Overview of TI-FRIS
TI-FRIS Program Information Session
March 21, 2024
TI-FRIS Program Manager
Director, FRIS, Tohoku University
Toshiyuki Hayase

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Strategic Professional Development Program for Young Researchers"Strategic Professional Development Program for Young Researchers" aims to enhance the research productivity of Japan.
It supports universities and research institutions that promote the strategic development of excellent researchers. The
project includes incorporating the knowledge of advanced cases in other countries into good domestic cases of thedevelopment of researchers, creating programs for developing the worldʼs top-class researchers, and establishing acoordinated system for researcher development (e.g., a system to publish papers in the worldʼs top-class journals, toobtain overseas research grants, etc.) instead of one for each independent laboratory.

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TI-FRIS

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学際融合グローバル研究者育成
東北イニシアティブ（略称︓学際融合東北拠点）
Tohoku Initiative for Fostering Global
Researchers for Interdisciplinary Sciences(TI-FRIS)

Features of TI-FRIS

4・⾃然環境と⾷・被ばく医療

Univ. of Otago（ニュージーランド）
世界保健機関（WHO）

弘前⼤学

TohokuRegion

・資源・リサイクル・少⼦⾼齢化・超⾼密度磁気記録
Stanford Univ.（⽶国）

富⼠電機株式会社
インタープロテイン株式会社

・農⼯連携・獣医学
・防災街づくり

秋⽥⼤学

岩⼿⼤学

⽯油資源開発株式会社
国⽴⻑寿医療研究センター

Strengths ofthe seven universities
・有機エレクトロニクス
Diversity・ソフトマテリアル
・分⼦疫学
・ナスカ研究所

福島県⽴医科⼤学

Challenging andcreativeenvironment

⼭形⼤学

Simon Fraser Univ.（カナダ）
Johns Hopkins Univ.（⽶国）
三菱ケミカル株式会社

・震災原発廃炉・社会学

株式会社リンナイ

・材料科学
・スピントロニクス
・未来型医療東北⼤学 ・災害科学
Univ of British Columbia（カナダ）
Univ. of Geneva (スイス)

宮城教育⼤学・教育学

福島⼤学

Bristol University（UK）

株式会社村⽥製作所
国⽴天⽂台⽔沢VLBI観測所

Researchers that TI-FRIS Aims to Foster

Interdisciplinarity

Ability to engage in interdisciplinary
research with researchers fromdifferent fields

Internationality

Ability to collaborate and advanceresearch with researchers fromaround the world

Sociability

Ability to work in cooperation withsociety and apply research outcomes
for the benefit of society

5Structure of Researcher Fostering Program
Interdisciplinarity

Internationality

Sociability

Interdisciplinary Researcher
Exchange Program

International Collaborative
Research Program

Social Implementation Programl Hub Meeting (monthly)l Retreat (yearly)
l Grant for Interdisciplinary
Researchl Fund for Start-up Activities
l Fund for International Collaborative
Research (one month/5 yrs)l Grant for Publication and Presentationof Research Resultsl Grant for Organizing Seminarsl Advisory Support for IndustryAcademia Collaborative Researchl Advisory Support for Social
Implementationl Grant for Industry-Academia Collab.
Research and Social Implementation

Transferable Skills Training Program (Hybrid in onsite and online, Archiving)l Lecture Course on Interdisciplinary
Research

Common Programl Research Facilities Sharing
Networkl TI-FRIS Symposiuml Lecture Course by Top Researchersl Lecture Course on Academic Impactl Lecture Course on Societal Impactl Lecture Course on Industrial R&Dand Social Implementation

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Abilities to Acquire through This Program

TI-FRIS
Senior
Fellow

TI-FRISFellow

Year

Interdisciplinarity

Internationality

Sociability

6th to10thYear

Leaders of interdisciplinaryresearch communities

Leader of international
collaborative research
projects

Leaders of social
implementation projects ofresearch results

5th
Year

Interdisciplinary
collaborative research
results

Conducting newinternational collaborative
research

Outcomes of industryacademia collaborative
research

4th
Year

Conducting interdisciplinary
collaborative research withresearchers to be trained indifferent fields

Obtained overseas research
grantsConducting industryacademia collaborative
research with partnercompanies

