#Japan #Tokyo #LabBase #PhD Mentoring #SPRING Program

Empowering PhD Students with Individual Mentoring

In an effort to tackle the challenges faced by PhD students, LabBase, a Tokyo-based company led by CEO Tomoaki Kamo, has launched an innovative mentoring service that connects current doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers with alumni who hold PhDs. This initiative aims to create a supportive research empowerment platform by linking students with mentors who understand their unique challenges for career development, funding, and future pathways.

What is the LabBase PhD Mentoring Service?

The newly introduced service known as ‘1-on-1 Meetings with PhD Mentors’ is designed to alleviate the common concerns encountered by doctoral talent regarding career progression and funding through personalized guidance. The mentors involved bring a wealth of experience from various sectors such as academia, industry, and startups, all providing detailed assistance via online consultations. The program currently includes approximately 30 mentors with diverse backgrounds in terms of gender and career paths, including specialists well-versed in PhD recruitment, those with international research experience, and native English speakers, all capable of supporting a variety of PhD students, including international scholars.

The Challenges Facing PhD Students

Data indicate that the number of students enrolling in doctoral programs is gradually declining. The primary reasons cited for this trend include an unclear career pathway post-graduation and insufficient support systems within universities. Moreover, due to the limited number of doctoral students, many lack proximity to mentors who have navigated paths in academia or industry. This situation often leads to feelings of isolation and anxiety concerning their future choices.

Additionally, students pursuing a PhD can face financial insecurity due to limited income opportunities beyond part-time teaching or scholarships, creating challenges in covering living expenses and research costs. The ‘SPRING Program’ implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) aims to comprehensively support young researchers through funding, categorized into direct costs necessary for research activities and indirect costs for maintaining facilities and career development programs.

Ideally, universities should leverage indirect funding to enhance mentorship and training systems for doctoral students, becoming pivotal in nurturing the next generation of researchers. However, complexities in program administration and budget allocation often lead to insufficient educational and career development support. To address this gap, LabBase collaborates with universities and companies to provide 1-on-1 mentoring by experienced alumni, ensuring that doctoral candidates receive comprehensive support, allowing them to focus on their research endeavors.

Voices from Doctoral Students Engaging with the Service

• - “Talking 1-on-1 with mentors who have experience in both academia and industry was incredibly valuable for planning my career.”
• - “Having mentors from less conflicting positions provided a crucial support system, making it much easier to share my concerns.”
• - “The guarantee of confidentiality allowed me to express worries that were difficult to discuss elsewhere, and I felt genuinely listened to.”
• - “Through our discussions, I was able to articulate thoughts that had previously felt unclear, which helped me in defining my research goals and ideal career direction.”
• - “The mentors listened carefully to my concerns and provided tailored advice, giving me the confidence to take my next steps.”

Feedback from Participating Universities

Dr. Fumiaki Yoshizawa, Vice President of Utsunomiya University, emphasizes the service's importance:

“Through career support from mentors with diverse backgrounds, students are fostering transferable skills that are vital for their professional journey. Our university's primary focus has historically been on research guidance, and this personalized approach is particularly beneficial in regional national universities where graduate student numbers may be limited.”

About LabBase

Founded on September 23, 2016, LabBase aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry by fostering a nurturing environment for doctoral talents. The company is headquartered in the Hibiya Fort Tower, Minato-ku, Tokyo.

For more information, visit LabBase’s corporate site.