[ANRI] 15 students selected as 6th batch of scholarship “ANRI Basic Science Scholarship”
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Press release: February 7, 2024
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15 people selected as 6th batch of scholarship “ANRI Basic Science Scholarship” *Benefit-type scholarship for students working on the world’s most cutting-edge basic research funded by venture capital*
Independent venture capital ANRI (Minato-ku, Tokyo: Representative Partner Anri Samata, hereinafter referred to as
ANRI) provides support for basic science research in Japan through the ANRI Fundamentals Scholarship Program, which targets students working in basic research fields that take time to put into practical use, such as mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry. Science Scholarship/The
We are pleased to announce that we have selected 15 students as the 6th batch of ANRI Fellowships to engage in research in Japan and around the world.
Since 2019, ANRI has been operating a scholarship program for students engaged in basic science research, with the aim of contributing to the development of science and technology in Japan. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the many applications we received this time.
In addition to the Internet field, which has been our strength since our founding, ANRI invests in R&D startups in a wide range of technology fields such as deep tech and life science, and supports the creation of Japanese research technology into the world. I am. On the other hand, we believe that the research technology that is released into the world is due to the foundation of basic research that many researchers have been involved in up to that point. For this reason, ANRI has been operating a grant-type scholarship program for students engaged in basic science research.
Currently, a total of 59 researchers from the 1st to 6th batch have been selected for the ANRI Basic Science Scholarship, and we are also working to expand the circle of communities that ANRI excels at. We hold research presentations each term, community management using Slack, and community events that bring together researchers from different fields and ages.
We will continue to strive to operate in a way that allows researchers to have more horizontal and diagonal contact with each other, and aim to contribute to the development of science and technology in Japan through the ANRI Basic Science Scholarship.
* ■ Introduction of the 6th batch of ANRI Basic Science Scholarship (in no particular order) *
* Masanori Uji, Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University *
Of the light energy that is all around us, the wavelength is 400 nm. Ultraviolet light (UV) is a high energy source that is expected to have a wide range of applications such as photocatalysis and artificial photosynthesis. Traditional UV generation methods have used light sources such as mercury and xenon, which are less sustainable and degrade more quickly. Therefore, I developed a new technology using photon upconversion (UC), which can convert visible light, which is low-energy light, into ultraviolet light (UV), which is high-energy light.
We are working on the development of UV generation technology. I am very happy to have been selected as one of the 6th batch of ANRI Basic Science Scholarship. I would like to use this as an opportunity to think about how I can contribute to the development of science and technology by interacting with energetic people of my generation and being exposed to a lot of the latest research in different fields. * Naohiro Yamauchi Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University Neural Computation Unit *
The highly developed cerebral cortex in humans is responsible for various functions such as sensory information processing, motor control, and decision-making, and is thought to be the key to achieving advanced intelligence. On the other hand, it is not known why the cerebral cortex universally maintains anatomically similar structures in areas that perform seemingly completely different functions. My research aims to elucidate the computational mechanisms of the mammalian cerebral cortex by combining computational modeling, neural activity imaging using mice, and animal behavioral experiments. I am very grateful to have been selected as one of the 6th batch of ANRI Scholarship students. I am impressed that they support basic research like this one, regardless of its applicability. I would like to push forward with my research to meet expectations, and contribute in some small way to elucidating the question of what intelligence is by supporting computational models with biological entities such as molecules and neural circuits. .
* Naoki Konno, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo *
I am honored to have been selected. I have been conducting research in bioinformatics, but recently I have begun to take on the challenge of research that utilizes biological experiments, such as biochemistry and structural biology. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting us in this new challenge.
* Menami Nishio, PhD student in psychology, University of Pennsylvania * I am very happy to have been selected for the ANRI Scholarship. The answer to what healthy development is, both physically and mentally, is not clear, and the child care and education industry is full of various superstitions. I am interested in quantitatively evaluating the influence of the upbringing environment on brain development through the use of neuroscientific indicators. Currently in doctoral course, MRI,
Using fMRI and other brain images, we study how the structural development of the brain controls its functional maturation. Additionally, a company launched in Japan is working on quantifying behavior using video and linking behavioral and neuroscientific indicators. In the future, we would like to develop indicators that can be used to evaluate intervention programs for children and put them to use in the real world.
I believe that one of the great appeals of the ANRI Scholarship is that you can interact with people from a variety of fields both domestically and internationally. I’m really looking forward to what’s next!
* Yuya Nishio, Department of Electrical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Stanford University *
Currently, electronics are mainly constructed based on hard materials. On the other hand, tissues such as human skin and brain are soft, and there is a mechanical mismatch between electronics and the human body. I am trying to change the way humans interact with electronics by creating next-generation soft electronics.
