Beyond Mentorship: Mirai Alliance Launches Year-Long Support Network for Women in Life Sciences

On November 17, 2025, the Mirai Alliance—conceived and organized by BDR’s Diversity Working Group and supported by the RIKEN Diversity Acceleration Fund—was officially launched at the RIKEN BDR with the Mirai Alliance Kickoff Symposium, bringing together seven women principal investigators (PIs) at various career stages from RIKEN and other institutions and dozens of early-career researchers at BDR for an unprecedented conversation about the realities of building a scientific career as a woman. It also marked the beginning of a comprehensive year-long program to provide sustained support for the early-career researchers through their journey.

Statistically, women remain underrepresented in senior research positions in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) despite efforts to promote equality, and RIKEN is no different. But statistics often miss the underlying factors that drive women out of science, particularly in academia, such as confidence barriers, isolation, imposter syndrome, and the lack of role models who have navigated similar paths.

The Mirai Alliance operates on a simple but powerful premise that women researchers need a peer network where they can discuss career strategies openly, overcome self-doubt, navigate institutional challenges and build resilience. Unlike traditional supervisor-student dynamics, this program aims to create a women-centered environment where honest conversations about real obstacles are not just welcomed but essential. 

"Traditional academic training rarely addresses these realities, leaving many women researchers feeling unprepared," the organizers noted. This gap inspired the BDR Diversity Working Group to create something different; not just a networking event, but a sustained alliance that would support women scientists through multiple career transitions, from PhD to postdoc progression, to securing independent positions, and to face challenges such as securing grants or building research programs while balancing personal and professional aspirations.

The Kickoff Symposium had many powerful moments when established researchers shared not polished success narratives, but the messy, difficult truths of their paths forward.

Keynote speaker Mineko Kengaku from Kyoto University set the Symposium's tone with her talk, "Beyond Role Models: Playing Your Own Role," encouraging attendees to forge unique paths rather than trying to replicate anyone else's trajectory. This theme of individuality resonated throughout the day, particularly in Ai Niitsu's presentation, "Where to Stand on a Jungle Gym." Niitsu, who recently transitioned from RIKEN BDR to the RIKEN Center for Integrated Medical Sciences (IMS), used the metaphor of career choices as a three-dimensional structure rather than a linear ladder—emphasizing that there are multiple valid ways to climb, rest and change direction in academic careers.

Aiko Sada from Kyushu University rounded up the first session with "The Journey to Independence: Building Vision, Identity and Network," emphasizing the critical importance of establishing one's own research identity distinct from doctoral or postdoctoral supervisors. Her talk addressed the practical steps of building a research program while simultaneously cultivating the professional networks essential for long-term success.

RIKEN BDR's Yumi Konagaya shared her journey with identifying and overcoming imposter syndrome in her talk, "Finding Confidence Beyond the Lab Bench: Lessons from Failure, Bias, and Belonging." She revealed how the male-dominated environment during her graduate studies had shaped her self-perception without her even realizing it. "I only noticed biases, several years later, after I moved from (my) PhD in Japan to a postdoc in the U.S."

"In Japan, I really didn't have a chance to even talk to a female PI. So I unconsciously referred to PIs as 'he,' not even thinking about 'she',” she shared, realizing how few women PIs there are in Japan—so few that gender alone could identify someone. Importantly, she also outlined concrete strategies for rebuilding confidence: know yourself and name the bias you're experiencing, give yourself credit and celebrate achievements, and seek spaces where you feel psychologically safe.

Li-Kun Phng, one of the organizers from RIKEN BDR, talked about "The Benefits and Challenges of Scientific Mobility," and brought unflinching honesty to discussions of international career moves. While highlighting how being abroad can provide fresh starts and opportunities to step out from mentors' shadows, she didn't romanticize the challenges: "I showed you both the significant benefits and challenges of international scientific mobility, and you're probably wondering whether I would do it again. Yes, because after encountering all these challenges, I have learned to pivot, adapt, and become more resilient—and so can you. International scientific mobility is not just about advancing your research. It's also about developing you as a complete scientist and person.”

Chisako Sakuma's talk, "Paths that Opened through People and Persistence," offered a refreshingly non-linear career narrative, sharing her journey to becoming a RIKEN ECL Team Leader* at BDR this year. "I didn't always prioritize the research part. Maybe I felt family was more important for me," she shared. "Sometimes I could not advance my career by my own will. But there were wonderful people who came into my life at perfect timings and opportunities opened up for me."

Her advice carried hard-won wisdom: "Just do your best with what you can do, and probably the pathway will open in front of you. And it is important to speak out, even about small things." This emphasis on community and voice-finding, rather than individual achievement alone, aligned perfectly with Mirai Alliance's collaborative philosophy.

RIKEN IMS’s Naoko Satoh-Takayama's presentation "Between Lab and Life: Seeking Balance in Science and Career" addressed what many participants later cited as their primary concern. Rather than offering simple solutions, Satoh-Takayama presented work-life integration as an ongoing negotiation—a refreshingly honest perspective that acknowledged complexity without offering false comfort.

The Symposium's speed networking session—spanning over two hours—proved to be its most distinctive and valued feature. Participants rotated through four 30-minute sessions across seven tables, each hosted by one or two Mirai Alliance mentors in attendance. This format allowed mentees to share their most pressing career questions and receive advice grounded in mentors' experiences. The diverse backgrounds and career stages of the mentors meant that participants could hear multiple perspectives and connect with advisors who genuinely understood their specific challenges, whether they were navigating international mobility, establishing research programs or managing family life alongside demanding careers. These authentic connections made during the networking session will form the foundation for the mentor-mentee pairings following the Symposium.

Participant feedback revealed the Symposium’s immediate impact on confidence and decision-making.

"I lacked the confidence to apply for the next step in my career, but I've gained considerable courage. I'll actively challenge myself now," one attendee shared.

Another participant described how the day prompted immediate action: "Yes! I received some wonderful advice. I'm going to give it my best shot. I want to find a path where I can enjoy myself in the future. And I decided to talk to my husband about it today."

The accessibility of accomplished researchers particularly resonated: "It was wonderful to see and interact with such accomplished women in such a candid way. I really appreciated the round table discussions and how easy it was to speak to all the mentors."