How long have you been working in sPHENIX and at what institution?
My institution is RIKEN, and I've been working for sPHENIX since November 2023.
What is the focus of your work on the sPHENIX experiment?
I'm currently working on INTT mostly for the hardware maintenance. My main interest is to research and develop detectors.
Where were you born and what is your educational background before your current position?
I was born and raised in Kagoshima, which is located at the most southern part of Kyusyu island in Japan. I moved to Hiroshima when I entered Hiroshima University, and I lived there until I got my PhD. My PhD topic is femtoscopy at the PHENIX experiment, which is my main physics interest for many years. Also I've participated in the PHENIX VTX upgrade project and developed VTX readout electronics. I've been working on a different project at RIKEN (an electron-RI scattering experiment) from 2012 to 2023, then came back to high energy heavy-ion field in 2023.
How did you decide to go into heavy ion or spin research?
When I was a master course student I have worked on some analysis for VENUS experiment at KEK-TRISTAN, which was already a completed project at the time. After finishing the master thesis I looked for something new experiment to join for the PhD research, and then met Prof. Sugitate who invited me to the PHENIX collaboration.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I'm trying to stay away from the digital world. I like to cook, eat and drink. Also I like to exercise at gym and go run outside to stay healthy even if I eat a lot of junk foods. (Basically I love fatty and sugary foods...) Also I regularly participate in volunteer works, like food bank, on holiday.
Fun fact?
Last year I participated in a 5k run race at Riverhead. That was my first race and so fun! I would like to participate more races this year, and then someday I want to beat Itaru at some race...