Date of Internship: January 7-26, 2025
Location: Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech), Japan
Participants: 7 PhD students and 1 staff academic from Advanced Membrane
Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), UTM
From January 7 to January 26, 2025, a group consisting of seven PhD students and
one academic staff from the Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre
(AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), participated in an internship under the
Sakura Science Exchange Program at Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech),
Japan. The objectives of the internship were to collaborate on current research
projects, gain insights into advanced research methodologies and technologies,
discuss future collaboration opportunities, and establish collaboration with NITech’s
research team.
The internship aimed to collaborate on ongoing research projects at NITech, gain
insights into advanced research methodologies and technologies, explore potential
future collaborations and exchange of knowledge, and establish professional
connections with NITech supervisors and students.
During the internship, students had the opportunity to participate in various research
activities, including material characterization, wastewater analysis, and material
performance testing. The students were exposed to several state-of-the-art facilities
and tools such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Diffraction (SR-XRD), Field
Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, Gas
Chromatography (GC), Ion Chromatography (IC), and Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC)
Performance Test.
The students were assigned to four different laboratories, each focusing on a specific
research topic. Below are the details of the research topics and supervisors:
| Name | Research Topic | Supervisor at NITech |
| Muhammad Alif Muhaimin Bin Mahasan | Compatibility study of PSF-AC-NMP using simulation | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ryo Nagumo |
| Siti Zubaidah binti Muhamad Zafir | Study on developing air cathode using biochar powder for ORR performance enhancement | Prof. Dr. Kawasaki & Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ishii |
| Thisha Abirami Sivasankar | The feasibility of palm oil fuel ash (POFA) as a potential membrane support for microbial fuel cell application using Montmorillonite (MMT) clay membrane as a control | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naoko Yoshida |
| Al Allysha Binti Alkhadi | Bio-carbon Based Fibre (BCBF) for methane production | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naoko Yoshida |
| Muhammad Hafizuddin Bin Hazaraimi | Characterizations of photocatalysts (ZnFe2O4, Bi2WO6, BiVO4) | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hidetoshi Miyazaki |
| Lee Wei Ann | Characterization of SiO₂ modified PVDF membrane for water filtration | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naoko Yoshida |
| Rama Murthi A/L Sooria Moorthi | Characterization of MOF powders and composite flat sheet membranes | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hidetoshi Miyazaki |
Throughout the visit, the NITech supervisors and students were extremely welcoming
and supportive. The supervisors shared their expertise and provided invaluable advice
on research topics and methodologies. Students had the opportunity to discuss their
respective research topics in-depth and received constructive feedback on their
ongoing projects.
In addition to laboratory work, the students were given the opportunity to visit two
significant research and industrial facilities; i) UEDA Wastewater Treatment Plant:
Students were able to observe the latest wastewater treatment technologies in action,
providing valuable real-world context to their research, ii) JERA Hekinan Thermal
Power Station: This visit allowed students to gain insights into energy production and
the integration of advanced technologies in large-scale industrial settings.
At the end of the internship, the students presented their findings and research results
to the NITech team. The presentations sparked meaningful discussions and
highlighted several potential avenues for future collaborations between AMTEC and
NITech.
The Sakura Science Exchange Program at Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech)
was an incredibly enriching experience for all participants. The opportunity to work
alongside highly skilled researchers, learn advanced research techniques, and
collaborate on meaningful projects has broadened our knowledge and opened new
doors for future collaborations.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naoko Yoshida, Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Ryo Nagumo, Prof. Dr. Kawasaki, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ishii, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hidetoshi
Miyazaki, as well as the lab staff and students at NITech, for their exceptional
hospitality, willingness to share their knowledge, and support throughout the program.
We look forward to future collaborations and continuing the strong partnership
between AMTEC and NITech.
