Young Faculty：Associate Professor Takumi Saito

Young Faculty / 043

Associate Professor Takumi Saito, Saito Lab, Nuclear Professional School

<Biography>
1999: B.E., Department of Quantum Engineering and Systems Science, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
2001: M. E., Department of Quantum Engineering and Systems Science, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
2002-2003: Studying for one year at the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science, Wageningen University, the Netherlands.
2004: Dr. Eng., Department of Quantum Engineering and Systems Science, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
2005: Post-doctoral researcher at Department of Quantum Engineering and Systems Science, School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo
2006: Research associate at Department of Quantum Engineering and Systems Science, School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo
2007: Assistant professor at Department of Quantum Engineering and Systems Science, School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo
2008: Assistant professor at Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management, School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo
2013: Lecturer at Nuclear Professional School, School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo
2014: Researcher, Advance Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency
2015: Associate Professor, Nuclear Professional School, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

<About the Research>
High-level radioactive wastes are disposed by so-called geological disposal in a stable geological setting deeper than several hundreds of meters from the surface. The long-term safety of the disposal cannot be empirically demonstrated and must be assessed by safety assessment, based on scientific inference on the performance of sub-systems constituting the entire disposal system. In my research I have been involved in researches on environmental behaviors of radionuclides and evaluation of barrier materials to improve the safety assessment of geological disposal. After the accident of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011, I’m also involved in researches on dynamics of radioactive cesium in soil and aqueous environments.

In particular, my recent research topics are the following:

- Researches on environmental behaviors of radionuclides and evaluation of physicochemical properties of barrier materials, using short-pulse laser, synchrotron X-ray, and neutron
- Researches on natural organic matters and colloids in deep underground water
- Geochemical modeling of radionuclides and pollutants
- Chemodynamics of radioactive cesium in soil and aqueous environments with the DGT devices

 
<Future aspirations>
In addition to deepening the understanding of separate processes of geological disposal, I want to extend my research to system-wide safety assessment of the disposal and contribute to solving this issue.

<WEB>
URL：http://park.itc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/saitolab/