UCL academic awarded prestigious Japanese JSPS Prize

The JSPS Prize, established in 2004 by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, honours young researchers under 45 who exhibit exceptional creativity and research excellence across all scientific disciplines. Each year up to 25 recipients receive a certificate of merit, a medal, and a monetary award. This prestigious accolade aims to elevate Japan's scientific research to world-class standards by recognising and supporting emerging talent.  

Professor Kurebayashi is based in UCL’s Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Mathematical & Physical Sciences and has also been appointed to set up a new research group at Tohoku University. His award-winning research explores the control of magnetic moments in nano-scale electronic devices using the special relativistic effects, for developing new computing hardware for artificial intelligence.

Professor Kurebayashi commented: “It is an absolute honour to be awarded this prize, one of the highest accolades for early-career researchers in Japan. The recognition also belongs to many who have worked with me over the last 20 years of my research life — including my current and previous PhD students, research collaborators, and all professionals who supported our research.”

At UCL, he leads the Spintronics Group in the London Centre for Nanotechnology and the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. His group investigates spin-orbit transport in low-dimensional materials, such as van der Waals crystals, as well as neuromorphic computing using spintronic systems and coherent photon–magnon coupling in nanostructures. 

In addition to fundamental research, Professor Kurebayashi is currently collaborating with colleagues at Tohoku University to explore spintronic-based systems for AI applications. This work was selected for support through the UCL-Tohoku University Strategic Partner Funds 2024/25, further deepening the two institutions’ partnership and contributing to UCL’s wider global engagement efforts. 

Links 

• Strengthening UCL's partnerships in Japan 
• 160 years of UCL-Japan friendship 
• UCL and East Asia 
• Professor Hidekazu Kurebayashi's academic profile 
• UCL Spintronics Group 
• London Centre for Nanotechnology 
• Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) 

Image 

• Professor Hidekazu Kurebayashi receiving the JSPS Prize