Join Yamazaki Lab

Yamazaki Lab is an internationally recognized research hub in Global Hydrodynamics — advancing the physical understanding of terrestrial water dynamics at the planetary scale.

We are looking for intellectually ambitious, highly motivated individuals who aspire to work at the frontier of Earth system science. If you are driven by difficult scientific questions and wish to build new frameworks rather than apply established ones, we encourage you to consider joining us.

Our research integrates large-scale numerical modeling, satellite remote sensing, high-resolution geospatial data, and data assimilation techniques to understand and predict the dynamics of rivers, floodplains, and terrestrial water systems across continents and the globe.

We do not merely apply models — we develop them.
We do not only analyze data — we build the infrastructure that enables global science.

If this excites you, please feel free to contact us (yamadai [at] iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp) for an informal discussion.

日本語での説明はページ下部にあります。

Group photo at a farewell gathering, Komaba-II Campus (May 2025)

Current open positions

Note: We currently do not have internal funding for additional postdoctoral or PhD positions. However, we actively host researchers who secure competitive external fellowships. Prospective students are expected to obtain scholarships or external funding. We provide strong support for competitive fellowship applications.

Why Join Yamazaki Lab?

  • One of the few groups globally developing fully dynamic global river hydrodynamics models
  • Direct involvement in internationally used modeling infrastructure (e.g., CaMa-Flood)
  • Strong publication record in leading international journals
  • Intensive training in numerical modeling, algorithm development, and satellite data integration
  • International research environment with global collaborators
  • Active mentoring toward independent academic careers

Our goal is not only to produce papers, but to train scientists who can lead the next generation of global Earth system research.

How can you join our lab?

Application to postdoctoral positions

We welcome postdoctoral researchers who aim to develop an independent scientific vision and build toward PI-level careers.

If you are interested, please contact us directly. Potential opportunities are not always publicly advertised.

We strongly encourage applications to competitive fellowships:

Please contact us well in advance of deadlines, as internal screening procedures apply.

Postdoctoral researchers in our lab are expected to:

  • Develop independent research directions
  • Lead international collaborations
  • Publish in top-tier journals
  • Prepare for future PI-level positions

Application to PhD and Master’s courses

Students may apply through:

International student program (Civil Engineering)

Non-Japanese students residing outside Japan should apply via the Foreign Student Office (FSO). Typical scholarships include:

  • MEXT (University Recommendation)
  • MEXT (Embassy Recommendation)
  • CSC (for Chinese students)
  • Other external fellowships

Please consult FSO directly for administrative details.

Entrance examination (Civil Engineering)

Japanese applicants or foreign residents in Japan should take the official entrance examination of the Graduate School of Engineering (typically late August).

Graduate Program of Environmental Sciences (GPES)

Information on GPES applications is available here.

Visitors for collaborative research

We welcome visiting scholars, sabbatical researchers, and research interns who wish to collaborate on cutting-edge global hydrodynamics research.

After 2023 Summer Intensive Seminar

Before You Apply

Before contacting us, please carefully review our research scope and recent publications:

https://global-hydrodynamics.github.io/

Our lab operates at an international level in global-scale hydrological science.
We expect intellectual independence, sustained effort, and resilience.

Most projects involve:

  • Developing and debugging large-scale numerical models
  • Designing new algorithms
  • Handling massive geospatial datasets
  • Performing high-performance simulations
  • Publishing in leading international journals

Our research is fundamentally science-driven, focusing on uncovering physical mechanisms at continental to global scales — not engineering design or site-specific consulting work.

Graduate training here is apprenticeship in becoming an independent scientist.
We emphasize learning through research, not structured coursework.

We are particularly interested in individuals who:

  • Aim to push the boundaries of Earth system science
  • Enjoy thinking rigorously about physical processes
  • Are willing to write and debug substantial amounts of code
  • Take initiative in developing their own ideas
  • Aspire to become future scientific leaders

If you are seeking a structured, low-risk academic experience, our lab may not be the right fit.

If you are excited by difficult problems that only a handful of groups worldwide can address, we would be very happy to hear from you.

Info in Japanese

修士・博士課程での参加を希望される方へ

山崎研究室は、全球陸域水動態を対象とした世界最前線の研究に取り組む研究拠点です。
「未解決の科学課題に真正面から挑みたい」「世界と競争できる研究力を身につけたい」と考える方を歓迎します。

修士・博士学生として加わりたい場合は、
工学系研究科 社会基盤学専攻の大学院入試を受験するか、
総合文化研究科 国際環境学プログラム（GPES）に出願してください。

研究室見学・個別相談は随時受け付けています。
ただし、事前に本ウェブサイトおよび論文リストをよく読み、自分の興味と本研究室の研究テーマが本当に合っているかを確認した上でご連絡ください。

研究スタイルについて

本研究室では、「研究を通じて学ぶ」ことを重視しています。
講義中心ではなく、自ら考え、コードを書き、試行錯誤しながら未解決問題に挑戦します。

主な研究は以下の特徴を持ちます：

  • 全球・大陸規模の水循環を対象とする基礎科学研究
  • 大規模数値モデルの開発
  • 衛星データ・地理空間データの統合解析
  • 英語論文による国際発信

楽な道ではありません。
しかし、本気で取り組めば、国際舞台で戦える研究力を身につけることができます。

主体的に学び、粘り強く挑戦できる方を歓迎します。

学部生の参加について

学部生として卒業研究を行いたい場合は、社会基盤学科・水圏環境グループを通じて研究室に参加できます。

また、東京大学教養学部前期課程（駒場キャンパス）の学生は、
全学自由研究ゼミナール
「UROP：学部学生のための研究入門コース」
を通じて、山崎研究室での研究活動を体験することができます。

早い段階から本格的な研究に触れたい学生を歓迎します。

JSPS特別研究員・ポスドク希望の方へ

JSPS特別研究員の受け入れは常時可能です。
将来的に独立PIを目指す意欲的な若手研究者の応募を歓迎します。

ポスドク研究員のポジションが発生する場合もありますので、
研究計画の構想を添えてお気軽にご連絡ください。

研究内容の詳細

以下のページも必ずご確認ください。