Survey for the MBSJ Career Development Committee's Lunchtime Seminar 2021: "Things
you should do as an early-career researcher: advice to young researchers and graduate
students”
The 44th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan (MBSJ2021) will hold a lunchtime
seminar titled "Things you should do as an early-career researcher: advice to young researchers andgraduate students”.
Undergraduate and graduate students, and young researchers who are just starting out, we are surethat you have your own goals for the future. We are sure that your seniors, who were once young
researchers, also had their own goals. So, what are you currently thinking about every day as you
work toward your goals? And what did your predecessors think about when they were young andworking towards their goals?
For this event, we will first conduct a questionnaire survey on goal setting and mindset at various
time points in your career, and what you think is necessary to achieve your goals. On the day of thelunchtime seminar, based on the survey results, we will discuss the differences and similarities
among positions and ages, provide information that will help students and young people improvetheir skills, and encourage young people for their future endeavors. We would like to make this an
enjoyable and meaningful event where participants with various positions and backgrounds candeepen their mutual understanding.
This survey is essential to the success of the event, and we would appreciate the cooperation ofpeople of all ages. (Time required: about 5-10 minutes)
Survey period: Friday, August 6, 2021 - Friday, August 27, 2021
Career Development Committee, The Molecular Biology Society of Japan*Required
1. Gender *□Male □Female □Prefer not to answer
2. Occupation *□Undergraduate student □Graduate student (master’s) □Graduate student (doctoral) □Technicalsupport/technician □Postdoctoral fellow/tenured researcher □Researcher affiliated with a company□University faculty member (non-PI assistant professor, lecturer, associate professor) □University
faculty member (PI such as professor, independent associate professor, independent lecturer)□Tenured researcher, etc. at research institutes, etc. (non-PI) □Principal investigator, team leader,etc. at research institutes, etc. (PI) □Others:
3. Age *□24 years old or younger □25-29 years old □30-34 years old □35-39 years old □40-49 years old□50-59 years old □60 years old or older
4. Affiliation *□Science (Life science and Biology) □Science (Others) □Engineering □Agriculture and Veterinary
Science □Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy □Others
1The questions will follow. Please answer your category from the options below. Please selectthe appropriate one and proceed to the next. *□Student (undergraduate, master's or doctoral student)□Postdoctoral researcher/fixed-term researcher□Non-PI staff (associate professor, lecturer, assistant professor, non-tenured researcher, technicalstaff, etc.)□PI (professor, independent associate professor, independent lecturer/assistant professor, principal
investigator, team leader, etc.)
Student (undergraduate, currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral program)
For questions that have "Other (free description)" as an option, you can also just select "Other"
without writing anything.
Please select one of them. *□I am currently enrolled in a doctoral course at a graduate school.
□I am currently enrolled in a master's course and wish to enter a doctoral course or am consideringit.
□I am currently enrolled in a six-year undergraduate course in medicine, dentistry, veterinary
medicine, etc., and wish to enter a doctoral course or am considering it.
□I am currently an undergraduate student and wish to enter a master's course or am considering it.
□I am currently enrolled in a master's course and am not planning to enter a doctoral course.
□I am currently an undergraduate student and am not planning to enter a graduate school.
Goal setting when you were in graduate school(For those who are currently enrolled in a doctoral course or master's course, or those whowish to enter a graduate school or are considering it)
5.What was your reason for entering the master's course? (Multiple answers allowed)*4-year undergraduates, please answer the following questions as if you were going to graduate
school; 6-year undergraduates, please go to Q6.
□I wanted to be a researcher □Research seemed interesting □There were professors I wanted towork with □I wanted to study abroad eventually □It seemed advantageous for employment□someone recommended it to me □I wanted to get a master's degree □I had no choice (failed injob hunting, etc.) □There was no deep reason (because my friends were also going on to graduate
school, etc.) □Other:→Please go to Q6.
