For Prospective Students

Before contacting me

If you are considering applying to my group for a Master's or Doctoral program, please read the information below before contacting me.

In your first inquiry, please mention that you have read this page and address the points listed below. A general inquiry without this information may not receive an individual reply.

Research interests

My research is in theoretical condensed matter physics. My main research areas are mesoscopic physics, spintronics, and nanomechanics, with particular interest in quantum transport, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, and spin-related phenomena.

Before contacting me, please read my Research page. Please explain specifically which research topic interests you and how it is related to your previous study or research experience.

I am a member of the laboratory called the "Theoretical Condensed Matter and Statistical Physics" . Within this laboratory, individual faculty members lead their own research activities, and my research team is referred to as the Izumida Group. At the same time, communication and collaboration beyond individual research groups are encouraged throughout the laboratory.

Other staff members in our laboratory work on research topics different from mine. If your research interests are not closely related to my research, please also consider contacting another staff member whose research is more closely aligned with your interests.

Master's program

Applicants to the Master's program are expected to have a sufficient background in undergraduate-level physics, including quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, electromagnetism, classical mechanics, and mathematical methods in physics.

Please check the past entrance examination problems of the Department of Physics, Tohoku University, which are available from the Department of Physics website . For example, the 2025 examination problems are available here . Although the problems are written in Japanese, you may use translation tools to understand the questions.

Please try solving the main problems under examination conditions without referring to textbooks or solutions, and evaluate your current level. You do not need to report only whether your answers were correct; please also consider which problems you could solve, which ones you could make progress on, and whether you could identify a reasonable approach to problems you could not complete. As a rough guide, the examination allows about one hour for each subject: basic mathematics, classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics/statistical mechanics.

When contacting me, please briefly describe how you approached the past examination problems and how much you were able to solve, together with your preparation for the entrance examination.

Doctoral program

Applicants to the Doctoral program should have a sufficient background and research experience in physics relevant to theoretical condensed matter physics.

Before contacting me, please read some of my publications related to the research topic that interests you. Please describe your Master's research or other previous research, including your own contribution, and explain how your research background is connected to the research you would like to pursue in my group.

Please also provide information on your Master's thesis and, if available, your publications, preprints, or conference presentations.

Admission information

International applicants may apply through programs such as the International Graduate Program for Advanced Science (IGPAS) . Please check the IGPAS website carefully for current information on eligibility, application procedures, required documents, schedules, and scholarship opportunities including MEXT.

Financial support

I cannot guarantee MEXT or any other scholarship. Applicants should carefully consider how they would finance their study and living expenses if they do not receive a scholarship.

For applicants through IGPAS, MEXT (Japanese Government) scholarships may be awarded to selected successful applicants based on their performance in the entrance examination and other eligibility requirements. If you are interested in a MEXT scholarship through IGPAS, please read the IGPAS website carefully for the current conditions and selection procedure.

Information on scholarships and other forms of financial support for international students is available from the Tohoku University scholarship information page and from DiRECT . Please check these sources yourself for current information and application procedures.

For doctoral students, Tohoku University also provides financial and research support through the Tohoku University Advanced Graduate School LEAP Program . Doctoral applicants are strongly encouraged to check the eligibility requirements and details of this program.

Graduate students may also have opportunities to work as Teaching Assistants (TAs), Research Assistants (RAs), or in similar positions. However, these positions are subject to availability and selection and are not guaranteed. They should therefore be regarded as supplementary financial support rather than as a primary source of funding.

When contacting me, please state clearly whether you would still be able and willing to enroll if you do not receive a scholarship.


Information to include in your inquiry

Please include the following information in your first e-mail:

Please attach your CV and academic transcript. Doctoral applicants should also provide information on their Master's thesis and research achievements, if applicable.

Important note

The number of students I can supervise is limited. Providing the information above or meeting the academic requirements does not guarantee that I will be able to accept you as a student.

Final admission decisions are made through the official admission procedures of Tohoku University.