Masahito Yamazaki, a physicist/mathematician

Welcome to my web site. I am Masahito YAMAZAKI, a professor of physics and mathematics at the Graduate School of Physics (High Energy Theory Group) and Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU), the University of Tokyo. I am also affiliated with Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences, Kavli IPMU Center for Data-Driven Discovery, Trans-Scale Quantum Science Institute and IBM-UTokyo laboratory.

Before coming to University of Tokyo, I was a postdoctoral fellow at Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University. As a graduate student I studied at the University of Tokyo and California Institute of Technology. Here is my Curriculum Vitae.

You can also find me at YouTube (@masahito.yamazaki), X/Twitter (@196884), and Bluesky (@masahito-yamazaki), (cf. Facebook, GitHub, Google Profile, Instagram, LinkedIn, and MathOverflow).

For decades I have been a "Guide Interpreter" in English, licensed from the Japanese Government.

Research Area

My research area is theoretical physics, in particular theoretical high energy physics and mathematical physics. I have been working broadly on quantum field theories and string theory, and also at the interface with condensed matter theory, cosmology, mathematics, particle phenomenology, quantum information, and statistical mechanics.

Professional Experience

(2024/10-) Professor, Graduate School of Physics, University of Tokyo
(2025/1-) Project Professor, Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo
(2024/10-2024/12) Concurrent Professor (兼務教授), Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo
(2022/4-2024/10) Professor, Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo
(2022/10-2026/3) JST PRESTO researcher ("Quantum Cooperation between Materials and Information")
(2018/2-2022/3) Associate Professor, Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo
(2013/6-8, 2014/8-2018/1) Project Assistant Professor, Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo
(2016/9-2017/3) Visiting Scholar, Center for Fundamental Laws of Nature, Harvard University
(2015/10-2015/12) Visiting Professor, University of Oxford
(2013/9-2016/8) Member, Institute for Advanced Study
(2013/9-2014/8) Visiting Associate Scientist, Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo
(2010/9-2013/5) Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton Center for Theoretical Science (see the description of the center ), Princeton University
(2010/4-2010/8) JSPS Postdoctoral Researcher, IPMU, University of Tokyo
(2008/4-2010/3) JSPS Doctoral Fellowship (DC1), Department of Physics, University of Tokyo

Education

(2008/9-2009/3, 2009/9-2010/3) Visiting Student Researcher, California Institute of Technology
(2006/4-2010/3) Graduate studies at Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo
(2004/4-2006/3) Undergraduate studies at Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo
(2002/4-2004/3) College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo
(1996/4-2002/3) Tokai Junior and Senior High School
(1983/5) Born in Nagoya, Japan

Academic Degrees

Ph.D.: University of Tokyo, March 2010 [Adviser: Hirosi Ooguri (and Tsutomu Yanagida), Thesis Title: "Crystal Melting and Wall Crossing Phenomena"] (Find me in the physics tree and the mathematics genealogy project)
M.S.: University of Tokyo, March 2008 [Adviser: Tohru Eguchi, Thesis Title: "Brane Tilings and Their Applications"]
B.S.: University of Tokyo, March 2006

Academic Honors and Awards

(2022/12) 19th JSPS Prize (press release)
(2013/03) 7th Particle Physics Medal: Young Scientist Award in Theoretical Particle Physics
(2012/12) 29th Inoue Research Award for Young Scientists
(2010/4-2010/8) JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (PD)
(2010/3) Kenkyu-Shorei Sho (Research Award for PhD Students), Department of Physics, University of Tokyo
(2008/4-2010/3) JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC1)
(2008/3) Kenkyu-Shorei Sho (Research Award for Master Course Students), Department of Physics, University of Tokyo
(2006/4-2008/3) Scholarship, Japan Student Services Organization
(2004/4-2008/3) Scholarship, Shinnihon Scholarship Foundation
(2001/11) Gold Medal, Japanese High School Chemistry Grand Prix
(1996/4-2002/3) Fellowship, Tokai Junior and Senior High School

Editorial

(2024-) Editor, Communications in Number Theory and Physics

Address

[Hongo campus] Department of Physics, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
[Kashiwa campus] Kavli Institute for Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, 277-8583, Japan