(For those who selected "I am currently an undergraduate student and am not planning toenter a graduate school”)
5-1. What is your reason for not thinking about entering a graduate school? (Multiple
answers allowed)□I am not interested in research □I want to get a job and earn a salary (stable income) □From
seeing my seniors in the lab □From seeing my professor in the lab □Difficulties with tuition payment
and living expenses □I do not have the confidence to do research in graduate school □I am worried
about my future after entering graduate school or obtaining a degree □it seems difficult to balance
research with life events (marriage, childbirth, childcare, etc.) □Other:→Please go to Q13.
2

6. What was your reason for entering the doctoral course? (Multiple answers allowed)*Undergraduates and master's course students, please answer the following questions as if you
were enrolled in a doctoral course;□I wanted to be a researcher □Research seemed interesting □There were professors I wanted towork with □My research in the master's course was interesting □I wanted to study abroad
eventually □It seemed advantageous for employment □Someone recommended it to me □I
wanted to get a doctoral degree □I had no choice (failed in job hunting, etc.) □There was no deep
reason (because my friends were also going on to higher education, etc.) □Other:→Please go to Q7.
(For those who selected "I am currently enrolled in a master's course and am not planningto enter a doctoral course”)
6-1. What is your reason for not thinking about entering a doctoral course? (Multiple
answers allowed)□I am not interested in research □I want to get a job and earn a salary (stable income) □I see myseniors in the lab □I see my professors in the lab □tuition and living expenses are difficult □I do nothave the confidence to do research in graduate school □I am worried about my future after entering
graduate school or obtaining a degree □it seems difficult to balance research with life events(marriage, childbirth, childcare, etc.) □Other:→Please go to Q13.
7. What is your goal in your research? (Multiple answers allowed)□I want to do good research □I want to do research and make discoveries that will make every day
more enjoyable □I want to do research and make discoveries that are academically interesting andimportant □I want to do research that is practically useful for the society □Some day, I want topublish my findings in prominent journals □Some day, I want to make a major discovery that would
leave its mark on history □I want to do research on my own theme □I want to do research basedon a long-term plan □I want to obtain a grant □I want to train future generations □I haven't
thought that deeply about it yet □Other:
8. What is your career goal? (Multiple answers allowed)□I want to get a stable job □I want to be a researcher in a company □I want to get a job doing
research □I don't want to be a PI but want to stay in academia □I want to be a PI □I want to be aleading researcher in Japan or the world □I want to make a career for myself □I want to makemoney □I want to be famous □I want to start my own company □I want to move to a better
research environment □I haven't thought that deeply about it yet □Other:
9. What are your life goals (things you are particularly interested in)? (Multiple answers
allowed)□I want to pursue research even if I have to make other sacrifices □I want to balance research andfamily life □I want to balance research and hobbies □My family's happiness and growth □I want tomeet a good partner □I want to have children □I want to maintain my health □I want to moveabroad □I want to live a wealthy life □I want to have a permanent job □I want a job withretirement benefits □I want a job different from research □I want to live away from research after
retirement □I want to be a researcher for life □I want to live a normal life □I am looking for a place
where I can fit in □I am looking for something I can achieve □I want to contribute to society and the3community (personal volunteer activities, etc.) □I want to contribute to society and the community(directly or indirectly as a ripple effect of my research results) □I want to contribute to myorganization □I want to have a relaxed research life □I want to become an influencer on SNS □I
haven't thought much about it □Other:
What is important for your success as a researcher?
10. What do you think is particularly important to your success as a researcher?
10-1. Research ability (Multiple answers allowed)□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability
10-2. Non-research abilities and personality traits (Multiple answers allowed)□Curiosity (in research) □Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad
education □Physical strength □Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic□Confidence □Cooperativeness □Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability□Political ability □Educational ability and willingness to take care of others
10-3. Environmental factors (Multiple answers allowed)□Luck □Experience of learning from failure / Experience of overcoming setbacks □Good research
theme □Good laboratory □Good supervisor □Good research colleagues and friends □Good family
environment □Presence of role models
10-4. Research achievement (Multiple answers allowed)□Number of papers □Papers published in high impact journals □Research with originality (even if
not in high impact journals) □Research with continuity (even if not in high impact journals)
10-5. Ability to obtain research funding (Multiple answers allowed)□Proposing attractive research themes □Ability to write research proposals □Presentation skills atinterviews □Ability to handle questions in interviews □Networking ability
10-6. Please feel free to describe anything else that you think is important for your successas a researcher. (Free form, maximum 1,600 characters)