3rd
Year

Planned interdisciplinary
collaborative research withresearchers in different
fields to be trained

Results of international
collaborative research withoverseas partner institutions

Planning industry-academiacollaborative research withpartner companies

2ndYearCommunicate withresearchers targeted fortraining in different fields

Conducting international
collaborative research withoverseas partner institutions

Communicating with nonresearchers from partnercompanies

1stYear

Understanding theimportance ofinterdisciplinarity(transferable skills)

Acquiring skills for academic
impact (transferable skills)
Conducting international
collaborative research withoverseas partner institutions

Understanding theimportance of social impact(transferable skills)

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TI-FRIS Fellow Selection

8Fellow Selection (selected/pre-selected) FY2024 Call for Applications
llll

FY2023: 5 Fellows /15 candidates
FY2022: 5 Fellows /12 candidates
FY2021: 5 Fellows /14 candidates
FY2020: 15 Fellows /24 candidates

Perspectives of Selectionl Approx. Six Fellows

The 6 research areas of: Materials and Energy, Lifeand Environments, Information and Systems,
Devices and Technology, Human and Society; andAdvanced Basic Science.
※Looks forward to receiving active applications
from the humanities and social sciences.

l Researchers aﬃliated with a participating university, who have obtained
their doctorate within the last 10 years, who are less than 40 years old,
and who can carry out research activities in an independent research
environment with the support of domestic and international mentors.
l Researchers with outstanding research abilities and with researchachievements in specialized ﬁelds.
l Researchers who are willing to promote interdisciplinary research and todevelop new research ﬁelds through active exchanges with researchers
from diﬀerent ﬁelds.
l Researchers who can promptly begin joint international research.
l Researchers who are motivated to realize the social implementation ofresearch results by interacting with a variety of stakeholders.

Statistics of TI-FRIS Fellows (as of January 2024)Position

AgeAvg. Age: 37.2

FieldGender

9Univ.

Nationality

Monitoring〇 Purposel By monitoring activities and achievements by TI-FRIS Fellows,
the implementation status and effectiveness of this project
and the achievement status of the goals, researchers who
can play an active role in the world are effectively fostered,and useful researcher development programs are established.
〇 Contents of Monitoring(A) Implementation status of the programs and activity statusof TI-FRIS Fellows(B)

Research achievements of TI-FRIS Fellows(C)

Effectiveness of TI-FRIS programs(D)

Achievement of goals of TI-FRIS〇 Implementation Periodl Conducted each year within the scope of the program's
implementation period

10Double Mentor System

11Request to Domestic and International Mentors(Domestic Mentor) To provide a stable, independent, and international research environment for each TI-FRIS
Fellow, TI-FRIS requests senior faculty members at TI-FRIS Fellows' affiliated institutions to serve as theirdomestic mentors.
(International Mentor) To provide a truly international research environment for each TI-FRIS Fellow, TI-FRIS
requests senior researchers from TI-FRIS Fellows' international collaborative research institutions to serve as
their international mentors.
Mentors are asked to fulfill the following tasks.
1. Support and Advice for TI-FRIS Fellows(Domestic Mentor) Mentors are asked to provide an independent research environment and research support for
the TI-FRIS Fellows. While we understand that the concept of an independent research environment varies fromdepartment to department, at the very least, young researchers should be able to secure research space andexecute their research expenses. In addition, mentors are asked to provide advice and counsel to TI-FRISFellows regarding the promotion of their research and educational activities as necessary.
(International Mentor) International mentors are asked to provide some advice and support as and whennecessary through collaborative research with the TI-FRIS Fellows so that the TI-FRIS Fellows enhance researchachievements and get international grants.
2. Monitor Progress
Mentors are asked to fill out an evaluation questionnaire and give their opinion on the research activities of theTI-FRIS Fellow for the monitoring of the effectiveness of this program.

