Chikazoe Laboratory welcomes applications from prospective master's and doctoral students, as well as inquiries from individuals interested in research internships or other opportunities to participate in our research activities.
Our research combines functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with machine learning and deep learning to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying human perception, emotion, and cognition, and to develop novel methods for analyzing brain function.
We welcome motivated students from diverse academic backgrounds, including computer science, engineering, psychology, neuroscience, and medicine. We particularly encourage those who are interested in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
Research Areas
Our laboratory focuses on the following research areas:
- Neural Basis of Sensory Processing and Subjective Value — Investigating how sensory information is transformed into subjective value in the brain and how neural processes contribute to individual differences in preferences.
- Artificial Intelligence for Modeling Individual Preferences — Developing machine learning models and recommendation systems that predict individual preferences based on subjective ratings and behavioral data.
- Large-Scale Brain Imaging Data Analysis — Applying deep learning to large-scale fMRI datasets to develop novel methods for functional connectivity analysis and models for predicting brain function.
- EEG and fMRI Data Analysis — Investigating relationships between signals obtained from different neuroimaging modalities and developing new methods for cross-modal analysis and prediction.
- Biomarker Development for Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders — Combining brain imaging data with machine learning to identify potential objective biomarkers associated with psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Individual research projects will be discussed and determined based on each student's interests, background, and the laboratory's research directions.
For more information, please visit our Research Overview and Publications pages.
Research Environment and Mentorship
Our laboratory provides opportunities to work with large-scale brain imaging datasets and computational resources, while collaborating with researchers in Japan and internationally.
Students can develop expertise in both neuroscience and artificial intelligence, progressing from foundational concepts to hands-on analysis of real research data.
Programming experience is welcome but is not required at the time of admission. Our approach to research training combines textbook-based learning with practical data analysis, making use of AI tools such as ChatGPT while emphasizing a fundamental understanding of algorithms and computational methods.
Graduate Admissions
We welcome inquiries from students interested in pursuing a master's or doctoral degree at Chikazoe Laboratory.
Prospective students are encouraged to contact us before submitting their applications. We are happy to discuss our research, potential research projects, and opportunities for graduate study.
Admission to a graduate program requires successful completion of the relevant application and selection procedures. For information on eligibility, application deadlines, and admission requirements, please refer to the official Hiroshima University website.
Graduate Admissions — Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University
Research Internships
We also welcome inquiries from undergraduate and graduate students interested in research internships or other opportunities to participate in our laboratory's research activities.
The nature and duration of each internship, as well as eligibility and other arrangements, will be considered individually based on the applicant's interests, experience, and the laboratory's capacity to accommodate interns.
Students interested in neuroscience, machine learning, or related fields are encouraged to contact us.
Lab Visits and Inquiries
If you are interested in joining our laboratory as a graduate student or research intern, please contact us with the following information:
- Name and current affiliation (university, department, and year of study)
- Type of opportunity sought (master's program, doctoral program, or research internship)
- Research interests
- Preferred enrollment date or internship period
- Previous research or programming experience, if any
You do not need to have a specific research project in mind before contacting us.
Online consultations are also available. We welcome inquiries from prospective students and interns who would like to learn more about our research and opportunities to join the laboratory.