11. What skills do you think you can develop especially during your time as a student?
(Multiple answers allowed)□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability □Curiosity (inresearch) □Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad education □Physicalstrength □Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic □Confidence □Cooperativeness□Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability □Political ability □Educational
4ability and willingness to take care of others
12. Please feel free to write down anything else that you think is important for graduate
students to achieve their goals. (Free form, no more than 1,600 characters)
13. Please feel free to provide any further information. (Free form, no more than 1,600
characters)
Postdoctoral researcher/fixed-term researcher
For questions that have "Other (free description)" as an option, you can also just select "Other"
without writing anything.
Goal setting when you were in graduate school
14. What was your reason for entering the master's course? (Multiple answers allowed)□I wanted to be a researcher □Research seemed interesting □There were professors I wanted towork with □I wanted to study abroad eventually □It seemed advantageous for employment□Someone recommended it to me □I wanted to get a master's degree □I had no choice (failed injob hunting, etc.) □There was no deep reason (because my friends were also going on to graduate
school, etc.) □Other:
15. What was your reason for entering the doctoral course? (Multiple answers allowed)□I wanted to be a researcher □Research seemed interesting □There were professors I wanted towork with □My research in the master's course was interesting □I wanted to study abroad
eventually □It seemed advantageous for employment □Someone recommended it to me □I
wanted to get a doctoral degree □I had no choice (failed in job hunting, etc.) □There was no deep
reason (because my friends were also going on to higher education, etc.) □Other:
16. What was your research goal as a researcher when you were a student? (Multiple
answers allowed)□I wanted to do good research □I wanted to do research and make discoveries that would makeevery day more enjoyable □I wanted to do research and make discoveries that were academicallyinteresting and important □I wanted to do research that was practically useful for the society□Some day, I wanted to publish my findings in prominent journals □Some day, I wanted to makea major discovery that would leave its mark on history □I wanted to do research on my own theme□I wanted to do research based on a long-term plan □I wanted to obtain a grant □I wanted to train
future generations □I didn’t think that deeply about it yet □Other:
17. When you were a student, what was your career goal as a researcher? (Multiple answers
allowed)□I wanted to get a stable job □I wanted to be a researcher in a company □I wanted to get a job
doing research □I didn't want to be a PI but wanted to stay in academia □I wanted to be a PI □I
wanted to be a leading researcher in Japan or the world □I wanted to make a career for myself □I
wanted to make money □I wanted to be famous □I wanted to start my own company □I wanted
to move to a better research environment □I didn't think that deeply about it yet □Other:
18. When you were a student, what were your life goals (things you were particularlyinterested in)? (Multiple answers allowed)5□I wanted to pursue research even if I had to make other sacrifices □I wanted to balance research
and family life □I wanted to balance research and hobbies □My family's happiness and growth □I
wanted to meet a good partner □I wanted to have children □I wanted to maintain my health □I
wanted to move abroad □I wanted to live a wealthy life □I wanted to have a permanent job □Iwanted a job with retirement benefits □I wanted a job different from research □I wanted to live
away from research after retirement □I wanted to be a researcher for life □I wanted to live anormal life □I was looking for a place where I could fit in □I was looking for something I could
achieve □I wanted to contribute to society and the community (personal volunteer activities, etc.)□I wanted to contribute to society and the community (directly or indirectly as a ripple effect of myresearch results) □I wanted to contribute to my organization □I wanted to have a relaxed research
life □I wanted to become an influencer on SNS □I did not think much about it □Other:
Current situation and current goal setting
19-1. How did you find your first job after receiving your doctoral degree? (Multiple answers
allowed)□Recruitment advertisement □Recommended by my supervisor □Recommended by mysupervisor in graduate school □I found out about the position at an academic conference □I foundout about it on the internet □I did my own research and inquired directly □Other:
19-2. What was the main reason you chose your first job after receiving your doctoral
degree? (Multiple answers allowed)□Job and research content □Salary □Attractiveness of the research institution where I work
□Attractiveness of the lab/PI where I work □Work location □Other:20-1. How did you find your current position? (Multiple answers allowed)*If the answer to Q19-1 is your current job, you do not need to answer this.
