Education

• 1995: B. Engineering, Tohoku University
• 1997: Master of Engineering, Tohoku University

Docter's Degree

• 2001: Department of Materials Processing, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University
• Awarded the Ph.D. for a thesis entitled "Microstructural Study on Friction Stir Welds of Aluminum Alloys"

Research and professional experience

• 1997 to 2008: Assistant Professor at Tohoku University
• 2003 to 2004: Visiting Researcher at Brigham Young University, UT, USA
• 2008 to present: Associate Professor at Tohoku University

Professional Societies

• Japan Welding Society (JWS)
• The Japan Welding Engineering Society (JWES)
• The Japan Institute of Metals and Materials (JIM)
• The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan (ISIJ)
• The Japan Institute of Light Metals (JILM)
• Japan Light Metals Welding & Construction Association
• American Welding Society (AWS)

Research Interests

• Microstructural evolution during friction stir welding and processing
• Relationship between properties and microstructure in friction stir welds.
• Microstructure modification of metallic materials via friction stir processing
• Development of tool materials for friction stir welding of steels and titanium alloys

Awards

• 1999: Aoba Foundation Award for the Promotion of the Engineering (Aoba Foundation)
• 2002: Promising Paper of the Year Award of JWS (Japan Welding Society)
• 2004: Promotion Award for Materials Processing (Japan Institute of Metals)
• 2005: District Contribution of Welding Technology Award (Japan Welding Society)
• 2005: Harada Young Research Award (Honda Memorial Foundation)
• 2008: Kihara Award (Welding and Joining Engineering Foundation)
• 2008: Advanced Materials Processing Promotion Award (Advanced Materials Processing Foundation)
• 2009: Prof. Koichi Masubuchi Award (American Welding Society)
• 2010: Murakami Young Researcher Award (Japan Institute of Metals and Materials)
• 2011: Honda Memorial Young Researcher Award (Honda Memorial Foundation)
• 2015: Meritorious Award (Japan Institute of Metals and Materials)

Publications

• Go to pubilication page of Kokawa Lab.

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