Nanophoton, an Osaka University venture and the home of Osaka University, has many Osaka University students working as interns and part-timers. In this issue, we interviewed two of them who have been working at Nanophoton for a particularly long time. (Newsletter Editor / Ryo Harada)

Ms. Hui-Shi Yang, 2nd year master’s student, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University

ーWhat do you do at Nanophoton?

I mainly do finite element simulations. I design mechanical components for use in microscopes and other devices, predict the properties of these components, and simulate optical phenomena related to new product development.

ーHow do you like working at Nanophoton? What do you think about Nanophoton?

I think I am learning a lot and working in a very good environment. Unlike my previous student-like part-time jobs, I am able to work closer to my own research, so I am able to kill two birds with one stone by working and studying at the same time. The employees are all PhDs or people who have done research, so I can talk with them about research outside of my work and get advice about my research life.

I feel that Nanophoton is an elite few, and I feel that no one can be replaced. I attended the 20th anniversary party last year, and I was impressed by the way Dr. Kawata introduced each and every employee at the party. I felt that Dr. Kawata and the other board members must highly value and cherish each person’s abilities.

ーAre there any memories of Nanophoton that stand out in your mind?

The Nanophoton 20th anniversary party was the most memorable. It was a valuable experience for us students to be able to participate in a gathering of people who were like a cloud to us. Among them, as mentioned above, I was very impressed by the way Dr. Kawata introduced each and every one of them.

ーWhat are your future plans?

I am currently in my second year of a master’s program and plan to continue on to a doctoral program.

ーLastly, do you have any words to say to Nanophoton or to the juniors who will be joining the company in the future?

I am looking forward to seeing how the new Nanophoton will turn out now that it is under the Bruker umbrella. I will do my best to be as useful as possible.

I think the environment in which I can work part-time while studying professionally is very valuable. I hope you will absorb various things from the employees and do your best to connect them to your personal growth.

ーThank you very much, Ms. Yang.

Katsutoshi Michihata, 1st year doctoral student, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University

－What did you do at Nanophoton?

At Nanophoton, I was mainly in charge of producing online quotation pages. I was in contact with the sales department, and we went through a trial-and-error process to figure out what kind of format would be easiest for customers to use.

－How do you like working at Nanophoton? What do you think about Nanophoton?

At Nanophoton, there are people from various departments in the office, and I was very impressed by the closeness between employees. Everyone treated me kindly, and I thought it was a very comfortable working environment. Also, there were many interns, and I was able to receive stimulation through interaction with students from other universities and graduate schools.

－What are some of your most memorable experiences at Nanophoton?

One of my most memorable experiences at Nanophoton was hearing directly from Chairman Kawata about the process of starting Nanophoton and leading up to the present. Nanophoton is a university-launched venture that was established earlier than any other university venture in Japan, let alone Osaka University. I had the opportunity to talk with Chairman Kawata, and I felt that there was no better environment in which to study what it means for a scientist to start a business.

－What are your future plans?

I will be entering a doctoral program at Osaka University. In the doctoral program, it will be important for me to have the ability to develop new skills on my own, so I will make the most of what I have learned at Nanophoton and do my best.

－Lastly, do you have any words for Nanophoton or the juniors who will be joining the company in the future?

Thank you very much for your support for about a year and a half. I have learned and grown a lot under your guidance. I would like to express my deepest gratitude. I believe that Nanophoton is entering a period of change. I wish for your continued growth and development.

I think the internship at Nanophoton is a wonderful place to experience not only working part-time but also getting to know the company. Because people from various departments, such as the sales and engineering departments, are nearby, I hope that you will learn about the types of jobs and operations throughout the company and learn what the company is all about.

－Thank you very much, Mr. Michihata.

Nanophoton will continue to incorporate the flexible thinking and new sensibilities of its students.
Students who are interested in internships or part-time jobs at Nanophoton, please contact us from the Student Part-time/Internship page.

（Translated by DeepL）