□Recruitment advertisement □Promotion within the same research organization □Recommended
by my current supervisor □Recommended by my previous supervisor □I found out about theposition at an academic conference □I found out about it on the internet □I did my own researchand inquired directly □Other:20-2. What is the main reason why you chose your current position? (Multiple answers
allowed)*If the answer to Q19-1 is your current job, you do not need to answer this.
□Job and research content □Salary □Attractiveness of the research institution where I work
□Attractiveness of the lab/PI where I work □Work location □There were no other options □Other:
21. What are your current research goals as a researcher? (Multiple answers allowed)□I want to do good research □I want to do research and make discoveries that will make every day
more enjoyable □I want to do research and make discoveries that are academically interesting andimportant □I want to do research that is practically useful for the society □Some day, I want topublish my findings in prominent journals □Some day, I want to make a major discovery that would
leave its mark on history □I want to do research on my own theme □I want to do research basedon a long-term plan □I want to obtain a grant □I want to train future generations □I haven’t
thought that deeply about it yet □Other:
22. What is your current career goal as a researcher? (Multiple answers allowed)6□I want to get a stable job □I want to be a researcher in a company □I want to get a job doing
research □I don't want to be a PI but want to stay in academia □I want to be a PI □I want to be aleading researcher in Japan or the world □I want to make a career for myself □I want to makemoney □I want to be famous □I want to start my own company □I want to move to a better
research environment □I haven't thought that deeply about it yet □Other:
23. What are your current life goals (things you are particularly interested in)? (Multiple
answers allowed)□I want to pursue research even if I have to make other sacrifices □I want to balance research andfamily life □I want to balance research and hobbies □My family's happiness and growth □I want tomeet a good partner □I want to have children □I want to maintain my health □I want to moveabroad □I want to live a wealthy life □I want to have a permanent job □I want a job withretirement benefits □I want a job different from research □I want to live away from research after
retirement □I want to be a researcher for life □I want to live a normal life □I am looking for a place
where I can fit in □I am looking for something I can achieve □I want to contribute to society and thecommunity (personal volunteer activities, etc.) □I want to contribute to society and the community(directly or indirectly as a ripple effect of my research results) □I want to contribute to myorganization □I want to have a relaxed research life □I want to become an influencer on SNS □I
haven't thought much about it □Other:
What is important for your success as a researcher?
24. What do you think is particularly important to your success as a researcher?
24-1. Research ability (Multiple answers allowed)□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability
24-2. Non-research abilities and personality traits (Multiple answers allowed)□Curiosity (in research) □ Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad
education □Physical strength □Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic□Confidence □Cooperativeness □Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability□Political ability □Educational ability and willingness to take care of others
24-3. Environmental factors (Multiple answers allowed)□Luck □Experience of learning from failure / Experience of overcoming setbacks □Good research
theme □Good laboratory □Good supervisor □Good research colleagues and friends □Good family
environment □Presence of role models
24-4. Research achievement (Multiple answers allowed)□Number of papers □Papers published in high impact journals □Research with originality (even if
not in high impact journals) □Research with continuity (even if not in high impact journals)
24-5. Ability to obtain research funding (Multiple answers allowed)□Proposing attractive research themes □Ability to write research proposals □Presentation skills at
7interviews □Ability to handle questions in interviews □Networking ability
24-6. Please feel free to describe anything else that you think is important for your successas a researcher. (Free form, maximum 1,600 characters)
25. What skills do you think you can develop especially during your time as a student?
(Multiple answers allowed)□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability □Curiosity (inresearch) □Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad education □Physicalstrength □Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic □Confidence □Cooperativeness□Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability □Political ability □Educational
ability and willingness to take care of others
26. What skills do you think you can develop especially after starting to work? (Multiple
answers allowed)□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability □Curiosity (inresearch) □Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad education □Physicalstrength □Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic □Confidence □Cooperativeness□Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability □Political ability □Educational
ability and willingness to take care of others
27. If there are anything else that you think are important in your current job or that you
learned as you get older (i.e., things you had done that were useful, things you should havedone), please feel free to write them down. (Free form, no more than 1,600 characters)
28. Please feel free to provide any further information. (Free form, no more than 1,600
characters)
Non-PI staff (associate professor, lecturer, assistant professor, non-tenured researcher,technical staff, etc.)
