BSI NEWS has often carried interviews of BSI laboratory and unit leaders. However, laboratories do not consist exclusively of leaders. Besides the research scientists, there are also technical staff and assistants who provide invaluable support. This interview will give you a glimpse of the kind of work they are doing.
Ms. Yuka Takeuchi, a technical assistant at the Laboratory for Neural Circuit Theory (Laboratory Head: Dr. Tomoki Fukai) is one of these support persons. We asked her to comment on her impressions of RIKEN, BSI, her laboratory, its leader, and its management, from the perspective of a worker from the private sector who has only recently been hired by the lab.
Q: When did you come to BSI?
A: I started in July 2007. I had been designing computer systems for financial institutions with a systems developer in Tokyo since graduating from university. About two years ago I decided to quit the firm, feeling that it was time for me to move on and gain experience in other fields. I live in Saitama prefecture, so when I was looking for a position close to home I was lucky to find a help-wanted ad on the BSI website.
Q: Had you been interested in RIKEN before that?
A: I knew that a large institute called RIKEN was located in Wako but I didn't know much about its specific departments or the work it did. I visited RIKEN for the first time on Open Day in April 2007. I saw an article announcing the event in the local newspaper so decided to go with my family, hoping to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Before the visit, I browsed the RIKEN website looking for information on the Open Day program. There were so many events scheduled, I didn't think I could see them all in one day. Sure enough, it was impossible to see everything that day. I regretted that the public opening was scheduled for only one day.
Q: What do you do in your laboratory? Are the skills that you acquired at your previous work useful in your work at RIKEN?
A: I work three days a week, and 70 percent of my job consists of providing assistance in the pigeonholing of test data - identifying and classifying data on a PC as requested by the research scientists. The remaining 30 percent is general office work.
My previous job involved using the computer, working with programs for financial institutions in the field of business computing, which is different from the scientific and technological computations done at our laboratory. If I remember correctly, the conditions set by Dr. Fukai in the help-wanted ad were for "a person suited for steady work who has a lot of patience"
Q: You seem to have confidence regarding these points.
A: Maybe I do. When developing a system used in business, the first thing to do is to set the framework - when, what and for which budget. Then a breakdown is made to determine what kind of advanced procedures are required to implement the system. I think that this method is also useful in the work I do at the laboratory.
Q: What is it like working at your laboratory?
A: The laboratory has 16 members including permanent staff and scientists who come from other laboratories to conduct joint research. All of the research scientists, including Dr. Fukai and the other staff, have been very friendly. They showed care and consideration in helping me get used to my job as quickly as possible. I like it that the lab is cheerful, open and efficiently run.
I feel that the atmospheres at private businesses and research institutes are somewhat different. Although I am not involved in cutting-edge research, I get the feeling that all the research scientists are doing their day-to-day research under considerable pressure.
Q: What is it like working with Dr. Fukai?
A: In addition to his own research, Dr. Fukai spends much time in helping other members of the research team, taking time for discussions with the research scientists and welcoming visitors to the laboratory. I really feel that he is a strong leader. Whenever I see him, he never fails to talk to me and ask me how things are going. He can talk about a lot of topics and I never get bored in my conversations with him.
Q: How do you feel about working at BSI?
A: With the aging population in Japan, brain science is a particularly important field of study. I think that BSI is a very impressive and advanced institute that gathers many able people from many fields in order to conduct competitive research of a very high standard.
On a personal note, I wish to fine-tune my own standards of data handling so that I can contribute more to the research done here. Since I feel very lucky to be able to assist in such a pleasant work environment, I want to continue my job here. I take great personal pleasure in contributing to the work of the laboratory.
