors assigned by industrial partners, and young researchers at Tohoku University serving as academic mentors, are available for consultation on various questions and difficulties that may arise in the course of the research.

  • Japanese Language / Culture Classes

    Japanese Language and Culture Classes are held during the program period, each time offering a different Japanese cultural experience. In previous years in addition to introductory Japanese language classes, students have experienced tea ceremony, calligraphy, and making Tanabata decorations. Japanese students are also welcome to participate.

  • Midterm Presentations

    Each team member gives a presentation on their research progress in English. After the presentations, team mentors and team members discuss and refine the content of their research towards the final presentation.

  • Site Visits

    Team members travel on-site to partner company laboratories, etc., to observe facilities and discuss research progress.

  • Final Stages of Research

    Research is deepened in preparation for Project's Day (final presentation).

  • Submission of Final Reports

    The results of the research are summarized in the form of a final report.

  • Project’s Day

    Each member makes a final presentation in English and deepens the discussion through a question-and-answer session.

Photo Album

Social sweets party
WPI-AIMR (G-RIPS-Sendai 2023 venue)
Discussion 1
Discussion 2
Daily work 1
Daily work 2
Japanese language / culture classes (Sado)
Japanese language / culture classes (Calligraphy)
Midterm presentations 1
Midterm presentations 2
Midterm presentations 3
Midterm presentations 4
Midterm presentations 5
Midterm presentations 6
Midterm presentations 7
Weekend (Kawauchi Campus, Tohoku University)
Weekend (“Zundamochi,” local food in Sendai)
Weekend (“Jinbei,” summer Japanese clothing―from fireworks day)
Weekend (The Site of Sendai Castle)
Weekend (Akiu Otaki Falls)
Weekend (Matsushima 1)
Weekend (Matsushima 2)
Weekend (Yamadera)
Weekend (TOKYO SKYTREE)
Weekend (Shibuya, Tokyo)
Discussion 3
Discussion 4
Discussion 5
Discussion 6
Discussion 7
Japanese language / culture classes (Tanabata)
Japanese language / culture classes (Origami)
Japanese language / culture classes (Tanabata decorations complete!)
Sendai Tanabata Festival
TFC Building (Final presentation venue)
Project’s Day 1
Project’s Day 2
Project’s Day 3
Project’s Day 4
Project’s Day 5
Members and staffs
Social gathering
Farewell party

Voices from Participants

Voices from
Participants

Research, Friendships, Cultural Exchange, and Bears - Oh My!

G-RIPS Sendai was perhaps the greatest experience of my life. It gives students the opportunity to work on real-world, industrial research projects while being able to experience and explore a new country and culture. The program facilitates cross-cultural and linguistic exchange by bringing together students from all over the world. Students are advised by both academic mentors and industry specialists, whose guidance is invaluable in the development of impactful publications and new methods and technologies for real-world applications. The program foments team-building and professional development skills via collaborative research, the preparation of written reports and power-points, and the delivery of presentations. The research projects allow students enough freedom to explore and develop their individual interests and leverage their individual strengths while working toward a common goal. Additionally, Sendai hosts both an urban city environment and tremendous scenic beauty, with the occasional bear sighting. Many weekend adventures lie just a short train or bus ride away, be it the pine-covered islands of Matsushima Bay, mountaintop temples, bonsai masters, serene onsens, active volcanoes, or even mummies. Good ramen is never hard to find, and good friends are sure to be made. Overall, I couldn’t recommend G-RIPS Sendai enough to any young graduate researcher in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or related field.

A wonderful experience

The 2023 G-RIPS Sendai program was a wonderful experience! As an American, it was very nice to be able to spend an extended amount of time in a foreign country and gain exposure to Japanese culture while also working on a mathematically-focused research project. Probably the best thing about the program was the people - the program staff, academic mentors, and industry mentors were extremely helpful and worked hard to make the program a good experience, and the fellow students were both of a high academic caliber and very friendly. The work was rigorous and challenging and it was nice to be able to work in a team environment that I personally have not had as much experience with in my academic career. Sendai itself is also a great city with a lot to offer, while also maintaining a very local feel. I personally also really appreciated the efforts to make the program cross-cultural with Japanese language and culture classes, and an emphasis on interactions between the Japanese and American students. G-RIPS Sendai is definitely a one-of-a-kind experience and I would highly recommend it!

A Summer to Grow, Experience, and Cherish

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to participate in G-RIPS Sendai 2023. It was a summer with immense growth, both personally and professionally. I got a chance to collaborate with and learn from a diverse group of students, all while immersing myself in a unique culture. I felt very welcomed in the program and my team. Everyone I was fortunate enough to meet and interact with was enthusiastic and fun to be around. With my background and skills, I contributed to and learned a lot from the industrial project our team collaborated on. Research is largely interdisciplinary, so this is a very unique opportunity to work with others who may not be in your field and come from a different culture or background. Many skills such as communication, project management, and time management are all necessary in the success of a project or a career, and this program provided us with many opportunities to strengthen those skills. I loved every second there, and I wish we had more time in the program. In short, this summer was very special, productive, and eye-opening. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to challenge themselves and make memories that they can cherish for years to come.

Increased my confidence in my abilities

The G-RIPS program was an incredibly valuable experience, both personally and academically. This was my first experience working on a problem outside of academia. It was exciting to see how I could apply the skills I have acquired in graduate school to a problem in industry. I also really enjoyed working as a team to solve the problem. It was a very supportive environment, and my team members and I were always happy to help each other. My favorite part of the experience was getting to know the other G-RIPS participants. We had a lot of fun exploring Sendai and other parts of Japan together. The Japanese students were extremely helpful, especially when we first arrived in Sendai and were still figuring out how things worked. This program increased my confidence in my ability to solve problems in industry while working with an amazing group of people, and I will be highly recommending it to the other students in my graduate program.