For questions that have "Other (free description)" as an option, you can also just select "Other"
without writing anything.
Goal setting when you were in graduate school
29. What was your reason for entering the master's course? (Multiple answers allowed)□I wanted to be a researcher □Research seemed interesting □There were professors I wanted towork with □I wanted to study abroad eventually □It seemed advantageous for employment□someone recommended it to me □I wanted to get a master's degree □I had no choice (failed injob hunting, etc.) □There was no deep reason (because my friends were also going on to graduate8school, etc.) □Other:
30. What was your reason for entering the doctoral course? (Multiple answers allowed)□I wanted to be a researcher □Research seemed interesting □There were professors I wanted towork with □My research in the master's course was interesting □I wanted to study abroad
eventually □It seemed advantageous for employment □Someone recommended it to me □I
wanted to get a doctoral degree □I had no choice (failed in job hunting, etc.) □There was no deep
reason (because my friends were also going on to higher education, etc.) □Other:
31. What was your research goal as a researcher when you were a student? (Multiple
answers allowed)*No data due to incomplete web survey system(Planned response options are the same as for Q21)
32. When you were a student, what was your career goal as a researcher? (Multiple answers
allowed)□I wanted to get a stable job □I wanted to be a researcher in a company □I wanted to get a job
doing research □I didn't want to be a PI but wanted to stay in academia □I wanted to be a PI □I
wanted to be a leading researcher in Japan or the world □I wanted to make a career for myself □I
wanted to make money □I wanted to be famous □I wanted to start my own company □I wanted
to move to a better research environment □I didn't think that deeply about it yet □Other:
33. When you were a student, what were your life goals (things you were particularlyinterested in)? (Multiple answers allowed)□I wanted to pursue research even if I had to make other sacrifices □I wanted to balance research
and family life □I wanted to balance research and hobbies □My family's happiness and growth □I
wanted to meet a good partner □I wanted to have children □I wanted to maintain my health □I
wanted to move abroad □I wanted to live a wealthy life □I wanted to have a permanent job □Iwanted a job with retirement benefits □I wanted a job different from research □I wanted to live
away from research after retirement □I wanted to be a researcher for life □I wanted to live anormal life □I was looking for a place where I could fit in □I was looking for something I could
achieve □I wanted to contribute to society and the community (personal volunteer activities, etc.)□I wanted to contribute to society and the community (directly or indirectly as a ripple effect of myresearch results) □I wanted to contribute to my organization □I wanted to have a relaxed research
life □I wanted to become an influencer on SNS □I did not think much about it □Other:
Current situation and current goal setting
34-1. How did you find your first job after receiving your doctoral degree? (Multiple answers
allowed)□Recruitment advertisement □Recommended by my supervisor □Recommended by mysupervisor in graduate school □I found out about the position at an academic conference □I foundout about it on the internet □I did my own research and inquired directly □Other:34-2. What was the main reason you chose your first job after receiving your doctoral
degree? (Multiple answers allowed)□Job and research content □Salary □Attractiveness of the research institution where I work
□Attractiveness of the lab/PI where I work □Work location □Other:935-1. How did you find your current position? (Multiple answers allowed)*If the answer to Q34-1 is your current job, you do not need to answer this.
□Recruitment advertisement □Promotion within the same research organization □Recommended
by my current supervisor □Recommended by my previous supervisor □I found out about theposition at an academic conference □I found out about it on the internet □I did my own researchand inquired directly □Other:35-2. What is the main reason why you chose your current position? (Multiple answers
allowed)*If the answer to Q34-1 is your current job, you do not need to answer this.
