Xiaochen SU
Executive Member

Nationality: American
School: University of Tokyo / PhD
Arrival in Japan: 1994
Xiaochen grew up in Japan as a child and returned in 2017 for a PhD, researching international immigration. He currently works as a business risk consultant in Tokyo while running the Study Abroad Research Institute, an NGO that promotes study abroad in Japan.

Nawras N. KHUDHUR
Executive Member

Nationality: Iraq – Kurdistan
School: Hiroshima University / PhD
Arrival in Japan: 2017
Nawras’s research interest is Learning Engineering. Using data analysis and statistical methods he tries to explain the factors that can improve the process of learning for general people as well as in educational settings.

Haris GULZAR
Executive Member

Nationality: Pakistan
School: Tokyo Institute of Technology / Masters
Arrival in Japan: 2020
Haris is working to enable Artificial Intelligence (AI) on small user devices like smartphones and smart watches. His interests include applications of AI and robotics and learning about different cultures. Follow him on LinkedIn

Harry KREKOUKIOTIS
Head of Kanto Region

Nationality: Greek
School: Keio University / PhD
Arrival in Japan: 2018
Harry is an architect engineer and filmmaker, with studies and professional experience in Greece and Germany. Currently pursuing a PhD in Media Design in Keio University, his research focuses on Augmented Reality and Haptics, at the intersection of design and technology.

Chika KONDO
Head of Kansai Region

Nationality: American
School: Kyoto University / PhD
Arrival in Japan: 2017
Chika’s research interests includes minority farmers, food sovereignty, and agroecology in the United States and Japan.

Shreya SANTRA
Head of Tohoku Region

Nationality: Indian
School: Tohoku University / PhD
Arrival in Japan: 2018
Shreya is a PhD student in space robotics developing innovative space systems for planetary exploration missions. Her interests are in space, robotics, travelling, dance and gardening.

Alexander EVANS Head of Kyushu Region

Nationality: United States of America
School: Kyushu University / Research
Arrival in Japan: 2018
Alexander’s research revolves around the economic history of early-modern Japan, and his current project examines the role of religious institutions in the creation of a tourism industry.

Sajjad KAMAL SHUVRO
Head of Hokkaido Region

Nationality: Bangladesh
School: Hokkaido University / Masters
Arrival in Japan: 2017
A molecular microbiologist by profession and musician and entrepreneur by passion. Currently developing a low cost and sustainable system for the production of biomolecules with the help of plant-microbe symbiosis as my Masters research. I’m interested in the usage of microorganisms for a sustainable and eco-friendly biotechnology industry.

Stéphane FOUCHÉ
Advisor

Nationality: Haitian
School: Kyushu University / Japanese Studies
Arrival in Japan: 2013 – 2014 (Exchange), Returned to Japan in 2015.
Stéphane co-lead the early expansion efforts of HLAB, was the member of the co-founding team of Komatsu Summer School and founded the Harvard Japan Career Forum. He currently works as the youngest manager of one of Japan’s largest IT, Digital Contents & e-service platforms and is also the advisor to Taktopia.

Iris WIECZOREK
Advisor

Nationality: German
School: Waseda University, Fukui University, Hamburg University / PhD
Arrival in Japan: In 1991, since then going back and forth.
Iris is President and CEO of IRIS Science Management Inc., a Tokyo-based consulting firm specializing in research management, policy advice, and support for global cooperation in science and research. She has profound practical expertise in research management in Europe and Japan. Among others, she acted as Founding Director of the Japan Office of the German Research Foundation (DFG) in Tokyo, retains a research position with the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg, and is advising the Japanese government on research policy issues.

Gustavo DORE
Advisor

Nationality: Brazilian
School: Keio University / Masters
Arrival in Japan: 2009
Gustavo is the CEO of Motify. He wants to change how people work through technology. Loves IoT, startups, videogames, AR and organization psychology. If you want to start a business in Japan, he might be able to help. =)