Messages from Graduates

My workplace is a large factory, where a large amount of various data is produced every day. My main job is to suck up that data and “visualize” the data. Visualization is expected to reduce the man-hours required to create documents and speed up management decisions. System knowledge is also indispensable to accurately hear requirements from users, and my studies at university have led me to my current job. I also like to design, so I enjoy thinking about the composition and coloring of graphs to make them easy to see and understand when I develop them.

　This job also requires good communication skills to listen to the needs of the users, such as what kind of system they need. In this respect, I feel that my experience of working with various people through activities such as the committee (Freshman Welcome Committee), clubs, and campus companies is also put to good use.

　I started working for the Iwate Prefectural Government and currently my main duties include determining road maintenance policies and securing budgets. I am from Kamaishi City and experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake when I was in my third year of junior high school. From that time on, I knew that I wanted to be involved in reconstruction in the future. Although I had not thought about how I would be involved, I learned at university that road maintenance in the affected areas was being carried out at an unprecedented speed, and in fact, every time I returned to my hometown, I realized that towns and roads were being beautifully maintained. The scale of the project made me realize how rewarding it was, and I decided to pursue my current job.

　From a civil service perspective, Iwate Prefecture is a rare model in Japan because of the unprecedented speed with which the prefecture recovered from the disaster. One of the strengths of Iwate University is that we can learn about such cases close at hand. The studies and experiences here will broaden your horizons and your future choices. For myself, visiting reconstruction sites during university lectures and site tours helped me decide on a career path after graduation.

I am involved in the industrialization (establishing manufacturing methods in factories) of APIs and intermediates, which are the active ingredients of pharmaceuticals, based on data obtained from laboratory experiments. I have loved chemistry since I was in high school and wanted to work in a job related to pharmaceuticals. While engaging in research at university, I found a specific goal: “I want to be involved in improving the manufacturing process of drugs,” and this is where I am today.

　When I was a student, I was able to freely engage in experiments that I wanted to do, thanks to the generous support of my professors, and I am glad that I was able to study at Iwate University. In addition, as a manager of the American football team during my undergraduate years, I had the opportunity to interact with a diverse range of people both inside and outside the team, and I feel that I acquired communication skills that are necessary in society.

　College gives you a lot of freedom, so it is up to you how you want to spend your time. By going to various places and interacting with many people, you will broaden your horizons. I hope that you will give your best to both study and play, and that your student life will be a meaningful one.

I am in charge of process design and quality assurance of aluminum sheets used as materials for automobiles and beverage cans. Specifically, I am responsible for devising mass production processes to produce materials that meet customers’ requirements, and checking that they meet the required quality. Although these materials rarely appear on the market in a form that you can see directly, they are used in familiar products such as automobiles, beverage cans, and home appliances. When I think that the materials I am involved with are contributing to the lives of many people, I feel proud and motivated to work even harder.

Studying materials engineering at Iwate University has provided me with the groundwork to deepen my understanding of my current work. The opportunities to present research results at domestic and international conferences and to write and submit papers were also great experiences, which helped me gain confidence in the knowledge and skills I acquired, and also refined my ability to express my thoughts. The four years I spent studying at the university have been a great support for my life.