FY2024 Program Schedule (for Fellows)
R06
4⽉
5⽉
6⽉

7⽉

Hub Meeting 37

EventsFund/Grant Programs2024.3.1

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Monitoring

Hub Meeting 38 (by TI-FRIS Fellow)
Hub Meeting 39
Briefing and Exchange Meeting w/ 5thFellows (TBD)
Hub Meeting 40 (by TI-FRIS Fellow)
TI-FRIS/FRIS Retreat（7/18-19, Iwate）

Interview w/ PM and Coordinators (TBD)
Monitoring questionnaire for 5th TI-FRIS
Fellows and their mentors at starting

8⽉
9⽉

Hub Meeting 41 (by TI-FRIS Fellow)

10⽉

Hub Meeting 42 (by TI-FRIS Fellow)
Fellow Research Exchange (TBD)

11⽉

Hub Meeting 43
Lecture Course on Industrial R&D andSocial Implementation (TBD, Akita)

12⽉

Hub Meeting 44
Lecture Course on Societal Impact (TBD)

R07
1⽉
2⽉

3⽉
4⽉

Hub Meeting 45 (by TI-FRIS Fellow)

Call for FY2025 Grant Applications

Decision for FY2025 Grant Applications

Submission of List of Achievements inFY2024

Submission of FY2024 Implementation
ReportMonitoring questionnaire for activities inFY2024 and for their mentors

Hub Meeting 46
Symposium (TBD) (Lecture Courses byTop Researchers/on InterdisciplinaryResearch)
Hub Meeting 47

TI-FRIS/FRIS Hub Meeting

13Researchers
in different fieldsFY2023〜 Talks in English,
Expansion of participants

Talks on a variety of topics

Participantsll What makes the field interestingl Research approach and experimental
lmethods
l Problems that cannot be solved bythe field alone

Hub Meeting members: TI-FRIS Fellows,
FRIS faculty members (~60)
Observers: Members of TI-FRIS
participating universities, TI-FRIS officials,
Researcher+ Program Fellows , Science
Journalists (~20)

Research Exchange between TI-FRIS Fellows
Research Exchange between TI-FRIS Fellows
FY2021:l North Tohoku meeting (2 times, @Iwate & Akita)l Materials science and energy meeting (@ FRIS)l Research meeting (2 times, @FRIS)
FY2022:l Research meeting (2 times, @Yamagata & FRIS): 1 from Yamagata & 1 Tohoku
l Lab. visit (@Akita): 1 from Akita & 1 Tohokul Organizing a Seminar (@FRIS): 1 from Iwate, 1 Yamagata, & 2 Tohoku
FY2023:l Research exchange and social gathering (2 times, @Fukushima & Yamagata)l Research exchange (@Retreat)14

Grant for Interdisciplinary Research

15

Starting in FY2023

Starting in FY2022

有機・無機廃棄物への超臨界 DNAアプタマーと標的分⼦ 被ばく医療教育に関するバー
⽔熱処理による電極触媒材料 間相互作⽤の解析による次世 チャルリアリティ教材の教育効果の開発
代⽣体分⼦センサの開発
Profs. Yuta Nakayasu (Tohoku U.),
Kazutoshi Haga (Akita U.), Hiroya Abe(Tohoku U.)

lReview Paper Published.

Yuanyuan Guo 准教授（東北⼤学）、⾺渕拓哉 助教（東北⼤学）

lIntʼl Workshop Organized.

野村理 助教（弘前⼤学）、⽥副博⽂ 准教授（弘前⼤学）l

Research Paper in Prep.

l Funding: Up to 500,000 JPY per project (each year) for 2 yearsl Utilization of the seeds of TI-FRIS Fellows
l From exchange between Fellows to high-impact interdisciplinaryresearchMessage from Program Manager
TI-FRISl Development and Validation ofResearcher Fostering Programllll

Exchange with Different Fields
Intʼl Collaborative ResearchSocial Impact of Research
Wish Fellows to Take Advantage ofthe Opportunityl Will Reflect Fellowsʼ Opinions

16Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS),Tohoku University

17

TI-FRIS Secretariat / Joint holding of various eventsIntʼl Recruitment
Fixed-term Asst. Prof.
from All Research Areas
Researchers Sought:
Those who will promote worldleading interdisciplinary researchand pioneer new academic fields.

Independent Research
Environment
Promotion of Worldleading Research

Research Fund (11M JPY for 5 years)
Support for Intʼl Research Activity
Interdisciplinary Research Environment

Mentor System
Support for Fostering PI

Research space and advices
provided by Mentor Prof./Assoc. Prof.

