Taichi Uchida
Aerospace Engineering Student at Kyoto University specializing in Astrodynamics, Space Robotics, and Mission Design.
01. About Me
I am a third-year undergraduate student at Kyoto University, majoring in Aeronautics and Astronautics in the Department of Engineering Science. My research interests span astrodynamics, control theory, and space robotics.
Currently, I am conducting research at JAXA ISAS on outer planetary exploration mission design, and at Kyoto University on reinforcement learning for lunar robots. I have also completed research fellowships at DFKI Bremen (Germany) and Georgia Institute of Technology (USA).
5+ Years
Research Experience4 Countries
International ResearchMultiple
Academic AwardsPersonal Interests
Running
Training
Cooking
Ukulele
Diving
Travel
02. Education & Experience
Academic History
Apr 2023 - Present
Kyoto University
B.Eng. in Engineering Science (Aeronautics & Astronautics)
Focus: Astrodynamics, Control Theory, Space Robotics
3rd Year UndergraduateApr 2020 - Mar 2023
Seiko Gakuin High School
Kanagawa, Japan
2018 - 2020
Pathways School Gurgaon
IB Middle Years Program (Exchange Student), India
Apr 2017 - Mar 2018
Seiko Gakuin Junior High School
Kanagawa, Japan
Qualifications
TOEFL iBT 100
May 2022
EIKEN Grade 1
July 2021
Model-Rocket License Grade 4
July 2021
NAUI Open Water Diver
October 2023
Work Experience
Mar 2025 - Present
Software Engineer Intern
Tleez Inc. - NLP for Russian Language Learning
2023 - Present
Private Tutor (Mathematics)
Gakushuju Tetsuryokukai - Teaching advanced math
Nov 2025
Startup Weekend Space Osaka
Team Leader - 2nd Place Winner
2018
"Yokohama Banana" Project
Founder - Sold 3,800 bananas in a single day
Technical Skills
Programming
Robotics & Simulation
Research Tools
Languages
03. Research Experience
Aug 2025 - Present
Research Intern (Mission Design) - JAXA ISAS
Designing and optimizing trajectories for future Outer Planetary Exploration missions. Applying astrodynamics principles to analyze interplanetary transfer orbits. Supervised by Assoc. Prof. Naoya Ozaki.
Oct 2025 - Present
Research Assistant (Space Robotics / RL) - Kyoto University
Designing Reward Functions and Curriculum Learning for RL of lunar robots. Developing control algorithms for a hybrid three-wheeled-legged robot (8-DOF arm & 8-DOF legs). Learning Machines Group, supervised by Asst. Prof. Satoshi Yamamori.
Feb 2025 - Apr 2025
Research Fellow (Space Robotics) - DFKI Bremen
Developed control algorithms for 7-DOF Robotic Arms for Space Debris Capture. Utilized Drake for physics simulation; implemented Impedance/Position Controllers. Nakatani Foundation Scholar (Fully Funded).
Aug 2024 - Present
Research Fellow (Bioinformatics) - Georgia Institute of Technology
Conducting Metagenomic Analysis using Python, R, and Linux for heavy metal contaminant stabilization. Performing in-silico data processing and statistical analysis at Dr. DiChristina Lab. Nakatani Foundation Scholar (Fully Funded).
Sep 2023 - Aug 2024
Research Intern (Microbiology/Chemistry) - Kyoto University
Wet lab research on microbial metabolic pathways for hydrogen and oxygen utilization at Prof. Atomi Lab, Graduate School of Engineering.
Dec 2020 - Mar 2023
Research Intern (Astrobiology) - Tokyo Institute of Technology
3-year wet-lab research on Extreme Halophiles in rock salts. Conducted PCR, electrophoresis, sequence analysis, and constructed phylogenetic trees using PhyML. JST funded. Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), supervised by Assoc. Prof. Kosuke Fujishima.
Aug 2021 - Feb 2022
Student Researcher (Meteorite Analysis) - Seiko Gakuin High School
Operated Electron Microscopes (SEM) for meteorite composition analysis. Collaborated with UK high schools and university faculties on international joint research.
Aug 2020 - Aug 2021
Individual Researcher (Aerospace Engineering) - Seiko Gakuin High School
Prototyped a novel Artificial Gravity mechanism and evaluated its effectiveness. Integrated Arduino-based force sensors for real-time data acquisition. Research grant funded.
Conference Presentations
Nov 2023
69th JSAEM Annual Meeting
Oral & Poster: Space Medicine Education in Japan
May 2022
NASA x AGI x High School Students
Online: Extreme Halophiles from Global Rock Salts
May 2022
Japan Geoscience Union (JpGU) 2022
Poster: Extreme Halophiles Research
Mar 2022
Japanese Society of Scientific Fisheries
Online: Extreme Halophiles Research
Jan 2022
International Research for School
Online: Meteorite Composition Analysis
04. Projects
05. Awards & Achievements
Mar 2024
Nakatani Foundation Scholarship (Fully Funded)
Selected for prestigious international research scholarship
Nov 2025
Startup Weekend Space Osaka - 2nd Place
Led team to develop and pitch a space business plan
May 2022
JpGU Award for Academic Excellence
High School Session - Research for Haloarchaea
Mar 2022
Japanese Society of Scientific Fisheries Award
Academic Excellence for High School Students
Dec 2021
Intelligent Water Rocket Competition
Missions Award - All missions completed successfully
Aug 2021
SSH Research Symposium Award
Academic Excellence - Artificial Gravity Research
Feb 2022
SDGs Tankyu Award (Nihon Ryoko Prize)
Sustainable Development Research
2019
ISSO National Games 2019
1st Place: 800m, 1500m, 3000m; 2nd: 4×100m, 4×400m relay
2020
Annual Athletic Meet Champion
Individual Champion - 400m 3rd, 800m 1st, 1500m 1st
06. Activities
71st JSAEM Conference Staff
Supported the operation of a symposium on space medicine (Nov 2025)
Kyoto University Space Medicine Study Tour
Organizer - Study tour for university students (Aug 2023)
7th Global Moon Village Workshop
Conference Staff - International symposium (Dec 2023)
Japan Students Space Forum
Founded and organized forum with 100+ participants (Jun 2021)
Traditional Rice Farming
12+ years engagement in organic rice farming (2012-Present)
Shorinji Kempo
National Junior High Championship competitor (2012-Present)
International Space Tech Discussion
Organized India-Japan student exchange meeting (2019)
Seiko SDGs Food Ambassador
Founded volunteer program for sustainable food (2021)
Science Club Summit
Founder and organizer - Connected science clubs (Feb 2021)
Legislative Intern (ICAS)
Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly (Aug 2021)
Organizations & Affiliations
Space Medicine Japan Youth Community
Member since March 2023
Moon Village Association Study Group
Member since July 2020
Kyoto Univ. Medical School Track & Field
Middle/Long Distance Runner
Kyoto University Microcomputer Club
Member since October 2023
07. Media Coverage
Weekly Asahi (週刊朝日)
March 2023
Interview feature in the March 24th issue
Print Publication