This Biophysics Week, we're highlighting some of the outstanding members of our Student Chapter program. Today, we'll hear from Rinno Wakahayashi, a 3rd year Pharmacy major at the Sanyo-Onoda City University Student Chapter.
What inspired you to study biophysics?
When I was a junior high school student, I did a summer science assignment about anatomy. I was interested in it after watching a drama. The main character was a pathologist who tried to solve the big crime through forensic investigation. Because of this, I started thinking about studying anatomy in the future. This is why I decided to study human body systems at pharmacy school. I am increasingly interested in learning about the human body from different perspectives.
What do you think makes the study of biophysics unique?
I think biophysics is unique because it is a very broad field. At the conference, I attended poster presentations by students and researchers. At first, many of the topics seemed related to biology. However, I also noticed that some researchers were applying physics and engineering approaches to their studies. As someone who has not conducted research yet, it was difficult for me to fully understand the specifics, but I was able to grasp the diversity of research topics within the field, which left a strong impression.
What skill have you learned in your studies that you find useful in other aspects of your life?
I took four organic chemistry classes in the first and second years. It’s like puzzle games, so I didn't like it because of its complexity. It was very hard to understand what the teachers were saying. I usually study alone at home, but it doesn’t work for me. It was really stressful not being able to ask questions right away when I didn’t understand something. So after that, I started studying with my friends and asking my senior students for advice. Before that, I had a negative view of relying on others, but I realized that learning while talking can enhance my ideas.
What is your dream career?
It is too early for me to narrow down my future career, but visiting the United States gave me new perspectives. Before visiting, I always thought I would become a pharmacist. I learned about the current circumstances of pharmacists in Japan in my classes and then had an opportunity to visit the United States. I realized, unfortunately, that the tasks given to pharmacists in Japan are very simple: merely passing medicines to patients, following prescriptions, and the impact on society is not as great as I anticipated. I would rather do what requires me to think in the job, thinking about the future, so now I’m thinking about becoming a researcher.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am an executive member of our student chapter, and we organized a collaborative event with students at an American university. It was not easy to communicate in English because my skills are still developing. However, because it was difficult, I felt a great sense of accomplishment afterward. Through this experience, I realized the importance of communication and teamwork. Going forward, I plan to organize biophysics-related events, improve my English, and determine what's needed to host more specialized events.
What advice do you have for someone thinking about studying biophysics?
I would recommend interacting with people studying different fields. I could get new ideas and dreams by discussing them. When I entered university, I had only considered finding a job and building my life in Japan, which made me feel anxious about my future. However, while participating in the Biophysical Society student chapter, I had the opportunity to talk with American university students, and I learned that many students in the United States participate in study abroad programs, such as the JET program in Japan. Although my anxiety has not completely disappeared, I believe it is important to expand my future options. Regardless of whether you have a clear research interest, I think it is always valuable to listen to the experiences of people from different backgrounds.