Young Researcher: Lecturer Daisuke EGUSA

Lecturer　Department of Materials Engineering｜Abe - Egusa Laboratory

Biography

Metallic materials used in our everyday lives may appear uniform at first glance. However, when we examine how their atoms are arranged, we find tiny regions with irregular atomic arrangements, local concentrations of particular elements, and changes in crystal orientation. My research explores how these subtle local variations at the atomic scale determine a material’s strength and the way it deforms.

In our laboratory, we use electron microscopy to observe these fine structures directly at atomic resolution. By combining these observations with data science, including machine learning, and theoretical calculations, we also seek to understand how atoms move and how internal structures form—processes that experiments alone cannot fully capture. Our specific research topics include “mille-feuille structures,” in which hard and soft layers alternate; distinctive cellular microstructures that form in high-entropy alloys (HEAs), where multiple elements are mixed together in complex ways; and unusual deformation mechanisms that vary with crystal orientation. Through these studies, we uncover the mechanisms that can lead to materials that are both lightweight and strong.

What makes this research exciting is that tiny structures hidden inside a material can determine the performance of components large enough for us to see. If we can understand and control these mechanisms, we can help make cars and aircraft lighter and more energy-efficient, while also developing structural materials that can be used for long periods at high temperatures. Our goal is to translate insights gained at the atomic scale into the design of materials that are lighter, stronger, and more durable.

I aim to integrate electron microscopy, atomistic simulation, and machine learning more closely so that we can follow how local inhomogeneities emerge, evolve, and ultimately appear as macroscopic material properties. In particular, I hope to build a research cycle in which limited experimental data guide the next phenomenon to test, and each prediction is returned to experiment for verification.
My long-term goal is to translate atom-scale understanding into practical materials design and establish a new framework for creating materials that are lighter, stronger, and more durable.

In the laboratory, I value the time spent with students discussing what makes a particular result interesting and putting those ideas into words. Even in highly specialized research, I believe that openly sharing what we find exciting can be the starting point for new discoveries and dialogue across disciplinary boundaries.
Outside the laboratory, I often go sea fishing in summer and skiing in winter, and enjoy spending time in nature throughout the seasons.

Abe-Egusa Laboratory: https://park.itc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/nanostructures/

researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/exa

PRESS RELEASE: Discovery of a novel cellular structure that enhances the strength of high-entropy alloys: new development in 3D printing materials design

  *Affiliations and titles are as of the time of the interview.