The first message（April 1, 2021）

Advanced Materials Research Core
Assoc. Prof. Tso-Fu Mark CHANG
　My name is Tso-Fu Mark Chang. I am a new associate professor in the Advanced Materials Research Core of Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology (FIRST) from April 2021. I received my Doctor of Engineering degree from Tokyo Institute of Tehcnology in 2012 and have been an assistant professor in Tokyo Tech until March of 2021. My specialty is in electrodeposition of metal-based functional mateirals for applications in miniaturized electronic devices, wearable devices or biosensors. My recent research is on design and fabrication of visible light driven anti-infection materials that can protect us to from deadly infective bacteria or virus. I am always open for possible coopeation with people from various area. Please feel free to contact me.

Applied Artificial Intelligence Research Core
Prof. Kenji SUZUKI
　I worked in FIRST Lab for approximately 4 years as Specially Appointed Professor, appointed by World Research Hub Initiative (WRHI) at Tokyo Institute of Technology. Since April 1st, 2021, I have been appointed as Full Professor (Tenured) of Applied Artificial Intelligence in FIRST Lab. Before that, I worked as Associate Professor at Illinois Institute of Technology and Assistant Professor at University of Chicago for more than 15 years. I have been educating graduate students and researching machine/deep learning and computer-aided diagnosis in medical imaging for 30 years. I am pursuing the development of explainable AI, small-data AI, and engineerable AI and their applications in medical imaging in National Research Projects funded by JST and NEDO, and I am extending my research to fields such as the industrial (traffic, sensing, robotics) and the scientific (material science, biology), where I believe such AI technologies will be applicable and useful. I plan to pursue collaborations with faculty members and researchers in other disciplines at Tokyo Institute of Technology as well as outside institutions and companies involved in AI-inclusive interdisciplinary research and development.

Applied Artificial Intelligence Research Core
Asst. Prof. Junichi OZAKI
　My name is Jun'ichi Ozaki. I have been appointed as an Assistant Professor of the Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology (FIRST) since April 1, 2021. I specialize in econophysics, complex networks, and computational physics, and I have been working on mathematical analysis and modeling of inter-firm trading networks using complex network theory, and large-scale simulation of networks using supercomputers and the application to economic activity forecasting. In collaboration with the Advanced Data Analysis and Modeling Unit at the Institute of Innovative Research, I aim to develop a comprehensive social simulator that includes firm economic activities, human flows, and financial markets, etc., without taking a single point of view, to help solve various social problems, including in disasters.

Urban Disaster Prevention Research Core
Asst. Prof. Shegay ALEX
　After receiving my PhD degree from University of Auckland in New Zealand in 2019, I have been employed as a post-doctoral researcher at Tohoku University. My research has been mainly focused on the behaviour or reinforced concrete structures. Previous research has focused on topics relating to achieving high deformation ductility and prevention of axial collapse of concrete components. More recently I have become interested in research relating to achieving continuous occupation of structures following large earthquake events. Projects related to this topic have included research into the repair and shake table retesting of a heavily damaged RC structure to understand the level of seismic performance recovery that can be achieved following repair. In the future I am interested to further pursue research into the use of effective repair strategies for conventional structures as well as implementation of base isolation technology for new structures to enable long term sustainability and reusability following earthquakes.

Urban Disaster Prevention Research Core
Asst. Prof. Yang XIANG（Specially Appointed）
　From 1st, April, 2021, Xiang became a specially-appointed assistant professor at Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology (FIRST), Institute of Innovative Research (IIR). He obtained his Doctoral degree at Tongji University, Shanghai, China, and worked in Kyoto University as a JSPS research fellow for two years before joining Tokyo Tech. Xiang's research interests and academic activities are closely related to the mechanical property and seismic performance of steel structures. He has many experiences in the seismic response analysis and performance evaluation of different types of steel structures, and has developed some novel analytical approaches. His ongoing work in FIRST mainly consists of three parts: 1) 3D floor acceleration for the aseismic design of non-structural components; 2) Performance of base-isolated structure equipped with novel wind-stoppers; 3) Cyclic performance of steel beam-column connection considering beam axial force.

ENEOS Smart Materials & Devices Collaborative Research Programs
Assoc. Prof. Taku ICHIBAYASHI（Specially Appointed）
　I am Taku Ichibayashi, from April 2021, appointed as specially appointed associate professor of ENEOS Smart Materials & Devices Collaborative Research Programs. I had been working on the development of new energy materials and devices such as organic solar cells and lithium-ion batteries at ENEOS corporation. For the last two years, I have been working on the development of liquid crystal materials for soft actuators as a member of the first phase of the program. In the second phase from April 2021, I would like to further expand industry-academia collaboration activities by taking advantage of the excellent environment of TIT. I'm looking forward to working as a member of FIRST.

Link
▶Institute of Innovative Research（IIR）