Japanese Government (MEXT) Postgraduate Scholarships
MEXT Alumni Personal Experiences
Dr Ross Burns, PhD Astrophysics
Japanese Government (MEXT) Postgraduate Scholarship
Kagoshima University from April 2012 – March 2016
By my final year of an Astrophysics master’s degree at Wales' Cardiff University it had become clear to me that I wanted to continue my astronomy research full-time as a career and as a way of living. At that time I knew nothing of how research was conducted. The idea of pursuing a PhD in Japan was raised by a friend of mine who'd seen an email advertising MEXT. Since I'd always held a deep interest in Japanese culture I saw MEXT as a great opportunity to combine my newly set-out research goals with a deep-seated curiosity about the East, with the wild dice-roll of an adventure thrown in for good measure. I remember the application procedure being daunting at first, but then all applications are like that. Just keep at it.
Arriving at Kagoshima was nothing short of landing in a different world. The active volcano, Sakurajima, was always in view and erupted several times daily during the first of my 4 years. Coral reefs, palm trees, island lifestyle and amazing food and weather became the norm. Despite the rural and natural feel, Kagoshima University boasts some great facilities, especially in the sciences and agriculture. I’ve never known any place so close to (my idea of) paradise.
Kagoshima is a small city; most Japanese would call it ‘countryside’, though it felt a lot bigger than my dear Cardiff. Most people spoke very limited English, which certainly helped me to immerse myself in Japanese rather than rely on my mother tongue. Everyone was so friendly, and since there are few foreigners that far South, it sometimes felt like being a celebrity. Free time was spent adventuring in the surrounding mountains, island hopping, singing karaoke and eating and drinking my fill at the local bars - along with plenty of travel around Japan during long weekends and holidays. After such an unforgettable experience Kagoshima will always take pride of place in my heart and I plan to move back there for good someday. I will say that, in a rural place like Kagoshima, prioritising a firm command of the Japanese language was essential for getting involved with other people and researchers in- and outside of the lab.
Regarding research. I was able to become a competitive radio astronomer (my research even made it onto the national NHK TV news) and after graduating I've since taken up a full-time research post in the Netherlands at a world-renowned astronomy institute. The skills and technical tricks that I learned at Kagoshima now make up the backbone of my scientific ability, and I’ve enjoyed a prosperous early career on their account. All of this was thanks to the opportunities and support provided by MEXT and I will always feel indebted to the people at MEXT and at the Japanese embassy who helped to make my dream a reality.
To prospective applicants I would advise thinking carefully about your choice of university; remember that you must also live your life and that finding a place that matches your lifestyle will allow you to concentrate fully on your work. Remember also that transport in Japan is second to none - so even if you live rurally you can visit the city quite freely (or vice versa if you are more of the city type).