□Job and research content □Salary □Attractiveness of the research institution where I work
□Attractiveness of the lab/PI where I work □Work location □There were no other options □Other:
36. What are your current research goals as a researcher? (Multiple answers allowed)□I want to do good research □I want to do research and make discoveries that will make every day
more enjoyable □I want to do research and make discoveries that are academically interesting andimportant □I want to do research that is practically useful for the society □Some day, I want topublish my findings in prominent journals □Some day, I want to make a major discovery that would
leave its mark on history □I want to do research on my own theme □I want to do research basedon a long-term plan □I want to obtain a grant □I want to train future generations □I haven’t
thought that deeply about it yet □Other:
37. What is your current career goal as a researcher? (Multiple answers allowed)□I want to get a stable job □I want to be a researcher in a company □I want to get a job doing
research □I don't want to be a PI but want to stay in academia □I want to be a PI □I want to be aleading researcher in Japan or the world □I want to make a career for myself □I want to makemoney □I want to be famous □I want to start my own company □I want to move to a better
research environment □I haven't thought that deeply about it yet □Other:
38. What are your current life goals (things you are particularly interested in)? (Multiple
answers allowed)□I want to pursue research even if I have to make other sacrifices □I want to balance research andfamily life □I want to balance research and hobbies □My family's happiness and growth □I want tomeet a good partner □ I want to have children □ I want to maintain my health □ I want to moveabroad □ I want to live a wealthy life □I want to have a permanent job □I want a job withretirement benefits □I want a job different from research □I want to live away from research after
retirement □I want to be a researcher for life □I want to live a normal life □I am looking for a place
where I can fit in □I am looking for something I can achieve □I want to contribute to society and thecommunity (personal volunteer activities, etc.) □I want to contribute to society and the community(directly or indirectly as a ripple effect of my research results) □I want to contribute to myorganization □I want to have a relaxed research life □I want to become an influencer on SNS □I
haven't thought much about it □Other:
What is important for your success as a researcher?
39. What do you think is particularly important to your success as a researcher?
39-1. Research ability (Multiple answers allowed)
10

□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability
39-2. Non-research abilities and personality traits (Multiple answers allowed)□Curiosity (in research) □Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad
education □ Physical strength □ Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic□Confidence □Cooperativeness □Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability□Political ability □Educational ability and willingness to take care of others
39-3. Environmental factors (Multiple answers allowed)□Luck □Experience of learning from failure / Experience of overcoming setbacks □Good research
theme □Good laboratory □Good supervisor □Good research colleagues and friends □Good family
environment □Presence of role models
39-4. Research achievement (Multiple answers allowed)□Number of papers □Papers published in high impact journals □Research with originality (even if
not in high impact journals) □Research with continuity (even if not in high impact journals)
39-5. Ability to obtain research funding (Multiple answers allowed)□Proposing attractive research themes □Ability to write research proposals □Presentation skills atinterviews □Ability to handle questions in interviews □Networking ability
39-6. Please feel free to describe anything else that you think is important for your successas a researcher. (Free form, maximum 1,600 characters)
40. What skills do you think you can develop especially during your time as a student?
(Multiple answers allowed)□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability □Curiosity (inresearch) □Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad education □Physicalstrength □Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic □Confidence □Cooperativeness□Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability □Political ability □Educational
ability and willingness to take care of others
41. What skills do you think you can develop especially after starting to work? (Multiple
answers allowed)□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability □Curiosity (in11research) □Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad education □Physicalstrength □Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic □Confidence □Cooperativeness□Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability □Political ability □Educational
ability and willingness to take care of others
42. If there are anything else that you think are important in your current job or that you
learned as you get older (i.e., things you had done that were useful, things you should havedone), please feel free to write them down. (Free form, no more than 1,600 characters)
43. Please feel free to provide any further information. (Free form, no more than 1,600
characters)
PI (professor, independent associate professor, independent lecturer/assistant professor,
principal investigator, team leader, etc.)
For questions that have "Other (free description)" as an option, you can also just select "Other"
without writing anything.
