Kakenhi tips for young researchers
Daniel Packwood
dpackwood@icems.kyoto-u.ac.jp

1Self-introduction
Senior lecturer and PI at iCeMS,Kyoto University (2016 -)JST PRESTO (Collaborative Math)(2014 – 2018)
Assistant Professor at Tohoku
University (2012 – 2016)
JSPS Postdoc at Kyoto University
Graduate School of Science（2010‐2012）

University of Canterbury (PhD 2010)
Major: Chemistry, Minor: Statistics

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Why obtain research grants?

As well as paying for your research costs, research grants show that• you have a sound long-term research plan,• that people believe your research will yield exciting outcomes, and• that you have the support of the domestic community.
It is very hard to demonstrate these things from your publication record alone.

3Kakenhi is the main source of public researchfunding in Japan
Main categories:

Target position:

Kiban S

Senior professor

Kiban A

Professor

Kiban B

Associate professor

Kiban C

Assistant / associate
professor

Wakate (early career)

Postdoc / assistantprofessor(+ other special categories)

As you go throughyour career, youwork your way up
from Wakate toKiban S.
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My mixed Kakenhi history…
Occasional misses!

Occasional hits!
2014: Young researchers B (Wakate B)
Charge transport inside of organic crystals

2017: Challenging Research (Chosentekihouga)
Molecular transport network based upon amathematical model

2016: Shingakujyutsu Koubo
Nanostructure control with Bayesian
optimisation

2017: Young researcher A (Wakate A)
Computational platform for work function
control

2018: Young researchers (Wakate)Thin-film deposition system combining
experiment and information science

2018: Shingakujyutsu Koubo
Determination of nanopore atomic structure
via a math-materials collaboration

2020: Kiban C
Quantum annealing for functionalmolecular assemblies

2019: Kiban B
Molecular assembly control by fusion ofcomputation and machine learning+ others!

+ others!

All established researchers have a long list of acceptance and rejections.
If you miss once, just re-think your strategy and try again.

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What do you need to write?
Wakate application form: https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/03_keikaku/data/r05/s-21.docx

4 pages

2 pages

1 pageProposal (main part):
Summary, goal, background, methods, how
did you choose this project?

Feasibility:
Past achievements andcurrent researchenvironment

Compliance:
Human rights
protections, etc
6Elephant in
the room….

https://dotunadeoye.com/2019/09/18/whos-theelephant-in-your-business-idea-room/2013 success rate for Japanese proposals

English proposals

Kiban A

23.5 %

13.6 %

Kiban B
Kiban C

24.7 %
29.9 %

11.4 %
23.7 %

25.8 %
22.1 %
29.9 %

10.9 %
9.8 %
20.0 %

Challenging (houga)
Wakate A
Wakate B

http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/gijyutu/gijyutu4/037/shiryo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2015/06/17/1358876_05.pdf
7Dejima syndrome?
I have a tip foryou.

I also have atip.

I’m going toapply for
Kakenhi!

https://keijoseph.amebaownd.com/posts/10760934/

I’m going toapply forKakenhi!

You can borrow thesebooks
Let me checkyour proposal
before you
submitNowadays, anybody can roam Japan freely. The tangible parts of Japan are
fully accessible.
However, the intangible parts (information) remain inaccessible.

8My Kakenhi tips!
Before you write
When you write

9Tip # 1: Remember that the evaluators are really busy!
https://ex02.net/archives/23

Make your proposal interesting and easy-to-understand for the evaluator.
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Tip # 2: Understand that you are not writing a paper

Paper: Present a new result to specialists

Proposal: Sell an idea

Result is supported by analysis and formalism.
Effort required to read it.

Idea is sold through rhetoric and visuals.
Little effort required to read it.

Significance and impact are secondary.

Significance and impact are paramount11

Tip # 3: Clarify where your idea comes from
Past research
Next step

Simulation of
nanomaterial assembly

Future vision

Project idea
Previous step
Simulation using aquantum computer•Your idea should come from two sources:
your past research and your future vision.

•Unlike a paper, your proposal must be grounded inboth the past and the future.

•The past determines which steps you can take next.
The future determines which of those steps has
highest impact.

Designnanomaterials
with ultrafast
simulations“…the circumstances leading to conception of
the present research proposal…”

Image sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-assembly; https://algoanalytics.com/quantumAnnealers.html;
https://news.cnrs.fr/articles/the-new-challenges-of-spintronics;
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/03/20/reviewed-oled-tv-made-in-america/6568445/

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My Kakenhi tips!
Before you write
When you write

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Tip # 4: On the first page, articulate your overall vision and sell it
Overall vision
Past research

Next step

Project idea

Project idea
(step towards the big dream)

Previous step

Future vision

Big dream

Quantum computer

Molecule
Molecules

Nanomaterial

Simulate nanomaterial
assembly using a quantum
computer

Big impacts
Artificial cells

Printed electronics

Nanomaterial

Simulate nanomaterial assembly
within seconds (impossible withordinary computers)
Image sources:
Ultrahigh density memory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-assembly
https://algoanalytics.com/quantumAnnealers.html
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/11/14/creating-life-from-the-bottom-up-can-we-make-cells-from-scratch/https://news.cnrs.fr/articles/the-new-challenges-of-spintronics
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/03/20/reviewed-oled-tv-made-in-america/6568445/

Application form (first page)

Large
scope
Specific
focus
Large
scope
Big
dream
Impacts
Obstacle
to bigdream

This project + impactsThis research aims to lay-down a foundation for the discovery ofnovel materials [impacts] which runs on a quantum computer.
More concretely, I will create an quantum algorithm which canquickly simulate on-surface self-assembly [this project].
Topic (big dream), problem (obstacle to big dream), solution(this project), impact
This project + obstacle to big dream15

Tip # 5: Make sure that flow of the project is clear at a glanceFig 1. Summary of projectFig 2. Background / how this project
overcomes previous bottlenecks

Fig 3. Method sketchFig 4. Immediate impact,
long term impact

Fig 5 [because extra space
was available] How to ensure
immediate impact

Easy way: show one figure per pageThe first figure should summarise the project(background, method, main goal).
Figures should be clear when printed in blackand-white!
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Tip # 6: Write in short paragraphs• Make one point per paragraph, use
simple sentences• Key sentences in bold. Proposal should
be understandable by reading bold parts
only. But do not use too much bold text.
• Have one line of space betweenparagraphs. This makes the proposal
look easier to read.
• Avoid tiny font sizes. If you run out of space,
you need write more succinctly.
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Tip # 7: Plan to spend most of your time editing
https://www.brickcat.com/set-10662/

The convergence of solid-statephysics and materials chemistry
has been preceding over recentyears. A new direction – to realisenovel functionality by precisealignment of molecules – hasemerged.

Add
RemoveIn previous research I
developed a new approach toself-assembly simulations
using machine learning andstochastic search techniques.

The database will be
constructed from theCambridge Online Crystal
Database, which contains
thousands of organic crystal
structures.

“Building a Lego Tank (no music, no filters)” from YouTube•

It is difficult to write the proposal from start to finish in one go. Because the space isquite limited (4 - 5 pages + figures), you will probably spend a lot of time editing.

•Efficient writing method: Write candidate paragraphs for each component of the project.
Then, treat the candidate paragraphs like Lego plots. Click them together, remove someof them, add new ones, remove some more, etc, until you have the final proposal. 18

Tip # 8: Think carefully about which section you choose
When you submit yourproposal, you must select a‘section’.
Your proposal will be evaluatedby senior researchers from thatsection.
Look through the entire list andchoose appropriately!
List of fields:
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/2020/09/R2b_kouboyoryo_e.pdf

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Tip # 9: Familiarise yourself with E-rad!
https://www-shinsei.jsps.go.jp/kaken/index.html••

E-rad is the website whereyou submit your proposal.
Access requires an ID andpassword. Your university
administration provides this•As well as uploading yourproposal, you must enter
additional information(breakdown of money
required and reasons).

https://www.mext.
go.jp/content/1395
971_02.pdf

Breakdown of the budget per year
(goods, consumables, travel, labour, others)

Major items (makerand installationlocation)

Necessity for thebudget (important!)
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My Kakenhi tips!
Before you write
When you write

But what about Japanese vs English?
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Japanese vs English?
[Maybe] A good translation will improve thechances of success.
[Maybe not] A poor translation will do theopposite.
If a trusted colleague is available, do this withthem and ask about the phrases they choose(helps if you can read Japanese).
Google-translated text will leave a terrible
impression – be careful
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Final comments23• These tips are only based on my experience and do not guarantee
success. You should take time to find what works for you.
• You should put a good effort into writing Kakenhi. It brings important
career benefits and is a great chance to clarify your research direction.
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