大学院|ポイッシュ・ダウラット・シャーさん
大学院
ポイッシュ・ダウラット・シャーさん(Mr Dawlat Shah Poyesh)
アフガニスタン
東京農業大学大学院 博士後期課程2年
ポイッシュさんはアフガニスタン出身で、博士後期課程2年に在学中(2017年度時点)です。アフガニスタンではバーミヤン大学にて教員として勤務されています。現在、熱帯園芸学研究室に所属し、果物と野菜におけるエチレンの制御とそのメカニズムについての研究を行っています。そんなポイッシュさんに農大での生活の様子、自身の研究、また大学院修了後の進路などについてお聞きました。
Introduction
I am Dawlat Shah Poyesh, 2nd year of PhD program in International Agriculture Development, Laboratory of Tropical Horticulture. I came from Afghanistan, from University of Bamyan located in Bamyan province. I enrolled my PhD research on April, 2014. I passed a long process to get succeeded to enroll in the Tokyo University of Agriculture as other international students do.
Procedures for acceptance of international students
Afghan students usually come by scholarship called PEACE (Project for Promotion and Enhancement of the Afghan Capacity for Effective Development) provided by JICA in Japan, though a numerous number of Afghan students came by MEXT Scholarship as well. Based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between JICA and government of Afghanistan, once the scholarship is announced, the candidate are introduced by ministries of Afghanistan to the ministry of higher education and PEACE office in Kabul. The candidates who pass the primary tests will be asked to look for finding a supervisor in universities in Japan and propose their field of work and research to the professors in Japan. Once the proposal of research is selected by supervisors, they have to pass an interview. The successful candidates who pass the interview successfully will come to Japan for a period of 6 months as research students and later they will pass entrance examination and start their master or PhD programs.
Why I joined NODAI
I was given long list of universities in Japan. I went through the list and website of universities, since I was studied my master in postharvest technology of horticultural crops, I chose Laboratory of Tropical Horticulture in Tokyo University of Agriculture as I found the supervisor in related field. TUA is a nice environment for studying, facilities are good, the laboratories are well equipped, it has membership of many international journals, the library is good and professors and staff are kind. TUA Setagaya campus, where I study is big with many facilities, from the sport area to the restaurant and so on. I personally like it so much.
Outline of research
I am doing my research on ethylene regulation and its mechanism in fruits and vegetables. Ethylene is mainly responsible for physiological loss after harvest. Ethylene is a plant hormone which is called aging hormone; it is mainly effect on pigmentation, respiration and some other key physiological processes and accelerate the aging process. I use 1-MCP (1-Methylcyclopropene) on tomato, apple, persimmon, chrysanthemum, and asparagus and some other seasonal fruits and vegetables and observe the effect of 1-MCP on physiological processes. It is said that 1-MCP preserve some quality parameter of fruits and vegetables and reduce the action of ethylene to some extends. Moreover, I want to know if the 1-MCP regulates the ethylene production.
Afghanistan is a developing country which lacks advanced technology and also suitable infrastructures such cold storage, cold chain transportation and value added industries, because of that the loss after harvest is very high. Postharvest treatment can be an option to reduce the loss resulted from physiological processes. 1-MCP is a chemical which is used as postharvest treatments and stands as GRAS (Generally recognized as safe) so it can be an option for reducing the physiological loss after harvest in the absence of cold chain.
Therefore, the aim of my research is to study the ethylene regulation by usage of 1-MCP in order to know the mechanism, enzymes related activities and inhibition of ethylene action as it is the main cause of losses occurs after harvest especially in developing countries like Afghanistan.
Student life in Nodai
I was surprised when I saw my student card and other related things were prepared and have been given on the first day. Time management is a priority in Nodai as it is in the whole Japan. It is usually hard when you see almost all the necessary information, boards and signs are written in Japanese. Machineries in the laboratory are another challenge when you see there is plenty of laboratory equipment which is new and the manuals are also in Japanese. Later, you usually will get habituated with it. Japanese lab mate are usually poor English and cultural differences so as a result there would be lots of miscommunication in initial days of experiences in Nodai as an international students.
Despite difficulties and challenges, there will be plenty of fun and good moments. The field trips, end of semester party, Hanami and festivals are interesting parts in which you will have a chance to speak with other students, professors and others and have fun. Harvesting festival and sport event are two events which I like it. Later, when you get habituated with Japanese friends, you can enjoy going for launch, dinner and also discovering Japanese culture and interesting part of Tokyo.
Future path
I will go back to Bamyan University, located in central highland of Afghanistan and will start my work there as assistant professor. I try to transfer the knowledge I will gain from TUA, to students there and also try equip the laboratory there with new equipment so that we can implement the methodology, I will learn here. I will also try to help research institutions, especially ministry of agriculture for reduction of postharvest losses in fruits and vegetables. It has always been my dream to help agriculture and agri-business to grow in Afghanistan, so I will have an eye on how to make a business in which I could have a standard packing line of fruits and vegetables and can exports the high quality fruits and vegetables to Japan and other countries. I will also want to keep my communication with my friends and supervisor in Japan and may be able to start collaborative researches with Tropical horticulture lab in Department of International Agriculture Development. I will look for a post-PhD program if I have a chance to come back in Japan and pursue the path which I have started.