Goal setting when you were in graduate school
44. What was your reason for entering the master's course? (Multiple answers allowed)□I wanted to be a researcher □Research seemed interesting □There were professors I wanted towork with □I wanted to study abroad eventually □It seemed advantageous for employment□someone recommended it to me □I wanted to get a master's degree □I had no choice (failed injob hunting, etc.) □There was no deep reason (because my friends were also going on to graduate
school, etc.) □Other:
45. What was your reason for entering the doctoral course? (Multiple answers allowed)□I wanted to be a researcher □Research seemed interesting □There were professors I wanted towork with □My research in the master's course was interesting □I wanted to study abroad
eventually □It seemed advantageous for employment □Someone recommended it to me □I
wanted to get a doctoral degree □I had no choice (failed in job hunting, etc.) □There was no deep
reason (because my friends were also going on to higher education, etc.) □Other:
46. What was your research goal as a researcher when you were a student? (Multiple
answers allowed)□I wanted to do good research □I wanted to do research and make discoveries that would makeevery day more enjoyable □I wanted to do research and make discoveries that were academicallyinteresting and important □I wanted to do research that was practically useful for the society□Some day, I wanted to publish my findings in prominent journals □Some day, I wanted to makea major discovery that would leave its mark on history □I wanted to do research on my own theme□I wanted to do research based on a long-term plan □I wanted to obtain a grant □I wanted to train
future generations □I didn't think that deeply about it yet □Other:
47. When you were a student, what was your career goal as a researcher? (Multiple answers
allowed)□I wanted to get a stable job □I wanted to be a researcher in a company □I wanted to get a job
doing research □I didn't want to be a PI but wanted to stay in academia □I wanted to be a PI □I
wanted to be a leading researcher in Japan or the world □I wanted to make a career for myself □I
12wanted to make money □I wanted to be famous □I wanted to start my own company □I wanted
to move to a better research environment □I didn't think that deeply about it yet □Other:
48. When you were a student, what were your life goals (things you were particularlyinterested in)? (Multiple answers allowed)□I wanted to pursue research even if I had to make other sacrifices □I wanted to balance research
and family life □I wanted to balance research and hobbies □My family's happiness and growth □I
wanted to meet a good partner □ I wanted to have children □ I wanted to maintain my health □I
wanted to move abroad □I wanted to live a wealthy life □I wanted to have a permanent job □Iwanted a job with retirement benefits □I wanted a job different from research □I wanted to live
away from research after retirement □I wanted to be a researcher for life □I wanted to live anormal life □I was looking for a place where I could fit in □I was looking for something I could
achieve □I wanted to contribute to society and the community (personal volunteer activities, etc.)□I wanted to contribute to society and the community (directly or indirectly as a ripple effect of myresearch results) □I wanted to contribute to my organization □I wanted to have a relaxed research
life □I wanted to become an influencer on SNS □I did not think much about it □Other:
Current situation and current goal setting
49-1. How did you find your first job after receiving your doctoral degree? (Multiple answers
allowed)□Recruitment advertisement □Recommended by my supervisor □Recommended by mysupervisor in graduate school □I found out about the position at an academic conference □I foundout about it on the internet □I did my own research and inquired directly □Other:49-2. What was the main reason you chose your first job after receiving your doctoral
degree? (Multiple answers allowed)□Job and research content □Salary □Attractiveness of the research institution where I work
□Attractiveness of the lab/PI where I work □Work location □Other:50-1. How did you find your current position? (Multiple answers allowed)□Recruitment advertisement □Promotion within the same research organization □Recommended
by my current supervisor □Recommended by my previous supervisor □I found out about theposition at an academic conference □I found out about it on the internet □I did my own researchand inquired directly □Other:50-2. What is the main reason why you chose your current position? (Multiple answers
allowed)□Job and research content □Salary □Attractiveness of the research institution where I work
□Attractiveness of the lab/PI where I work □Work location □There were no other options □Other:
51. What are your current research goals as a researcher? (Multiple answers allowed)□I want to do good research □I want to do research and make discoveries that will make every day
more enjoyable □I want to do research and make discoveries that are academically interesting andimportant □I want to do research that is practically useful for the society □Some day, I want topublish my findings in prominent journals □Some day, I want to make a major discovery that would
