From Thailand
- Name
SOMLOR, Sophon - Country/ Region of Citizenship
Thailand - Graduated from
Asian Institute of Technology(AIT) - Department
Department of Modern Mechanical Engineering （Doctoral）
Japanese Government(MEXT) Scholarship (University Recommendation) Honor
Why did you choose Waseda?
When I was in my master degree course in Thailand, my advisor, he had studied in Japan as MEXT scholarship student, recommended me to study in Japan for doctoral course. And my wish was to study about robots, especially nursery robots; they can help people such as handicapped people. Waseda developed a nursery robot, TWENDY-ONE, so, that is my topic. And at the Japan Educational Fair in Thailand, I went to the Waseda booth to ask about scholarship programs. After that I continuously contact the person in charge and got information from website, too.
How is your life in Japan and Waseda?
This is my first time to come to Japan. And my first impression is that there are a lot of trains in Japan. I was surprised at the train’s big network! It seemed me to be complicated but actually it is really convenient. The trains go fast and reach almost on time.
Did you have any worries before coming to Japan?
I may be a little worried about language. Before coming to Japan, I studied Japanese language for two months on my own, and in Japan I took Japanese language class, too. But in Dormitory, most of the students are Japanese with some International students; Singaporean, Chinese, Korean. They seemed to speak Japanese well, so I thought that I had some difficulties. But they speak English and can help me a lot. And about the weather, I feel more comfortable compared in Thailand. When I saw snow falling for my first time, I made a snowman. I went to Niigata and Nagano to do snowboard with friends. It was very fun!
How are the relationships with your supervisor and your laboratory members?
My supervisor, Sugano Sensei, is very kind. He gives me a consultation time once a month even he is very busy, and he suggests me to find my originality in my study. And in my specific lab team, there are students from Nepal, China and a doctor from Austria. There are also many Japanese bachelor and master students in the lab. So we go lunch together. I think I have good friendship with them in the laboratory.
What is your current research?
My current research is the study about a human-like robotic hand. Since nursery robot will live together with human and using tools that make for human to help human in doing many activities, so the human-like hand seems to be the most promising step toward a real nursery robot. My study will focus on the fingertip first, since human finger consist of many characteristics that will improve ability of a robot’s hand, make it more advanced, more useful and can be use in a real-world situation. After I finish my doctor degree, I wish to become a researcher about nursing care robot. In the future, I will come back to my country to continue my research and I wish to be an instructor, or a professor.
What do you do in your free time?
Most of my free time, I spend in my room reading some Manga. I can’t read much Kanji but I like Japanese Manga, ‘One Piece’ and ‘NARUTO’ the most. And every Sunday I go to play soccer with my Thai friends in Japan. I like listening to the music and sometimes play the ukulele.
Short message to the prospective students.
in English
Waseda University is full of many new technologies that encourage students to learn a lot of new things and to widen their perspective. Moreover, Waseda University also provide chances and scholarships for international students to study or do research in the field that they are interested in. Finally, everybody especially faculties, classmates, and lab mates also give me a warm welcome and I’m very proud that I’m becoming Waseda’s student.
in Thai
มหาวิทยาลัยวาเซดะเป็นมหาวิทยาลัยที่มีเทคโนโลยีใหม่ๆ ที่ส่งเสริมให้นักศึกษาได้เรียนรู้ได้เปิดโลกทัศน์ให้กว้างมากขึ้น แล้วก็เปิดโอกาสและให้ทุนการศึกษาให้นักศึกษาต่างชาติได้มีโอการเข้ามาศึกษาหรือทำงานวิจัยต่อในด้านที่ตัวเองสนใจที่มหาวิทยาลัยวาเซดะ นอกจากนี้ทั้งอาจารย์เพื่อนร่วมคณะและเพื่อนร่วมแลปก็ให้การต้อนรับเป็นอย่างดี และผมก็ดีใจที่ได้เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของมหาวิทยาลัยวาเซดะ
