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 メニュー ニュースニュースニュースリストお知らせPolicies海外同窓会海外同窓会ベトナム同窓会韓国同窓会インドネシア同窓会華英会中国同窓会台湾同窓会タイ同窓会モンゴル同窓会会員専用 --> 日本語 ENGLISH --> ログイン 新規登録 ※ブラウザでJavascript の設定がオフになっています。設定を変更してください 東北大学海外同窓会ネットワーク ニュースお知らせPolicies海外同窓会会員専用 ニュース TOP > ニュース >  From Chicago to Sendai: A Journey of Discovery and Achievement at Tohoku University From Chicago to Sendai: A Journey of Discovery and Achievement at Tohoku University 2023-12-22 James Kleeman, Ph.D. From/Currently working in USA Position: Senior Quantitative Developer at Akuna Capital Most recent achievement at Tohoku University: Ph.D. in physics     Can you give us a  small introduction of yourself and how you started your studies in Tohoku University?   James: My name is James Kleeman. I’m from Chicago, USA and I’m a 2015 alumnus of Tohoku University with a PhD in physics. I completed my bachelor's at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, graduating with a major in physics and a minor in Japanese. The first time I visited Japan was for a study abroad program when I was an undergraduate. The people, landscape, food, and culture were all amazing and completely different than anything I’d experienced before. I knew that I wanted to go back again. One of the professors who I had met during my study abroad experience suggested that I look at Tohoku University. I was excited about the opportunity to live in Japan, and as I learned about the graduate program at Tohoku University I became just as excited about the research opportunities. I was accepted into the Department of Physics and moved from Chicago to Sendai in the fall of 2010.     What did you learn and what was your research during your study at Tohoku University?   James: At Tohoku University, I was a part of the Takahashi (now Sato) Lab, which focuses on analyzing the electronic structure of materials using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). My thesis was on graphene and metal “sandwiches”, which are composed of a single atom thick layer of metal sandwiched between two single atom thick layers of carbon. When stacked together and cooled to extremely low temperatures, these materials become superconducting, which is a special state that allows electricity to flow through them with zero resistance. I focused on synthesizing these materials and measuring them using ARPES to explain how the sandwiched structure is a superconductor even when no single layer is superconducting.   During my PhD I learned a great amount from my professors and the other students in my lab. With their help I was able to master the skills and knowledge needed to become an expert in ARPES and graphene compounds. However, the most lasting lessons for me were on the fundamentals of research. I still draw daily from what I learned about how to tailor a research summary to my audience, give a clear and confident presentation, and design an experiment to precisely answer a hypothesis.   Experimenting with TAing, a physics lab elective in 2012.   Did you find any difficulties when you were doing your research and study at Tohoku University? How did you overcome them?   James: Like anything worth doing, research is never easy. I experienced droughts where I could not seem to fabricate a high-quality sample, dealt with experiments producing unexpected results, and spent long hours in the lab collecting data. Through everything however, my professors and lab mates were always there to provide inspiration and support.   When I arrived in Sendai my conversational Japanese was also weak. I had no problem going to classes or running errands, but I was determined to improve. I spent a lot of time practicing Japanese with anyone I could. In my lab I would help others writing research papers in English, and in exchange would get them to grade my Japanese workbook pages. With enough practice, I was able to discuss my research in Japanese, work as a TA in classes, and help the other international students in my lab in their daily lives using my Japanese.     Did you manage to keep in contact with your supervisor, lab mates and friends?   James: I’ve been able to stay connected with my lab mates and professors and I make it a point to visit them whenever I’m back in Japan. Since graduation I’ve had a lot of great opportunities to see them at weddings, retirement parties, or just grabbing a drink when I’m nearby, etc. We still have a Line group that we use to discuss what’s going on with everyone, although I wish I could meet up with them more often in Tokyo.   During my time in Sendai I also became friends with a lot of other international students. Since graduation it’s been so much fun to visit them whenever I travel abroad, and to host them in Chicago if they come for business. Each time I see them it’s amazing to see how much everyone has grown, and a pleasure to meet their spouses and children.   Enjoying hanami with Tokhoku friends in Hirosaki.   What about your unforgettable memories and experiences in Sendai?   James: I had so many great experiences in Sendai!   I met my wife in Sendai when she was also a student. We made tons of day trips together from Sendai, like visiting Yamadera, Tashirojima (a cat island), Zao Fox Village, and Matsushima. Our wedding was in Sendai the week of my graduation, and we had a great time showing our families around. We often talk about how we’d love to move back to Sendai in the future!   I also have so many great memories of my friends in the Tohoku University Foreign Students Association (TUFSA). I was a member of the group for most of my time in Sendai. Together we went on weekend trips, organized fundraisers, cooked, watched movies, and had fun just hanging out. I never expected that through studying in Japan I would get to be close friends with people from so many other places, but through TUFSA I made lasting friendships with other students from France, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Italy, Sri Lanka, and so many more places. One of my favorite memories was sharing a US tradition, Thanksgiving, with TUFSA. Searching for a US turkey in Japan, sharing my family recipes with everyone, and celebrating everything we were thankful for that year was one of the best holidays I've ever had.   I was also in Sendai in March of 2011, when the region was hit by a huge 9.1 magnitude earthquake. While I was safe in Sendai, I spent almost a week rationing food before I was able to evacuate to Tokyo. What I remember most about it though is the sense of community I felt with my neighbors. As we waited for aid, most of the residents in my apartment building spent time in a bike shop on the first floor, camped out around the owner’s big kerosene heater. Everyone pooled their food and one of the grandmothers made stew in a pot that she balanced on top of the big heater. The kindness and generosity of everyone in Sendai in the face of such a massive disaster is something I’ll never forget.   A weekend trip with the Tohoku University Foreign Students Association.   Tell us about your current career.   James: After graduation I moved back to Chicago and got a job as a quantitative developer at Akuna Capital, a high-frequency trading company specializing in options market making. I’ve been at Akuna for 8 years now, and currently lead a team responsible for designing ultra-low-latency trading strategies. The research skills I developed at Tohoku University are always useful to me in my work, and I really enjoy Akuna’s data-driven approach and fast-paced atmosphere.     Do you have a message to juniors in Tohoku University?   James: Say ‘yes’ to everything! There are so many opportunities to try new things at Tohoku University, and you never know when you’ll discover something amazing.   Enjoying a matcha parfait in Kyoto. Alumni Stories ▲ &＃26481;&＃21271;&＃22823;&＃23398;&＃12288;&＃28023;&＃22806;&＃21516;&＃31379;&＃29983; [ ヘルプ  | Copyright ] ログイン 新規登録 mb pusher-->