In the fall of 2024, I decided to apply for the MANABIYA program after being approached by Prof. Mita at a symposium. I had long wished to relearn computational chemistry from a more specialized perspective, and at the same time, my ongoing research project at RIKEN had begun to require more advanced calculations. Looking back, the opportunity came at the perfect moment.
During my stay at MANABIYA, I received comprehensive support from the students in the Maeda group, who guided me through every step including setting up the computational environment, learning how to run basic jobs, and troubleshoot errors. When I began using the GRRM program, I was impressed by the broad range of computational options including the AFIR method, which offer greater flexibility and finer control over calculation conditions than Gaussian program. Regular presentation with Prof. Maeda, the director of the center, also gave me valuable guidance in evaluating the direction of my research. After returning to RIKEN, I continued the computational study, and this led to the preparation and submission of a manuscript based on these results.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Prof. Maeda and all members of the Maeda group, to Mr. Yamada and Mr. Kanna for their thoughtful guidance, to Prof. Mita and members of the Mita group, and to the ICReDD faculty members for the insightful discussions.
Yasuhiro Yamauchi,
Research Scientitst, Organic Synthetic Shemistry, RIKEN
