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Research in the lab is conducted in English, and international students are welcome. Some programmes and courses at the Graduate School are offered in English; others are in Japanese, and daily life in Sendai is easier with some Japanese. Check the current requirements for your intended programme on the Graduate School website, since these are set by the university rather than the lab.
Backgrounds in geography, environmental science, forestry, urban planning, ecology, civil engineering, computer science, and related fields all fit. What matters is an interest in land-use and environmental change and a willingness to work quantitatively. We expect to teach remote sensing and geospatial methods.
It helps, but it is not a prerequisite. Most projects use Python (and often Google Earth Engine); some use R. If you have never programmed, expect to spend your first months learning — many students do exactly that.
Several routes exist, including Japanese government (MEXT) scholarships, JSPS fellowships for postdoctoral researchers, and university and external scholarship schemes. Eligibility and deadlines vary considerably and are administered outside the lab.Tell us in your first email whether you need funding — it shapes the timeline substantially, and most schemes have deadlines many months before enrolment.
Short research visits and internships are possible depending on timing, funding, and supervision capacity. Get in touch with a clear proposal and dates.
As early as possible — ideally six to twelve months before your intended start, and earlier still if you are applying for a scholarship or fellowship.
Still unsure? Send us a message using the enquiry and application form.