东京大学、京都大学、大阪大学等日本QS前10名大学的研究室信息。
Professor K. Hiramatsu's research lab specializes in advanced optical spectroscopy and microfluidic technologies for label-free, high-throughput analysis of single cells and functional materials. The lab develops cutting-edge techniques such as coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, Raman optical activity, and dual-comb spectroscopy to probe molecular vibrations and chiral structures with high sensitivity and temporal resolution. Key research directions include broadband, time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy, and the integration of these methods into microfluidic platforms for real-time, chemical fingerprinting of live cells. The lab also pioneers innovative approaches to overcome fundamental trade-offs in cell sorting and sensing, enabling high-throughput, chemically specific biological analysis without fluorescent labels.
Professor Iwao Matsuda's research lab specializes in the electronic structure and quantum phenomena of low-dimensional materials, with a focus on two-dimensional systems, surface states, and quantum well states. The lab employs advanced spectroscopic techniques—particularly angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning probe microscopy—to investigate topological electronic states, atomic-scale electron transport, and symmetry-driven electronic reconstructions at surfaces and interfaces. Key research directions include the emergence of Dirac fermions in novel 2D materials like borophene, the transport properties across atomic steps, and the electronic behavior of confined electrons in epitaxial metal films on semiconductors. The lab also explores the interplay between electronic topology, symmetry breaking, and electron correlation effects in low-dimensional systems.
Professor Takayuki Shiraiwa's research spans glaciology, materials science, and mechanical engineering, with a focus on understanding ice core records in polar and alpine regions to reconstruct past climate conditions. His work also delves into the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of advanced steels, particularly under hydrogen embrittlement and fatigue loading, using experimental, acoustic emission, and finite element analysis. He integrates advanced computational modeling, including crystal plasticity and machine learning, to predict material performance and fatigue strength with high accuracy. His interdisciplinary approach bridges environmental science and materials engineering, emphasizing microstructure-property relationships and predictive modeling.
Professor Taku Saito's research lab focuses on regenerative medicine for osteoarthritis, with a central emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying articular cartilage homeostasis and degeneration. The lab investigates key signaling pathways such as Notch and NF-κB in osteoarthritis pathogenesis, aiming to identify therapeutic targets. A major research direction involves the application of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) for cartilage regeneration, including in vitro differentiation and in vivo maturation of hiPSC-derived chondrocytes in animal models. The lab also addresses translational challenges, such as minimizing tumorigenic risks in stem cell-based therapies.
Professor Ryota Yambe's research lab specializes in theoretical condensed matter physics, focusing on topological quantum phenomena in strongly correlated electron systems. The lab explores the emergence of exotic magnetic textures—such as skyrmion crystals and multiple-Q spin density waves—driven by spin-orbit coupling, electron correlation, and symmetry-protected anisotropic interactions. A central theme is the interplay between topology, magnetism, and electronic degrees of freedom in itinerant and Kondo lattice systems, with particular interest in light-induced topological phase transitions and nonequilibrium dynamics. The lab employs advanced theoretical frameworks, including effective spin models, Floquet theory, and numerical simulations, to uncover new quantum phases and emergent phenomena in quantum materials.
Professor Manabu Kume's research lab specializes in freshwater and coastal aquatic ecology, with a focus on fish population dynamics, habitat use, and the impacts of environmental change and human activities on aquatic ecosystems. The lab investigates species-specific responses to ecological gradients, anthropogenic disturbances, and natural disasters such as tsunamis, using integrative approaches including environmental DNA, morphological analysis, and field monitoring. Key research directions include the ecology and migration of anadromous fish like threespine stickleback and Japanese eel, as well as the effects of river barriers and climate-related factors on fish movement and distribution.
Professor Takehiko Mori's research lab specializes in the theoretical and computational investigation of electronic structures and electronic properties in organic conductors and superconductors, with a focus on the relationship between molecular packing, orbital overlap, and macroscopic electronic behavior. The lab employs extended Hückel molecular orbital calculations to analyze intermolecular interactions, particularly the overlap of highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs), to understand band structures, Fermi surface topology, and the emergence of phenomena such as metal-insulator transitions and superconductivity. A central theme is the development of universal principles—such as the role of dihedral angles and lattice parameters—in explaining phase diagrams across various BEDT-TTF-based materials. The lab also explores magnetic interactions in π-d systems, contributing to the understanding of spin polarization and magnetic ordering in organic semiconductors.
Professor Ryuichi Harada's research lab specializes in the development and application of novel positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers for the in vivo imaging of neurodegenerative diseases. The lab focuses on targeting key neuropathological features such as tau pathology, astrogliosis, and amyloid burden, with particular emphasis on creating selective and specific tracers like 18F-THK5351 and 18F-SMBT-1. Their work bridges molecular imaging, neuroscience, and clinical diagnostics to improve early detection, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic monitoring in Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies. The lab also investigates the role of glial activation in neuroinflammation, aiming to integrate glial imaging with amyloid and tau PET for a comprehensive understanding of disease progression.