leave its mark on history □I want to do research on my own theme □I want to do research basedon a long-term plan □I want to obtain a grant □I want to train future generations □I haven’t
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thought that deeply about it yet □Other:
52. What is your current career goal as a researcher? (Multiple answers allowed)□I want to get a stable job □I want to be a researcher in a company □I want to continue working
as a researcher □I want to give up my position as a PI but still work in academia □I want to be aleading researcher in Japan or the world □I want to make a career for myself □I want to makemoney □I want to be famous □I want to start my own company □I want to move to a better
research environment □I haven't thought that deeply about it yet □Other:
53. What are your current life goals (things you are particularly interested in)? (Multiple
answers allowed)□I want to pursue research even if I have to make other sacrifices □I want to balance research andfamily life □I want to balance research and hobbies □My family's happiness and growth □I want tomeet a good partner □I want to have children □I want to maintain my health □I want to moveabroad □I want to live a wealthy life □I want to have a permanent job □I want a job withretirement benefits □I want a job different from research □I want to live away from research after
retirement □I want to be a researcher for life □I want to live a normal life □I am looking for a place
where I can fit in □I am looking for something I can achieve □I want to contribute to society and thecommunity (personal volunteer activities, etc.) □I want to contribute to society and the community(directly or indirectly as a ripple effect of my research results) □I want to contribute to myorganization □I want to have a relaxed research life □I want to become an influencer on SNS □I
haven't thought much about it □Other:
What is important for your success as a researcher?
54. What do you think is particularly important to your success as a researcher?
54-1. Research ability (Multiple answers allowed)□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability
54-2. Non-research abilities and personality traits (Multiple answers allowed)□Curiosity (in research) □Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad
education □ Physical strength □Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic□Confidence □Cooperativeness □Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability□Political ability □Educational ability and willingness to take care of others
54-3. Environmental factors (Multiple answers allowed)□Luck □Experience of learning from failure / Experience of overcoming setbacks □Good research
theme □Good laboratory □Good supervisor □Good research colleagues and friends □Good family
environment □Presence of role models
54-4. Research achievement (Multiple answers allowed)□Number of papers □Papers published in high impact journals □Research with originality (even if
not in high impact journals) □Research with continuity (even if not in high impact journals)
1454-5. Ability to obtain research funding (Multiple answers allowed)□Proposing attractive research themes □Ability to write research proposals □Presentation skills atinterviews □Ability to handle questions in interviews □Networking ability
54-6. Please feel free to describe anything else that you think is important for your successas a researcher. (Free form, maximum 1,600 characters)
55. What skills do you think you can develop especially during your time as a student?
(Multiple answers allowed)□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability □Curiosity (inresearch) □Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad education □Physicalstrength □Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic □Confidence □Cooperativeness□Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability □Political ability □Educational
ability and willingness to take care of others
56. What skills do you think you can develop especially after starting to work? (Multiple
answers allowed)□Manual dexterity □Accuracy of work □Ability to correct and adjust things □Ability to handle
miscellaneous work (work other than your own research)□Processing speed of thoughts □Ability tothink outside of the box □Ability to think through □Ability to think logically □Ability to think ahead
and foresee the future □Ability to discuss with others □Reading ability □Writing ability □Speaking
ability □English reading ability □English writing ability □English speaking ability □Curiosity (inresearch) □Curiosity (on topics other than research, hobbies, etc.) □Broad education □Physicalstrength □Perseverance □Hate-to-lose attitude □Being optimistic □Confidence □Cooperativeness□Proactive attitude □Sociability □Leadership □Networking ability □Political ability □Educational
ability and willingness to take care of others
57. If there are anything else that you think are important in your current job or that you
learned as you get older (i.e., things you had done that were useful, things you should havedone), please feel free to write them down. (Free form, no more than 1,600 characters)
58. Please feel free to provide any further information. (Free form, no more than 1,600
characters)

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