Hokkaido University and The University of Massachusetts Amherst Collaborations

The connection between Hokkaido University (HU) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) dates back to the time of their respective roots in the 19th century: Sapporo Agricultural College and Massachusetts Agricultural College, which foundation was cultivated by Dr William Smith Clark the third president of Massachusetts Agricultural College and the vice president of Sapporo Agricultural College.

Since 2015, two universities have started promoting its research collaborations and exchange of academics and graduate students in fields of Agriculture, Information and Computer Science, and Polymer Science through the framework of the Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), HU, the faculty organization directly managed by the University President.

FY 2025
# Selected Research Proposal HU PI UMA PI
1 How mechanical environments regulate collective cell migration Prof. Toshiro Ohashi, Faculty of Engineering

A/Prof Yubing Sun, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

2

1. Thermal analysis of hydrogels that glassify at high temperature using ultrafast DSC

2. Development of multi-element-doped porous carbon materials derived from industrial lignin hydrogel

A/Prof Takayuki Nonoyama, Faculty of Advanced Life Science Dr. Reika Katsumata, Assist. Prof, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
3

Promotion of Applied and Conservation Endocrinology for sustainable aquaculture and fish conservation:

1. Direct effects of light on pituitary hormone release in salmonids

2. Utility of stress/growth markers for farmed and wild fish

Prof. Munetaka Shimizu, Faculty of Fisheries Sciences Adjunct Prof Steve McCormick, Department of Biology; A/Prof Lisa Komoroske, Department of Environmental Conservation
4 AI-driven Precision Agriculture for Sustainable Blueberry Production: Prediction Growth, Yield, Quality, and Optimal Harvest Timing via Deep Learning Prof. Yoichiro Hoshino, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere Dr. Jianyu Li, Ext. Assist. Prof, Stockbridge School of Agriculture
5 Sustainable Synthesis of Polymers: Advanced Designs for Circularity Prof. Toshifumi Satoh, Faculty of Engineering Prof. Bryan Coughlin, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
6 A collaboration analysing end of empire migration through Hakata port (Fukuoka prefecture) between 1945 and 1947 in the context of urban and transnational history Dr. Jonathan Bull, Lecturer, Research Faculty of Media and Communication A/Prof Garrett Washington, Department of History
7 Balancing the conservation of marine biodiversity and sustainable use of coastal ecosystems – collaborations of Gloucester Marine Station and Akkeshi Marine Station Prof. Masahiro Nakaoka, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere Dr. Katherine Kahl, Ext. Assist. Prof, Gloucester Marine Station
Jointly-appointed Faculties
Area UMass Amherst HU Counterparts
Big Data and IoT Prof. Shlomo Zilberstein, College of Information and Computer Sciences Faculty of Information Science and Technology – Collaborative Centre for Big Data and IoT
Prof. James Allan, College of Information and Computer Sciences
A/Prof. Amir Houmansadr, College of Information and Computer Sciences
A/Prof. Subhransu Maji, College of Information and Computer Sciences
Staff Exchange
Area Participants
University Libraries Ms. Maxine Schmidt, Head, Science and Engineering Library, UMass Amherst (2012)
Ms. Kyoko Jo, Hokkaido University Library (2015)
Academics Ms. Carol Will, Learning Commons Coordinator/Librarian, UMass Amherst (2018)
Dr. Tetsuya Aikoh, Assoc. Prof, Research Faculty of Agriculture, HU – Visiting Researcher at UMass Amherst (2002-03)
Prof. Geunhwa Jung, Stockbridge School of Agriculture, UMass Amherst – Joint appointment with HU (2018-21)
Dr. Amanda Bayer, Extension Assist. Prof, Stockbridge School of Agriculture, UMass Amherst – Joint appointment with HU (2017-20)
Administrative Offices Long-term Educational Administrators Program (LEAP) budgeted by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology