Carlos André Rodrigues Cunha, a 2022/23 alumnus of the Vulcanus in Japan programme, originally from Portugal, recently informed the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation about his publication as second author in Applied Physics Letters. The published paper stems from his Vulcanus internship at NTT Basic Research Laboratories in Atsugi, Japan, under the supervision of Dr. Makoto Kawano, the main author of the paper. Currently, Carlos works as an R&D engineer at IMEC in Leuven, Belgium, in the Etch group. Below, he shares insights into his experience with the Vulcanus programme.
1. When looking back at your Vulcanus experience, did it fulfil your expectations?
Carlos: Vulcanus went above and beyond my expectations! I applied because I was curious about Japanese culture, but the experience turned out to be so much more immersive than I ever imagined. The intensive language course at Naganuma was incredibly thorough, and I met some amazing people along the way. Some of my favorite memories are from visiting new places and trying activities I never thought I would get to experience.
2. Please describe your personal evolution.
Carlos: Going to Japan turned out to be a transformative experience for me. In many situations, English wasn’t widely understood, and I had to step out of my comfort zone to overcome the language barrier. There are challenges inherent to moving to a foreign country and having to adapt to a new life, new customs, and social habits. At the same time, it was a huge growth opportunity, and I feel I benefited greatly from it in my personal life.
3. Please describe your professional development.
Carlos: The programme allowed me to work in an R&D center for a well-established Japanese company. I had the chance to experience the research environment in Japan, meet researchers from all over the world and gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge equipment and techniques. The Thin-Film Materials group, and especially my mentor Dr. Kawano, were extremely supportive. The skills I acquired at NTT laid a solid foundation for my career in the semiconductor industry and were a key factor in my decision to pursue this field for my master’s thesis and professional career at IMEC.
4. What are your current goals and ambitions?
Carlos: I plan to continue exploring the world of semiconductors. In the future, I would like to branch out into other domains of physics as a way to broaden my knowledge and expertise. I also hope to return to Japan someday, as I deeply appreciate the country’s unique way of life and have so many fond memories of the time spent there.
5. Any advice for other European students willing to attend this programme?
Carlos: Don’t let fear of being overwhelmed stop you from applying. Stepping out of your comfort zone isn't always easy, but the support from fellow participants and the alumni network living in Japan can really make a difference. I also recommend reaching out to previous participants for advice before applying to get useful insights and feedback.
6. Any funny or curious cultural shock anecdotes during your stay or after returning to Europe?
Carlos: There were many things I expected, but which still surprised me. But one thing I didn't anticipate was how, when leaving restaurants, the waiter would bid us goodbye in a very loud way so that the other waiters and kitchen staff could hear and thank us too. Another thing I didn’t know beforehand (and really miss) are the onsen (hot springs), which can be found almost everywhere. The local festivals (matsuri) were also fascinating experiences that moved crowds to every small town and village to see the parades, dances, and try the street food.
By Carlos André Rodrigues Cunha, R&D engineer, IMEC Belgium, Vulcanus in Japan 2022-23 participant
“I am a Research Scientist at Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation in Japan and had the privilege of supervising Carlos Cunha during his internship from January to August 2023. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Carlos and for the Vulcanus program in facilitating such a valuable experience. During his internship, Carlos demonstrated remarkable dedication to my research on exploring the novel physical phenomena and device applications of diamond semiconductors. He quickly adapted to NTT’s highly diverse research environment, driven by his exceptional motivation, work ethic, and communication skills. What impressed me most was his solid understanding of engineering physics, which enabled him to swiftly master the operation of a wide range of specialized equipment and diligently analyze large volumes of experimental data. He also actively engaged in thoughtful scientific discussions with me, contributing valuable insights that helped with interpreting results and refining our research strategy. Thanks to his contributions, our research progressed significantly, and a paper based on our findings was published in Applied Physics Letters, a prestigious academic journal in the field of applied physics. His performance was truly outstanding and went far beyond what I had expected. As outlined above, having Carlos as part of NTT was a truly valuable experience for me. I look forward to his future successes, and I sincerely hope that the partnership between the Vulcanus program and NTT will continue for years to come”.
By Makoto Kawano, Ph.D., Thin-Film Materials Research Group, Multidisciplinary Materials Design and Science Laboratory, NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation, Vulcanus in Japan 2022/23 supervisor
Published: June 2025