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

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

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.

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

Target age:

Kiban S

50 onwards

Kiban AMid 40s onwards

Kiban B

Late 30s – late 40s

Kiban CMid 30s – early 40s

Wakate (Young Scientists)

Late 20s – late 30s(+ other special categories)

As you go throughyour career, youwork your way up
from Wakate toKiban S.

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 functioncontrol

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 functional
molecular assemblies2019: 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.

What do you need to write?
Wakate application form: https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/r02/s-21_e.doc

Proposal:
Summary, goal,
methods (3 pages)

Background:
Feasibility:
How did you choose Past achievements andthis project? (1 page)current research
environment (2 pages)

Compliance:
Human rights
protections, etc(1 page)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

A contributing factor:
Dejima syndrome

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

I have a tip foryou.

I also have atip.

I’m going toapply for
Kakenhi!
I’m going toapply for
Kakenhi!

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 somewhat inaccessible.

8 tips (that I am confident about)

2 tips (that I am less confident about)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.

Tip # 2: Before starting, think about where you have been
and where you are going
Proposed
researchPrevious
research

Start ofproject

Goal ofproposal•

Successful proposals often feel like a chapter froma longer, personal story.

•Think about how your previous research brought you
to the proposed project. Think about how theproposed project will bring you to your future research.

•This will help you to write with purpose and direction.

Futureresearch“…applicant’s researchhistory leading to theconception of this research
proposal…”

Tip # 3: On the first page, articulate your vision and sell it
2. This project(small version of the big dream)

1. Big dream
Selfassembly

Quantum computer
Molecule

Molecule

https://algoanalytics.
com/quantumAnneal
ers.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-assembly

Self-assembly

Simulate the self-assembly process
within seconds on a computer(impossible with ordinary computers)

3. Big impacts
Accelerate discovery of materials
for future medicine andelectronics

Simulate on-surface self-assembly using
a quantum computerPrinted electronics

Artificial cells
Ultra-high density memory

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2
018/11/14/creating-life-from-thebottom-up-can-we-make-cellsfrom-scratch/https://news.cnrs.fr/articles/the-newchallenges-of-spintronics

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tec
h/2014/03/20/reviewed-oled-tvmade-in-america/6568445/

Application form (first page)

Big
dream
Impacts

Obstacle
to bigdream

This project + impacts

This 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 (thisproject), impact

This project + obstacle to big dream

Tip # 4: 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 sketch
Fig 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!

Tip # 5: 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.

Tip # 6: 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.

AddRemove
In 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.

Tip # 7: 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

Tip # 8: Last but not least, familiarize yourself with E-rad!
•

E-rad is the website where
you submit your proposal.

•

Access requires an ID andpassword. Your university
administration provides this.
Ask your secretary or office
staff to obtain your ID andpassword from theadministration.

•As well as uploading yourproposal, you must enter
additional information(amount of money required,etc). Check the submission
page well ahead of thedeadline.

https://www-shinsei.jsps.go.jp/kaken/index.html

8 tips (that I am confident about)

2 tips (that I am less confident about)Maybe # 1: First page in Japanese?
[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 Translator is not recommended.

Maybe # 2: Demonstrate knowledge of the real world
Japan’s largest display maker (JapanDisplay) is the main producer of LCD
displays for the iPhone, and receives
54 % of its total profit from Apple.
However, with the announcement ofthe iPhoneX, which uses an OLED
display, the future of Japan Display
has become bleak.

Upon examining this year’s Strategic Goals
from MEXT (New Material Development
Method by Combination of Experiment andData Science), I formulated this project.

[Maybe not] Kakenhi is meant for fundamental science.

[Maybe] For many evaluators, impact = solution to a ‘real-world’ problem

Final comments• 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.