05
- Akiko Tamakoshi
- Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University
Maintain your resolve and cooperate with those around you
If you keep going, a path will surely open up for you.
LILAS
Leaders for people with innovation,
Liberty and Ambitions.
A series of interviews with female researchers introducing leading female leaders who are at the forefront of their fields.LILASLilac means lilac in French, and is also known as the flower of Sapporo. Along with plant arrangements inspired by the interview content, we will be sharing this original interview series, conveying messages about the strength, flexibility, and diversity that plants possess.
- 05
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The fifth interviewee is Akiko Tamakoshi from the Graduate School of Medicine. Ms. Tamakoshi joined Hokkaido University towards the end of her child-rearing years. While this allowed her to dedicate more time to research, she says that being the first person to join a research lab with an established culture has given her much to think about regarding lab management, such as how to interact with lab members and how to conduct research. We asked Ms. Tamakoshi, who has spent time building the current style of her research lab, about the strategies she has employed.
How can we establish a new research lab policy while respecting their research?
What difficulties did you encounter in running your research lab?
About 10 years ago, when I came to Hokkaido University, I was in a position to manage a research lab myself for the first time. In the Faculty of Medicine, research labs are also called classrooms, but in my previous jobs, I was part of a team conducting research under a professor, so I had never really thought deeply about how a classroom was run. At that time, I was also in the midst of raising children, so I don't think I was very aware of how professors managed their classrooms.
However, as soon as I arrived at Hokkaido University, I faced various challenges, such as deciding on operational policies, supervising students, and managing finances. What was particularly difficult was adjusting the research style with the faculty and graduate students who were already affiliated with the research lab I was assigned to. I had to respect their research while exploring how to establish a new research lab policy. At first, I proceeded by continuing the methods of the previous professor, and gradually I made improvements to create my own style, but I think it took me four or five years to find a way that worked well for me. It was that difficult to enter a research lab with such an established culture on my own.
Instead of uniform instruction, we provide instruction tailored to each individual's situation.
Are there any particular things you pay attention to when running your research lab?
Because the students come from diverse backgrounds, we focused on providing individualized instruction rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Some students come from medical backgrounds, while others come from different fields such as nursing, pharmacy, and nutrition. Therefore, to help them adapt to research, we provided training in basic statistical analysis and had experienced students act as mentors. We also had many working students, so we made an effort to be flexible in our operations, taking their time constraints into consideration by scheduling seminars in the evenings and introducing a hybrid format combining online and in-person learning. I believe these efforts ultimately led to the creation of a learning environment that leveraged the diversity of our research lab.
Currently, we also hold regular meetings with only the faculty members in the classroom. We try to hold these meetings in person as much as possible, and by providing a space for us to share our current work, research, and student situations, we've been able to run the classroom more smoothly. When we're working separately, someone is often bearing the burden in ways that aren't immediately apparent. By sharing the current situation, including these aspects, we've been able to maintain a better balance.
While establishing the system, we also need to change the mindset of all people.
Please share your thoughts on diversity.
When I was a graduate student, a professor once told me, "You're doing pretty well for a woman." I felt uncomfortable at the time and instinctively asked, "What do you mean by that?" I'm sure he didn't mean any harm, but it was an incident that made me strongly feel the unconscious bias embedded in his words. That incident led the professor to think of me as an interesting person, but through this experience, I realized the importance of dispelling gender stereotypes and creating an environment where individual abilities are properly evaluated.
Currently, there are award systems and quota systems for women.*While measures such as those mentioned above are being implemented, our long-term goal is to create an environment where such special measures are no longer necessary. It is important to create systems that make it easier for female researchers to build their careers, while simultaneously promoting a change in everyone's mindset. Of course, the world has changed this much because our predecessors worked so hard to win various rights. However, we have not yet achieved our goals, and there are still many obstacles to overcome. I believe we must all continue to work hard together.
* This refers to allocating a certain percentage of people to minorities in order to correct inequality.
I had never seen a woman stay at home without working.
Are there any role models who have influenced your career as a researcher?
Both of my parents were researchers, and they both worked in the field of biochemistry. Because of this, I never knew what it was like for women to stay at home and not work, which I think made working seem normal to me. Also, working as a researcher wasn't something special to me; it was a natural choice as I grew up. Since I heard my parents talking about their research on a daily basis from a young age, I think I felt a sense of familiarity with the world of science.
What about the presence of fellow researchers?
The research colleagues I met during my graduate school days are still very important to me today. The connections I made with people I met at academic conferences and research meetings have had a significant impact on my subsequent career. Researchers can often feel isolated, but I've come to realize that supporting each other with like-minded colleagues allows for better research. In particular, the network I gained through activities at nationwide research group meetings and epidemiological conferences has played a crucial role in the continuation of my career. Working hard alongside my colleagues from my younger days, I'm now in similar positions and roles, and being able to share my concerns at different times is incredibly reassuring.
