For Undergraduate Students.

Updated: April 2026

Overview

To join, select this lab in the July–August placement survey. Before that, review the Join Us page and schedule a meeting with Koike.

This lab was established in April 2026. We are recruiting the first members who will build it together.

Table of Contents

1. How Research Themes Are Decided
2. Skills You Will Acquire
3. Annual Schedule
4. About Graduate School
5. How to Join
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. For 1st–3rd Year Students

How Research Themes Are Decided

Pattern 1: From your own interests — Have a “I want to do this”? We build a theme around it. Even if it’s not tied to our projects, we’ll connect it to the big picture. A theme you genuinely find interesting is one you can stick with through the hard parts, and tying it to the lab’s wider questions means your own trial and error ends up helping other members’ research too.

Pattern 2: From projects — No clear theme yet? Pick a research project or topic that interests you and form your own questions within it. Getting on a project that’s already moving lets you start sooner than hunting for a theme from scratch, so you can focus on the step that matters: forming your own question.

Skills You Will Acquire

Technical Skills

• Programming ability: Application and system development
• Data analysis: Collection, analysis, and visualization of learning logs; statistical processing
• Modeling: Ability to formally describe human cognition and problem structures
• Academic writing: Ability to write academic papers and technical documents logically
• Presentation: Ability to effectively communicate research results

Transferable Skills

• Problem finding and definition: Ability to identify problems yourself and define them clearly
• Logical thinking: Ability to structure complex problems and think systematically
• Self-management: Ability to plan and execute long-term projects
• Critical thinking: Ability to question existing assumptions and see the essence
• Communication: Ability to explain things clearly to non-experts

Experiences Gained Through Research

• Experience presenting at domestic and international conferences
• (Experience with paper submission and peer review processes)
• Experience with collaborative research with other universities and companies (depending on projects)

Annual Schedule

You join in 3rd-year second semester and do graduation research in 4th year.

This is a tentative example; the actual pace varies from person to person and year to year.

3rd Year, Second Semester (September–March)

4th Year, First Semester (April–September)

4th Year, Second Semester (October–March)

About Graduate School

We recommend going on to graduate school.

• One year of graduation research often ends just as you’re starting to get the hang of how to learn and how to think.
• Three years through a Master’s make it easier to produce results you’re satisfied with, and to build both expertise and transferable skills.
• Building up the lab’s “compound interest in problem-solving” (a way of thinking gained on one problem helping with the next) also takes time. Graduate school is where you secure that time.

How to Join

1. Information Gathering (Anytime)

Read the Join Us page and the Research page for the lab’s policies and research.

2. Meeting (Accepting Anytime)

To avoid a mismatch, if you’re considering placement, feel free to schedule a meeting with Koike. In person or online—either works. We don’t want scheduling or travel to be the reason you hesitate, so pick whichever is easier. We’ll ask:

• What research interests you?
• Your thoughts on your career after graduation?
• What caught your attention on this page, and any questions

3. Lab Placement Survey (July–August)

Select this lab in the department’s placement survey.

4. Placement Decision (September)

Placement results will be announced.

Scheduling a Meeting

To request a meeting, email us.

Email:

To filter spam, start the subject with Laphroaig: (click to copy). Include your name and several preferred dates/times in the body.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m not good at programming. Is that okay?

If you understand if statements and for loops, that’s enough to start. You’ll pick up the rest as your research progresses. “Understanding by building” is how we do research here, so skills aren’t something you’re expected to acquire in advance, separate from your work—you pick them up as you go, when your research actually needs them. So what matters more than your current skill level is whether you’re willing to work hands-on.

I don’t want to become a teacher or work in education. Is there meaning in studying in this lab?

Our research focuses on “learning,” not “teaching.” How people learn and grow applies widely—IT, consulting, HR development, and beyond education.

We also deliberately teach skills you’ll need in the workplace and flexibly accommodate other themes, so prioritize fit with the supervisor. During the one to three years after placement you’ll be working in close, frequent discussion with your supervisor: the theme can change partway through, but the fit rarely does. Choosing someone you can comfortably talk things over with moves your research forward more than sticking with a mismatch.

I’m torn between this lab and others.

Fit with supervision style and lab atmosphere matters more than the research theme. You can build the theme together after you join, but the way supervision works and the feel of the lab are set—you can’t change them once you’re in—so this is what most shapes how easy your day-to-day research will be. That’s why we’d rather you talk with us in a meeting or visit the lab to judge whether it’s right for you.

For 1st–3rd Year Students

Problem-solving compounds—the earlier you start, the more it adds up. Small trial and error now carries over to different problems later, and because the gains compound, the head start of beginning earlier keeps paying off.

You’re welcome to visit or talk with us anytime, even before placement. Knowing what research is really like ahead of time makes for a smoother start once you’re placed. Feel free to reach out.