外国人研究職員の印象記

Okazaki and IMS: a place to refresh and rising above
Jakia Jannat Keya (Postdoctoral Researcher)
Department of Life and Coordination-Complex Molecular Science
I came to Okazaki in April, 2021 and joined IMS when

the secretory Ms. Kaori Nakane for her kind cooperation not

the covid-19 pandemic was prevailing not only in Japan but

only in the administrative process but also to settle down inalso all over the world. After completing my job contract at

Okazaki. Nevertheless, also the people from administration

Hokkaido university where I completed my Ph.D. and startedof IMS were very supportive for any kind of assistance relat-

my career as a postdoc, it was quite uncertain to move out-

ed to job, visa extension, getting family visa and so on.

side Japan due to covid situation. Thanks to Prof. Ryota Iino

When I was missing the mesmerizing beauty and chill-

and IMS for selecting me to start my second job in Okazaki.

ing cold weather of Hokkaido, on the other hand, I became

In my Ph.D. and postdoctoral research at Hokkaido

happy to see the tropical weather of Okazaki which is sim-University, I studied the construction of molecular swarm

ilar to Bangladesh, my home country. Especially during

robot based on biomolecular motor protein system. This

the rainy season, whenever I saw the sparkle of thunder,

results helped me to think about the function of motor pro-the rainbow and heard the sound of rain, reminded me thetein at the molecular level for the development of eﬃcientrainy day of my country. Although due to covid it was quite

molecular machine. In the annual meeting of biophysicaldiﬃcult to travel outside of Okazaki, I enjoyed the lively

society of Japan and other symposiums, I got the oppor-

environment of here. There are several cafes, park and big

tunity to attend Prof. Iino’s talk on designing biomolecu-

shopping mall near the faculty house where I used to live. I

lar machines and investigate their functions using highcould go to those places by walking after lab and weekend

speed and high time resolution single molecule techniques.

for refreshment and daily purchase. I sometimes also visited

Therefore, I eagerly applied for the postdoctoral position

Otogawa river side and Okazaki castle, a place to feel thewhen I saw the opening from his lab. I was happy to joinculture and history of Japan. I enjoyed the cherry blossom

Prof. Iino’s lab (Molecular Machine Designing Lab) locat-

festival there with my husband whom I met after two years

ed at Yamate campus of IMS. Here, I started my researchof covid was one of the best memories.

work on engineering motor protein kinesin-1 with synthetic

I believe the valuable research experience in IMS willpolymer to create hybrid motor protein. The beautiful andhelp me to enhance my research career in future. If I havepeaceful environment of the lab and institute helped me tothe chance I would like to come here again for research andfocus on my research work without worrying about rest of

enjoy the serenity of Japan.

the world. I got all the facilities to explore my interest for
single molecule study. Everyday discussion with Prof. Iino
and other lab members greatly helped me to organize myresearch plan and execute it properly for which I could establish the hybrid motor protein research in a very short time.
I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Iino andAssist. Prof. Akihiro Otomo for their generous support in
my research work. Dr. Otomo’s friendly behavior always
helped me to feel comfortable doing my research in the lab. I
would like to thank the technical assistants making the protein purification work smooth for me. I am also grateful to
分子研レターズ 86

September 2022

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