By using soft electronics, it is possible to read biological signals that could not be detected with conventional hard electronics, and it is possible to change the way robots and humans interact. Therefore, unique challenges exist. We essentially solve these challenges by comprehensively developing and using non-traditional materials, devices, and circuit technologies. Furthermore, by adapting this new electronics to humans and mice, we will also contribute to the development of neuroscience. Thank you very much for being selected for the ANRI Basic Research Scholarship. Based on this support, we will continue to push forward with our research.
* Hiroo Miyata, Department of Neuroengineering, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University *
I am very honored to have been selected as a scholarship recipient. My research explores the potential of invasive brain devices, and challenges the new field of intervening in human cognitive function. This scholarship will allow me to further focus on my research and aim to contribute to this innovative field. As our research progresses, we will explore the infinite possibilities of invasive brain devices and find ways to give back to society. In particular, we also focus on practical applications, such as restoring motor function in stroke patients and developing better diagnostics and treatments for mental illnesses. Finally, through the networking opportunities this program provides, I look forward to interacting with researchers and experts from other fields and incorporating different perspectives and ideas. * Yuki Takahashi, Department of Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley *
Model theory is a field of study that belongs to the mathematical logic of pure mathematics. Just as taxonomists classify living things, model theory classifies sentences in formal languages that correspond to mathematical structures. For example, just as living things can be divided into “vertebrates” and “invertebrates,” sentences in formal languages can be divided into “stable” and “unstable.” I am particularly researching the application of the classification of sentences in formal languages to theorems of graph theory and additive combinatorics.
It is difficult to obtain funding for research in pure mathematics because short-term practicality is unclear, so I am truly grateful to have been selected for the ANRI Basic Science Scholarship. Pure mathematics is very abstract, but for example, the encryption technology called elliptic curve cryptography, which we use every day for Internet communications, is supported by research results based on the pure intellectual curiosity of mathematicians. Masu. I would like to take advantage of this support and pursue research on model theory based on my own interests and intellectual curiosity.
* Yuki Murai, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine * I am very honored to have been selected as the 6th batch of ANRI Basic Science Scholarship. Since I was in middle school, I have been interested in the mechanisms behind the onset of memory disorders and mental illnesses, and have had a dream of creating therapeutic drugs for them.Since entering university, I have been engaged in research on the mechanisms of long-term memory formation. This time, ANRI has provided me with a scholarship in anticipation of my research, so I will be able to elucidate the neural basis of phenomena such as memory, emotion, and sociability that are impaired by memory disorders and mental illnesses. I would like to continue to push forward with my research. I would like to do my best to conduct research that will help us gain a deeper understanding of the brain and bring to the world the fun that our brains have.
* Ai Obata, Department of Biosphere Systems, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo *
It is known that biodiversity improves ecosystem functions such as carbon storage capacity and pollination capacity. Although this relationship is observed globally, the strength of the relationship varies by region and ecosystem. Elucidating mechanisms and
relationships is attracting attention as it is useful for realizing ecosystems that balance biodiversity and ecosystem functions at a high level. This time, I would like to focus on the environmental factors of ecosystems, which have not been distinguished so far, and explore environmental factors that can explain the strength and weakness of the relationship between diversity and ecosystems.
I am very honored to have been selected as one of the 6th batch of ANRi Basic Science Scholarship. In order to respond to the support we have received, we will continue our research and strive to uncover knowledge that will be useful for realizing a sustainable society. * Keiichi Watanabe, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo *
The Standard Theory of Elementary Particles is a theory that describes three types of interactions between elementary particles:
electromagnetic interaction, weak interaction, and strong interaction, and it is highly consistent with experiments. It is thought that these interactions were unified at the moment of the creation of the universe, and that they became differentiated over time. The theory that unifies the three types of interactions mentioned above is called the grand unified theory, and verification of this theory is essential to understanding the beginning of the universe. The Grand Unified Theory predicts proton decay, which is not thought to occur in the Standard Model.
Therefore, I aim to clarify from a theoretical perspective the possibility of verifying the grand unified theory through observation of proton decay. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at ANRI for understanding the appeal of research and for selecting me for the ANRI scholarship. I would like to utilize this support to push forward with my research and do my best to produce interesting results.
* Ayaka Ooki, Department of Environmental, Life and Natural Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental, Life and Natural Sciences, Okayama University *
I am very honored to have been selected as a scholarship recipient. I would like to use this result as confidence and work even harder so that I can give back to my research results. In addition, I would like to cherish the relationships I have with students of the same generation and utilize them in my future research activities. *Kimcheonsui, Waseda University, Faculty of Advanced Science and Engineering, Department of Electrical and Information Biotechnology * Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that accounts for the majority of dementia, and in this aging society where average lifespans are increasing, the number of patients worldwide is increasing year by year, and it has become a major health problem. On the other hand, the cause, definitive diagnosis, and fundamental treatment are still unknown. Currently, I am researching the effects of tau, a related protein, on the dynamics of neuronal receptors in order to elucidate the onset mechanism and pathology of Alzheimer’s disease.