The ability to directly contribute to solving societal problems through epidemiological research is a major attraction of public health.
Please tell me about your research field and your contributions to society.
My specialty is public health, particularly epidemiological research, and its crucial role is to analyze data and return that information to society. In particular, during the COVID-1 pandemic, I was analyzing infection data for Sapporo City. In the early stages of the pandemic, there was still a lot of confusion in society, so I thought about what I could do and created a leaflet for citizens based on the latest knowledge. It was a simple leaflet, about one A4 page, but I summarized infection prevention measures and the latest epidemiological data in an easy-to-understand way. Someone in Iwamizawa City received it and posted it on the city's website. There is still room for consideration regarding what kind of information dissemination method is appropriate, but I would be most pleased if it contributed even a little to alleviating citizens' anxiety and providing accurate information.
In our collaboration with Sapporo City, especially in the early stages, we witnessed firsthand the dedication of the administrative staff to implementing countermeasures. Everyone was truly dedicated, working late into the night, but at the same time, there was a lot of criticism of the administration. We felt it was our mission to do what we could in such a chaotic situation, so we had our classroom members fully utilize their abilities, and we continued to receive data from Sapporo City every week, analyze it, and return it to them.
I was also involved in an epidemiological study on the long-term effects of COVID-19. Data on the long-term impact of infectious diseases is still lacking, and the government needed to understand the reality of the situation. In collaboration with the city of Sapporo, we collected and analyzed information from citizens regarding their health status after infection, and used the results to make policy recommendations. I believe that being able to directly contribute to solving societal problems through epidemiological research is one of the great attractions of public health.
I will take on committee work and other duties as much as possible.
What are your thoughts on contributing to the university?
This applies not only to universities, but I try to take on committee work whenever possible. For example, I hold multiple positions on ethics committees within the university, including a committee that considers the development of the ethics review system and the faculty's ethics committee. Research ethics was one of the issues I was concerned about when I was a young researcher. Epidemiological research involves surveys of people, and I felt that there was a significant gap between the way research ethics was viewed in Japan and overseas at the time. So, I started study groups with other young researchers and created guidelines, and I feel that I have been able to contribute in that way.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a task force was established within Hokkaido University. As a committee member, I worked with other professors to implement countermeasures. Since Hokkaido University was also promoting vaccination, I was involved in various activities, such as considering how to implement it and asking students to volunteer to help. I also suggested that the student volunteers who helped be recognized with an award in the name of the university president, and I was grateful that the students who were involved were properly recognized as a result.
Gain experience in "managing" something, even if it's on a small scale.
Please give a message to researchers who are aiming for higher positions.
To build a successful career as a researcher, it's crucial to first clarify what you want to do. Especially if you aim for a senior position managing a research lab, you'll need skills in many areas, not just your own research, but also securing research funding, team management, and more. Therefore, I recommend gaining experience in "managing" things, even on a small scale, such as participating in academic conferences or leading research projects.
Furthermore, there are limits to what one person can accomplish. Having trustworthy colleagues is extremely important. I myself still keep in touch with colleagues I met at academic conferences and collaborative research projects when I was younger, and we support each other. Especially in fields where data analysis is central, such as epidemiological research, collaboration with other experts is indispensable. I believe that valuing the network among researchers and building relationships where you can consult with others when you encounter difficulties will be a great support for continuing research in the long term.
As you continue your research, you will inevitably encounter difficulties and uncertainties. However, if you maintain your determination and work together with those around you, a path will open up for you. Also, don't be afraid to seek higher positions; if you have the opportunity, take on the challenge. The higher you go, the more freedom you'll have, making it easier to pursue the research you want to do. So, if you want to advance your research exactly as you envision it, I encourage you to actively aim higher.
The university environment is changing year by year, and a managerial perspective is increasingly required. In this context, how researchers behave is a crucial issue. However, I believe that if you can maintain your passion for research, you can forge your own path no matter the circumstances. I hope that young researchers will steadily move forward, one step at a time, towards their goals.
LILAS
Library
"This book reminds us of the importance of setting aside preconceived notions and looking at data correctly within society, as well as the importance of having an interest in various fields."
LILAS
Plants
Japanese flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) can produce buds and flowers for months even when cut and separated from the soil. Clematis, a shrub variety, produces many flowers on old branches.
Like a flower that blooms again and again with tenacity.
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Blur
Scientific name: Chaenomeles speciosa Family and genus: Rosaceae, Chaenomeles
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Clematis
Scientific name: Clematis Family and genus: Ranunculaceae, Clematis Cultivar name: Cartmanii Johnny (Oceania variety)
LILASThis is part of the Hokkaido University 150th Anniversary Project. Hokkaido University will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026.
