International Researchers Working at NTT R&D
I want to contribute to the world by pursuing environmental technology in Japan.
Xiaoxi Zhang
Information Network Laboratory Group
Energy and Environment Systems Laboratories
Green Material Project
Telecommunications Equipment Material Technology Group
Note:The contents and the name of the laboratory are as of the time of the interview.
Profile
Mrs. Zhang was born in China, and joined NTT in 2009. She gave birth to her first child in 2013. After returning from maternity leave, she made use of NTT's reduced working hours system to balance child rearing with her research activities. She believes that this environment, which allows her to give 100% both at home and at work, has contributed directly to her growth as a researcher.
When I first joined NTT, I was conducting research on how typhoons, rising temperatures, snow, and other symptoms of climate change affect communication equipment. More recently, I have been evaluating failure risk of communication equipment, and researching more efficient equipment maintenance methods based on those evaluations.
The most memorable moment in my career was when technology I had developed was first put to use at a business firm. Of course I was happy just to have my technology adopted, but there was also a point I had to reflect on as a professional. Because I had taken all the time I wanted to feel personally satisfied with my research, the firm I presented my technology to ended up telling me “If only you had come a little earlier, we could have started using your technology this year!EThoroughly investigating new technology is certainly important, but I also should have based my timing on the firm's needs and plans, in anticipation of industrializing my technology. That said, I felt that NTT R&D had connected me with the rest of the world through the firm that adopted my technology.
I have been interested in Japan since I was very young. My father had experience studying in Japan, and he told me many stories about his time here. He told me how trains ran everywhere, how the streets were so clean, and how the air was so pure. Just by listening to my father's stories, my interest in this wonderful country grew ever stronger. Later, I graduated from high school and was overjoyed to get accepted by a Japanese university. As I studied at my university in Japan, I learned more about Japan's technological prowess. Eventually, I came to realize that I wanted to work in the field of environmental technology at a Japanese corporation.
As a foreigner working in Japan, of course I was worried about using Japanese in the workplace. However, an alumnus of mine who had worked at NTT R&D told me that his coworkers could speak English, and also responded to him politely in Japanese, so I had nothing to worry about. With that in mind, I knew that I could make it at NTT if only I tried. But even more important in my decision to work here was the opportunity to join top level researchers in studying environmental impact reduction using ICT. Besides, Japanese language training was available to me once I joined the company.
From now on, while continuing to make contributions in Japan, with overseas expansion of my technology and promoting global business operations in sight, I hope to make contributions to the whole world. Since NTT R&D represents Japan on the world stage, I often participate actively in international conferences. I have made acquaintance with researchers around the world, and I draw a lot of inspiration from my increased chances for scientific discussion. Eventually, I would like to participate in conferences on international standardization. I hope that I can further promote contributions to the environment using ICT, made possible by my status as a researcher at NTT R&D.
I believe that the very Japanese quality of our solidly built organization is what enables me to envision such a future at NTT. The support of my professional growth kindly offered by my coworkers and the presence of researchers from many different countries are things I can always count on. The great emphasis placed on teamwork is also a defining feature of our organization. We are expected to cooperate with one another as we advance our research, which contributes to my growth in a way that I feel is only possible at a Japanese corporation.