Frontier Research Institutefor Interdisciplinary Sciences
Materials and EnergyLife and Environments

Information and Systems

Device and Technology

Human and Society

Advanced Basic Science~50 Asst. Prof.

Support for Intʼl
Research Activity,
FRIS Project for Japan-Korea
Exchange

Limited-term Asst. Prof.

Tohoku Initiative for
Fostering Global Researchers
for Interdisciplinary Sciences［TI-FRIS］

Independent Research

Environment,
Devote Oneself to Research,
Collaboration w/ Mentor

Cooperation

Exchange of Researchers
from Different FieldsPromotion ofInterdisciplinary Research(After the 5-year term expires)Interdisciplinary Research Environment
FRIS CoRE

RIEC
Grad. Schoolof Arts and Letters

・Tenured Asst. Prof.
・Fixed-term Assoc. Prof. (5 yrs)
・Other position at Tohoku. U.
(including Cross appointment)
・Employment Extension(1 yr term, 2 yrs max.)

Mentors(Prof./Assoc. Prof.)
Provide advices
and research space

Grad. School of Medicine
Grad. Schoolof Science

Grad. Schoolof Engineering

Publications in Nature,
Science, Cell
6 papers（12%）
Single-authoredbooks
10 books（20%）
MEXT Young
Scientists' Prize
15 researchers（13%）
JST PRESTO PI
11 researchers（22%)

Seminar (monthly), Retreat (yearly)

FRIS Tenure Track System

World-leading
Interdisciplinary Research
Pioneering New AcademicFields

Grad. Schoolof Life Science

Mentor Departments

And 17 departments

JST FOREST PI
8 researchers（16%）
Tohoku U.
DistinguishedResearcher
6 researchers（12%）
Tohoku U. Prominent
Research Fellow
52 researchers（83%）
As of May 1, 2023

Promotion of world-leading interdisciplinary research and pioneering new academic fields
by ~50 young researchers in all research areas

Call for Applications for 5th TI-FRIS Fellows(Starting in FY2024)

18Strategic Professional Development Program for Young ResearchersTohoku Initiative for Fostering Global Researchers for Interdisciplinary Sciences
Application Guidelines for FY2024 TI-FRIS Fellow Recruitment
1. Purpose
The “Tohoku Initiative for Fostering Global Researchers for Interdisciplinary Sciences”(hereinafter referred to as "TI-FRIS") was selected as a MEXT “Strategic Professional
Development Program for Young Researchers” in 2020. The consortium is formed for TI-FRIS byTohoku University (representative institution), Hirosaki University, Akita University, Iwate
University, Yamagata University, Fukushima University, and Miyagi University of Education(hereinafter referred to as "participating universities").
At TI-FRIS, in order to develop world-class researchers with “interdisciplinarity,”“internationality,” and “sociability,” seven national universities in the Tohoku region with thecooperation of collaborating domestic and overseas institutions provides a diverse and flexible newresearcher fostering program that covers the entire Tohoku region. This program aims crossdisciplinary exchanges utilizing the strengths of each institution and organization, and, additionally,
TI-FRIS is also demonstrating the effectiveness of the program.
https://www.ti-fris.tohoku.ac.jp/en/

Selection of TI-FRIS
Fellows
TI-FRIS consists of the following programs:
2. Program Overview

Participating Universities

Preliminary Selection(March to April)(1) “TI-FRIS
Selection,” which
selects excellent researchers from national
universitiesSteering Committee
Program
FacultyFellow
Evaluation
Committee

the Tohoku
region.
Selection(May to June)→ inFinal→ Decision of(2) “Double
Mentor System”
of domestic
andmentors, basedTI-FRIS
on a young Fellow Selection (June)l All applicantsfrom each
university
willinternational
be considered.
researcher development system proved at Tohoku University.

15 candidates*
5 Fellows*(3) “Transferable Skills Training Program” for gaining the interdisciplinary, international, andsocial skills required of world-class researchers;*Actual number for FY2023※ Contact the admin. officeof eachparticipating
university
regardingthe preliminary selection.
(4) “InternationalCollaborative
Research Program”
for working withworld-class researchers;(5) “Interdisciplinary Researcher Exchange Program” which transcends the boundaries between