The sixth session of the university-wide general education course "The Job of a Scientist and Career Development: Learning from the Career Histories of Female Researchers" featured a lecture by Professor Eriko Sumitani of the Institute for Genetic Disease Control, titled "Researching the Bone Marin with Glowing Mice." Professor Sumitani honed her research skills at institutions such as the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, and joined Hokkaido University last year. Utilizing her research strength in creating genetically modified mice, she is energetically advancing research on bone development. She also shared her career path, explaining how she entered university aiming to research pharmaceuticals, but was assigned to a research lab in a different field than the organic chemistry she desired. From there, through various fortunate circumstances and encounters, she arrived at her current research field. Students seemed to gain valuable insights into career development, realizing that "even if your path isn't what you initially envisioned, it's okay (a path will open up)." She also shared her struggles to get her child into daycare in Tokyo, which I believe helped the students understand the connection between individual career development and the social environment. Thank you, Professor Sumitani!
