by Samuel Degen
This summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to pursue research in Japan as a part of the 2025 University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP). With support from Friends of UTokyo, Inc. (FUTI), I worked at the University of Tokyo’s Quark Nuclear Science Institute, helping initiate a new collaboration between UCLA, the University of Tokyo, and Chongqing University. Together, we began to develop a theoretical benchmark and connection to experiment for a promising approach to describing the many-body nature of nuclear matter. My time in Tokyo greatly expanded how I view the global nature of science, prompted deep reflection on my own character and biases, and inspired me to pursue a path as an international leader in communicating theoretical physics in a rapidly changing academic world.
When studying Japanese at UCLA, I became captivated by Japan’s rich cultural landscape and was determined to one day experience it firsthand. Though I did not have the means to explore through travel alone, I wondered if I could combine that interest with my research ambitions as I prepare for a career as a professor. With FUTI’s support, the opportunity to realize this unique combination was profoundly meaningful. My graduate coursework and prior research experiences had prepared me technically, but the process of identifying a research group, securing funding, and independently launching a new project abroad built a confidence I had never felt before. One of my long-term goals is to use modern tools to connect fundamental theory with observable phenomena, so I found an excellent match with the work Haozhao Liang pursues in nuclear theory at the University of Tokyo.
The project itself addresses a central challenge in modern physics: developing a unified, microscopic understanding of quantum many-body systems. The framework we explored, known as the “Functional Renormalization Group-aided Density Functional Theory,” could help connect the fundamental interactions of quarks and gluons to measurable properties of complex quantum systems. Potential applications include reliable predictions for advanced reactors, explaining the origin of heavy elements in the universe, understanding neutron star properties relevant for next-generation gravitational wave observations and dark matter searches, ultracold atom experiments, and more. My work at the Quark Nuclear Science Institute applied this framework to an experimentally realizable model that can serve as a benchmark for new theories – helping bridge this promising fundamental theory with experimental observables for the first time.
I first presented this work at the conclusion of UTRIP in Tokyo, and later when invited to speak at UCLA’s Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates. As we move toward publication, I am continuing to share this research internationally: next at the APS Far West Section conference (October 2025), then the APS Global Physics Summit (March 2026) – the largest physics conference in the world.
Working in a multilingual research group taught me how essential clear communication is for effective collaboration. Leading discussions with colleagues whose first language was not English challenged me to express complex ideas in multiple ways. These experiences honed my ability to convey scientific ideas across linguistic and cultural barriers – a skill that I plan to carry with me as I seek out further leadership roles in global scientific discussions.
Before this experience, I had already learned the value of communicating theory abroad – due in large part to previous talks at international meetings, such as a research presentation last year at the largest conference on plasma physics and a mathematical physics lecture earlier in the summer in Canada. However, the vastly different scientific and cultural backgrounds of those involved in UTRIP showed me the importance of identifying and communicating the broader impact of my work as well. As a result, I developed a better sense of how to share my research so that it may be appreciated by non-experts and even inspire cross-disciplinary discussion.
Undertaking this research independently in a foreign country gave me a glimpse of what a global career in science can feel like. My personal growth and the opportunities to share this work across borders has shown me that aspiring to be a global leader in communicating theoretical physics is achievable through experiences such as this – and only possible due to the generous support of funding agencies like Friends of UTokyo.
Since returning to UCLA, I have built on this momentum by beginning a project that uses field theory to model how environmental effects near black holes influence gravitational-wave signals. In the coming academic year, I am continuing our international collaboration and pursuing this new project thanks to the crucial support of FUTI, the Mani L. Bhaumik Institute for Theoretical Physics, and UCLA’s Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. I am also refining my skills in communicating the broader impacts of my research by seeking out speaking opportunities, such as my upcoming talk on the new UCLA project at the California Amplitudes Meeting (November 2025).
Reflecting on my summer in Japan, I see how much this experience shaped both my character and my aspirations. I am more aware of the cultural perspectives that shape scientific collaboration and more determined to create spaces where international dialogue can thrive. I am deeply grateful to have been able to build collaborations and share ideas across borders at a time when it seems many are intent on raising new ones. I hope to return to the University of Tokyo in the future. Above all, I am thankful to FUTI for enabling me to grow not only as a researcher but as a communicator, collaborator, and aspiring global leader in theoretical physics.
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Learn more about my research and ongoing projects at samdegen.com
