To all students interested in joining the Theoretical Astrophysics Group

Welcome to the Theoretical Astrophysics Group.

Research environment

The Theoretical Astrophysics Group at the Center for Computational Sciences currently has seven staff members, who are engaged in research encompassing a broad range of topics including the large-scale structure of the universe, galaxies, black holes, stars, and planets. The group is 50 members strong, including researchers and students, making it Japan's largest theoretical astrophysics group. In recent years, we have been pioneering cross-disciplinary research on themes such as the origin of life and computational medicine.

Our research group provides a unique environment for students who want to experience the excitement of interacting with experts on a variety of research topics and delving into a research topic in depth with the guidance of an advisor.

Supercomputers and astrophysics, medical and biological sciences

The unique feature of our group is that our research focuses on large-scale simulations using state-of-the-art supercomputers. In some cases, we develop novel computational codes to perform simulations no one has ever done before. One of the major strengths and advantages of our group is being part of the Center for Computational Science, which is constantly developing new supercomputers that we can use for our research.

We therefore welcome students who are interested in astrophysics, who want to apply the physics they have studied to the behaviour and evolution of astrophysical objects, or who want to perform large-scale numerical simulations, and who are enthusiastic about their research, no matter what their motivation. We challenge you to take part in performing the world's best computer simulations together!

The group is always open for visits and questions. Feel free to directly contact the faculty member whose research interests you.

Career paths

Career opportunities are diverse after obtaining a Master's or doctoral degree: students may begin working in companies from large corporations to smaller start ups, or as a public servant. If you wish to enter a doctoral program with us, you must take and pass the entrance examination. The job descriptions in companies vary widely, including system engineer, satellite development, automobile development, IT consultant, etc. If you want to become a researcher, you will need to apply for a fixed-term post such as a research fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, a research fellow of a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, or a research fellow of a research institute.

Graduate research program

1st year of Master's degree: Research begins. At first, you will read papers and study physics related to your project. You will gradually start numerical simulations and analysis towards original research. In parallel, you will attend graduate school classes, 1-2 weekly rotating seminars, and regular group colloquiums.

Second year of master's program: While participating in seminars and regular group colloquiums, students concentrate on their research toward the completion of their Master's thesis. They will also present the results of their research at conferences and workshops in Japan and abroad.

Doctoral Program: Research, research, research. Frequent presentations at conferences and research meetings, and discussions with researchers in Japan and abroad will help you develop your research. You will also submit papers to peer-reviewed journals as the first author. In order to become independent researchers, students will develop the ability to explore research themes, develop research plans, and organize their research.

In addition to the above, various events for social gatherings are planned in the group, such as a newcomer's barbecue, camp-style research meetings, year-end parties, and farewell parties.

Finally, after entering our graduate school, students will be assigned a faculty advisor during April and begin their research. Graduate students are not expected to assist with research, but to take the initiative in conducting research on their own original research topics. The faculty advisor is essentially meant to be a co-researcher. It will be tough at the beginning, but if you are enthusiastic and committed, you will get to experience a very exciting research life. You may get stuck at times, but when the going gets tough, the faculty members, researchers, and the other students in the group will do their best to support you.

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