The approach we use to visualize the behavior of this receptor molecule is single-molecule imaging, which allows us to directly “observe” the behavior of molecules in living neurons. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for being selected as one of the 6th batch of ANRI Basic Science Scholarship. I am also very happy to be able to connect with talented and passionate scholars through this scholarship. We intend to make effective use of this research funding and push forward with further research.
*Kenichiro Yoshimoto, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba *
I am researching cyclostomes. The cyclostomes are a taxonomic group that includes lampreys and hagfish. They were the earliest to diverge in the evolutionary history of vertebrates and retain many ancestral characteristics. Therefore, it has attracted attention in studying the early evolution of vertebrates. On the other hand, the question of whether the traits possessed only by cyclostomes are ancestral to vertebrates or whether they were independently acquired by cyclostomes remains unresolved.
This is due to the fact that fossils of early vertebrates are difficult to leave behind, and the fact that all the jawless animals, including the cyclostomes, are extinct. Therefore, I used
state-of-the-art CT technology to closely observe the developmental process of traits unique to modern decostomes and the fossils of extinct jawless species, thereby elucidating the ancestral traits of vertebrates and the unique evolution of decostomes. I’m trying to figure it out.
I am very grateful that my application was accepted even though I am still an undergraduate student. We will strive to produce research results that will make a difference in the evolution of animal shapes, which has been of interest to many people since ancient times. * Daiji Kiyohara, Department of Mathematics, Harvard University, Mathematics Major *
In arithmetic geometry, which is my specialty, I apply the methods of algebraic geometry, which is the study of geometry defined by algebraic equations, in order to understand the properties of integers. For example, there is a curve defined by an equation of the form y^2=x^3+ax+b called an elliptic curve, but when investigating integer points and rational points on an elliptic curve, we need to use the basic concepts of algebraic geometry. The scheme theory becomes valid. At the end of the 20th century, Weisl proved Fermat’s Last Theorem, which also applied the theory of elliptic curves. In the field of arithmetic geometry, a new concept called perfectoid space has recently been introduced, and we are entering a new phase of research. The applications of arithmetic geometry are wide-ranging, including homotopy theory and algebraic geometry (of positive characteristic). I am personally interested in p-adic Hodge theory and Langlands correspondence, and would like to further deepen my knowledge in my doctoral program. I am very honored to have been selected for the Anri Basic Science Scholarship. Using the research funds I received this time, I would like to discover original research by participating in international research conferences and having discussions with mathematicians from around the world.
* Miku Otsugi, Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Meiji University*
Currently, it is reported that 1 in 5 to 10 couples of men and women who wish to have children are infertile, and elucidating the causes of “infertility” is an urgent issue. One cause of infertility is “implantation failure,” in which the embryo does not implant in the uterus. In recent years, it has been thought that intrauterine pH changes may cause “implantation failure” and lead to infertility, but the mechanism leading to this is largely unknown. Therefore, I am aiming to elucidate the cause of “implantation failure” due to changes in intrauterine pH, with the aim of applying this to infertility treatment and helping to solve the declining birthrate and aging population. I am very happy to have been selected for this ANRI scholarship. In addition to using this support to further accelerate my research, I would like to add even more flexibility to my research through the network with ANRI scholars.
* ■About “ANRI Basic Science Scholarship/The ANRI Fellowship” * 1.
* Benefit amount: 500,000 yen per person *
2. * Recruitment target: Students who have achieved excellent results in fields such as mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, etc. (*No specific age limit set)*
3. * Selection method: Interview scheduled after document screening*
* *About recruitment for the 7th generation ** ANRI official email magazine around summer 2024
We will notify you at. If you would like to receive notifications, please register.
* ■ ANRI Fellowship Conference 2023｜ANRI*
Research exchange session for the 5th batch of ANRI Basic Science Scholarship students
We are introducing. Please take a look if you like.
* ■ About Venture Capital ANRI *
Since the establishment of the ANRI No. 1 Fund in 2012, ANRI has consistently invested in startups specializing in the initial stage (seed stage), and currently has five flagship funds and ANRI, which specializes in decarbonization issues.
We operate GREEN Fund and other funds, with a cumulative total of approximately 78 billion yen under management.
Based on the vision of “Let’s create the future, an overwhelming future,” we support university-originated R&D startups in a wide range of technology fields, including deep tech and life sciences, in addition to the Internet field, which has been our strength since our founding. We are also focusing on In addition, in order to support our investees during their startup stages, we operate a 1,200 square meter incubation office in Roppongi Hills, providing support from the preparatory stages of starting a business in an environment more similar to that of entrepreneurs.
* ■ Company profile *
Company name: ANRI Co., Ltd.
Representative: Representative Partner Henri Samata
Address: 15F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo CIRCLE by ANRI
Company website: https://anri.vc