Kakimoto_photo 125x148Ken-ichi Kakimoto earned his Bachelor (1992), Master (1994) and Dr. (1996) of Engineering in Metallurgical Engineering from Osaka Prefecture University in Osaka, Japan. He has worked as a guest scientist at Powder Metallurgy Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institute for Metals Research, Stuttgart, Germany (1996-1999), and as a research fellow at Hachinohe Institute of Technology, Aomori, Japan (2000-2001). Dr. Kakimoto then joined as a faculty member at Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech) in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, followed by Research Associate (2001-2004), Associate Professor (2004-2012), and Professor (2012-Present).

Dr. Kakimoto has been a member of The American Ceramic Society Engineering Ceramics and Electronics Divisions since 1999, and he has published 6 book chapters and more than 180 papers. His recent technological highlights include the study of alkali niobate piezoelectrics, and his success and highly innovative approach to the research in lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were recognized by the peers and societies with the awarding of the Prize for Science and Technology, the Commendation by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan in 2011, and the Academic Award, the Ceramic Society of Japan in 2012.

Dr. Kakimoto is currently teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses in Material Science and Engineering at NITech. In addition from 2013, he holds Director of the NITech Europe Office in University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, to promote international student exchange as well as research collaborations.