Join PEDAL Lab

Plants × Weather × Sensing

Join PEDAL Lab

PEDAL Lab welcomes motivated students who are genuinely interested in our research on plant–environment interactions, field measurements, environmental sensing, and instrument development.

Before contacting us, please read this page and our Research page carefully. We receive many inquiries, particularly regarding MEXT scholarships, and can only consider applicants whose interests and preparation show a clear fit with the laboratory.

Explore our research

Before You Contact Us

Please contact us only after confirming that:

  • you have read the PEDAL Lab Research page ;
  • you can explain why you are interested in PEDAL Lab specifically;
  • your intended research is related to at least one of our research themes;
  • you understand that admission, supervision, and scholarship nomination are separate decisions; and
  • you are prepared to develop your research plan through discussion rather than simply submitting a generic proposal.

Research Fit

Our research is built around two core scientific areas: forest rainfall and raindrop processes, and plant biomechanics. We extend these perspectives to soil erosion and other land-surface processes, supported by environmental sensing, instrument development, data analysis, and field observation.

See detailed research themes and current opportunities

Who May Be a Good Fit?

PEDAL Lab may be a good fit for students who:

  • are curious about how plants interact with rain, wind, soil, and other environmental forces;
  • enjoy fieldwork, experiments, data analysis, programming, or building measurement systems;
  • can work independently while communicating regularly with supervisors and laboratory members;
  • are willing to learn unfamiliar methods and improve through trial and error; and
  • are interested in contributing to ongoing research as well as developing their own questions.

Master's and Doctoral Study

Master's

Master's students normally develop a feasible research topic through discussion with the supervisor. Their projects may be connected to ongoing laboratory research, available facilities, field sites, and funded projects.

Doctoral

Doctoral applicants are expected to demonstrate greater independence, a clear academic motivation, and the ability to identify a meaningful research question. A change of topic from a previous degree is possible, but applicants must explain the reason and how their experience will support the proposed research.

How to Contact Us

  1. 1

    Read the Research and Recruitment pages

  2. 2

    Check your fit

    Confirm that your background and interests fit the laboratory.

  3. 3

    Send a concise initial inquiry

    Use the subject line and format below.

  4. 4

    Wait for the initial screening

    Additional documents or an online interview may be requested only after this screening.

In the email

Provide the following information

  1. Full name and country
  2. Current university and degree
  3. Intended program: Master's, Doctoral, Research Student, or other
  4. Intended enrollment period
  5. Intended funding or scholarship
  6. The PEDAL research theme that interests you most
  7. Why you wish to join PEDAL Lab specifically
  8. A brief description of previous research or relevant experience
Initial attachments

Please attach only:

  • a curriculum vitae.

Please do not initially send an academic transcript, degree certificate, full research proposal, recommendation letters, publication files, a passport, an English test certificate, or an extensive personal statement.

Initial Screening Process

  1. Initial inquiry
  2. Initial screening
  3. Additional documents, if requested
  4. Online interview, if requested
  5. Decision on supervision
  6. University and scholarship procedures

Because of the number of inquiries we receive, we may be unable to respond to every inquiry or provide detailed individual feedback to all applicants. A request for additional materials indicates that the review is continuing; it does not guarantee supervision or admission.

About MEXT Scholarships

Official university information

Requirements, deadlines, procedures, and scholarship information may change. Always confirm the latest information on official TUAT and scholarship-provider websites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I propose my own research topic?

Yes, but the topic must fit the laboratory's expertise, facilities, field sites, supervision capacity, and ongoing research. The final topic will be developed through discussion.

Can I apply if my previous degree is in a different field?

Possibly. Explain why you wish to change fields and how your previous knowledge and skills are relevant.

Is Japanese language ability required?

Research supervision can be conducted in English. However, willingness to learn basic Japanese is helpful for laboratory life, fieldwork, university procedures, and daily life in Japan.

Does a supervisor's positive response guarantee admission or MEXT nomination?

No. Supervision, admission, and scholarship nomination are separate decisions.

Can I send a full research proposal with my first email?

Please do not send extensive materials unless requested. Begin with the concise inquiry and documents described above.

When should I contact the laboratory?

Contact us early enough to allow initial screening before the relevant admission or scholarship deadline. Check the latest official schedule before writing; fixed dates are not maintained on this page.

Visiting Researchers and Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral fellows, visiting researchers, and visiting professors should contact the laboratory with a concise description of the proposed collaboration, intended funding scheme, preferred period, and expected outcomes. The student inquiry format above is not required.

Does your research direction fit PEDAL?

Read our research page first. If the connection is clear, use the requested email format and send a concise initial inquiry.

Explore our research Contact PEDAL