Curiosity and a willingness to work through unfamiliar problems matter more than already specializing in planetary science. We develop research directions through discussion, starting from your interests and strengths.
EDUCATION & STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Train as a scientist.
Lead in research and industry.
We prepare students for doctoral study and for careers at the forefront of research and industry.
Our students learn to frame original questions, test them rigorously, and communicate their findings. Research connected to real exploration missions develops both deep expertise and the ability to work independently.
Whether continuing to a doctorate or entering industry, students take this research foundation into their next stage.
Admissions and enquiries ↓2026 AWARDS · ACADEMIC YEAR 2025
- Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, Systems Innovation竹村知洋 · Doctoral
- Dean’s Award, Graduate School of Engineering磯邊優奈 · Master’s
- Tamaki Award, Department of Systems Innovation孫辰浩 · Master’s
See all 12 awards · 2019–2026
| Award year (AY) | Student / level | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2026(2025) | 竹村知洋Doctoral | Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, Systems Innovationシステム創成優秀博士学生賞 |
| 2026(2025) | 磯邊優奈Master’s | Dean’s Award, Graduate School of Engineering工学系研究科長賞 |
| 2026(2025) | 孫辰浩Master’s | Tamaki Award, Department of Systems Innovationシステム創成学専攻 玉木賞 |
| 2024(2024) | 磯邊優奈 | JpGU Outstanding Student Presentation Award, Space and Planetary SciencesJpGU 学生優秀発表賞（宇宙惑星科学）Official announcement ↗ |
| 2024(2023) | 孫辰浩Undergraduate | Dean’s Award for Research, Faculty of Engineering工学部長賞（研究） |
| 2023(2022) | 吉岡航輝Undergraduate | Dean’s Award for Research, Faculty of Engineering工学部長賞（研究） |
| 2022(2021) | 竹村知洋Master’s | Dean’s Award, Graduate School of Engineering工学系研究科長賞 |
| 2022(2021) | 清水俊輔Undergraduate | Outstanding Graduation Research Award, Systems Innovationシステム創成学科 優秀卒業研究賞 |
| 2021(2020) | 清水雄太Master’s | Miyoshi Award, Department of Systems Innovationシステム創成学専攻 三好賞Official announcement ↗ |
| 2019(2019) | 清水雄太Master’s | Japan Space Forum Award, 27th Satellite Design Contest第27回衛星設計コンテスト 日本宇宙フォーラム賞Awarded as a member of team DISCERN (9 November 2019)Official announcement ↗ |
| 2019(2019) | 清水雄太Master’s | ISTS Modi Memorial Jaya-Jayant AwardISTS Modi Memorial Jaya-Jayant AwardOfficial announcement ↗ |
| 2019(2018) | 岡本省吾Undergraduate | Outstanding Graduation Research Award, Systems Innovationシステム創成学科 優秀卒業研究賞 |
JSPS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
Student & alumni
JSPS fellowships
JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists
DC1 & DC2
- 平田直之
- DC1 · 2012–2015
- 菊地紘
- DC2 · 2016–2017
- 清水雄太
- DC1 · 2021–2023
- 竹村知洋
- DC1 · 2022–2025
- 戸井田愛理
- DC1 · 2026–2029
- 杉原悠太
- DC1 · 2027–2030 (selected)
- プラート・
アルヴィン - DC1 · 2027–2029 (selected)
- 磯邊優奈
- DC2 · 2027–2029 (selected)
CAREERS AFTER THE LAB
Careers after a master’s
or a doctorate
Graduates pursue careers after a master’s degree or continue to develop their expertise through doctoral research.
All of our doctoral graduates to date have gone on to employment.
Deep expertise and the ability to identify and solve new problems carry beyond the laboratory. Our alumni pursue careers in academia, research agencies, government and industries ranging from manufacturing to finance and consulting.
Selected destinations of lab alumni, including master’s and doctoral graduates
Research & academia
- JAXA
- The University of Tokyo
- Kobe University
- Gakushuin University
Government
- Japan Patent Office
- Japan Coast Guard
Industry & professional services
- Mitsubishi Corporation
- Nomura Research Institute
- Sumitomo Chemical
- Sony Semiconductor Solutions
- Deloitte
- PwC Consulting
- Goldman Sachs
- Accenture
Developing expertise through international research
Work on lunar and asteroid science and exploration instruments provides a setting to develop specialist knowledge and discuss research with colleagues overseas. Continuing educational exchanges support this work, including Adelaide University’s Space Resource Fundamentals course, where Miyamoto taught in each year from 2022 to 2025.
After completing his doctorate in our laboratory, Tomohiro Takemura began working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Adelaide University in 2026. His work illustrates how expertise developed during doctoral study can grow further in an international research environment.
Explore examples of international research and education →
Research carries a public responsibility
Our work, including SX and development of the Lunar Dielectric Analyzer for Artemis, is supported by public funding and public trust. The opportunity to contribute to major exploration programs carries a responsibility to produce reliable knowledge and technology and share their benefits with society.
We expect students to recognize this responsibility as members of the research team: to take initiative in learning, think independently, plan their work, and sustain their effort. Integrity in handling data and results, candid communication about progress and difficulties, and honoring commitments to colleagues are essential to the trust on which research depends.
Faculty and researchers support this growth through discussion and mentoring. Our aim is to develop scientists and professionals who can explain their work and take responsibility for it within their teams and to the wider public.
Admissions and enquiries
Miyamoto Laboratory spans the Department of Systems Innovation in the Graduate School of Engineering and the Department of Earth and Planetary Science in the Graduate School of Science at the University of Tokyo. Students can join through either graduate department, or through one of the undergraduate routes below.
Graduate study — master’s and doctoral programmes
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering
Official admissions information ↗ - Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science
Official admissions information ↗
Please consult each department’s official website for current application requirements, examinations, deadlines and available admission routes.
Undergraduate study — graduation research
- C Course (PSI), Department of Systems Innovation, Faculty of Engineering ↗ (Japanese)
- Department of Earth and Planetary Environmental Science, Faculty of Science ↗ (Japanese)
Undergraduate laboratory placement follows the guidance of the relevant department or course.
Different backgrounds, shared curiosity
We welcome enquiries from students at UTokyo and other universities alike. About half of our laboratory members come from other universities, bringing varied academic backgrounds to our research community.
Please contact us by email before applying or seeking laboratory placement. We would be happy to discuss your interests, previous studies and possible routes into the laboratory.
Researchers and industry
We welcome discussions of research collaboration in planetary exploration, surface and subsurface analysis, analogue materials and space resources. Please outline the scientific or technical question, its background and the kind of collaboration you have in mind.
When contacting us
- Your name and affiliation
- Your research interests or the subject of your enquiry
- For prospective students, your current programme and intended start date