Professor Jiang Pu's research lab specializes in two-dimensional (2D) materials, with a focus on transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as MoS₂ and WSe₂, for next-generation flexible and stretchable electronics. The lab investigates fundamental electronic and thermoelectric properties of large-area 2D monolayers using advanced gating techniques, aiming to develop high-performance, mechanically robust transistors and logic devices. Key research directions include ambipolar transport, high mobility and low-power operation in flexible thin-film transistors, and the exploration of novel optoelectronic and thermoelectric functionalities in 2D materials.
Professor Jacinto Colan's research lab specializes in advancing robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery, with a focus on enhancing surgical precision, dexterity, and accessibility. The lab develops innovative robotic systems and human-robot interfaces tailored for challenging surgical environments such as endonasal and laparoscopic procedures, emphasizing intuitive control and patient safety. Key research directions include inverse kinematics with remote center of motion constraints, open-source and low-cost robotic surgical tools via 3D printing, and the integration of tactile feedback technologies to restore natural tissue perception during surgery.
Professor Tomohiro Shimizu's research lab focuses on musculoskeletal imaging and biomechanics, with a strong emphasis on high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) to assess bone microarchitecture and disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The lab investigates the early effects of biologic therapies—particularly anti-TNFα agents—on bone erosion and microarchitectural deterioration, aiming to improve treatment monitoring and personalization. Additionally, the lab explores the pathophysiological links between osteoporosis, subchondral insufficiency fractures, and osteoarthritis, especially in aging populations. Recent work also extends into surgical video analysis, applying hand motion recognition to classify surgical tools in open surgery settings.
Professor Junichiro Kawamura's research lab focuses on beyond-Standard Model physics, particularly exploring extensions of the Standard Model through new gauge symmetries, vectorlike fermions, and lepton portal dark matter. The lab investigates theoretical explanations for persistent anomalies in flavor physics and precision electroweak measurements—such as the muon anomalous magnetic moment and $b \to s\ell^+\ell^-$ decays—using models with extra leptons, scalars, and $\mathrm{U}(1)'$ gauge symmetries. A central theme is the unification of multiple experimental puzzles within a single, consistent framework, often involving loop-induced effects and modular flavor symmetries to explain fermion mass hierarchies. The group also examines collider and astrophysical constraints to ensure phenomenological viability of their models.
Professor Kent Doi's research lab focuses on critical care medicine, with a primary emphasis on acute kidney injury (AKI) and its systemic complications in sepsis and other critical illnesses. The lab investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms linking AKI to distant organ dysfunction—particularly cardiorenal crosstalk—using advanced animal models and translational approaches. A key direction involves identifying and validating novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis prediction in critically ill patients. The lab also explores repurposed drugs and host-directed therapies targeting key molecular pathways, such as TMPRSS2 inhibition in viral infections and mitochondrial dynamics in organ injury.
Professor Sakiko Kawanishi's research lab specializes in the fundamental understanding and development of high-quality semiconductor crystal growth, particularly focusing on silicon carbide (SiC) and tin monosulfide (SnS) through solution growth techniques. The lab investigates molten alloy solvents—such as Fe-Si, Ni-Si, and Sn-based fluxes—to optimize growth conditions, phase equilibria, and carbon solubility for enhanced crystal quality and size. Advanced in situ high-temperature observation methods, including interference microscopy and real-time interface imaging, are employed to study growth mechanisms at the atomic scale, especially step dynamics and dissolution behaviors. The lab also explores doping effects and crystal polarity in SiC to improve electronic properties for power electronics applications.
Professor Takayuki Umakoshi's research lab specializes in nanophotonics and nanoscale optical characterization, focusing on plasmonics, tip-enhanced spectroscopy, and high-speed atomic force microscopy. The lab develops advanced nanoscale light sources using plasmon nanofocusing and resonant excitation in metallic nanostructures, while also pioneering novel fabrication techniques for metallic tips to enhance signal sensitivity in tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS). A key focus is the integration of high-speed atomic force microscopy with optical microscopy to enable *in situ* observation of dynamic nanoscale phenomena, such as light-induced motion in photoactive materials. The lab also investigates thermal transport in carbon nanomaterials using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy, highlighting its interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of nanophotonics, materials science, and biophysics.
Professor Kim Schumacher's research lab focuses on sustainable finance, climate risk management, and green financial instruments, particularly green bonds and ESG-integrated investment strategies. The lab investigates how financial systems can support the transition to low-carbon economies, with a strong emphasis on policy frameworks, disclosure standards, and market mechanisms in Japan and globally. Research also explores the challenges of scaling green financial markets, including labeling standards and regulatory alignment. The lab bridges academic inquiry with practical policy and financial sector applications.
Professor Yoshinobu Uemoto's research lab specializes in animal genetics and genomics, focusing on the genetic architecture underlying economically important traits in livestock, particularly meat quality, feed efficiency, and fat deposition. The lab employs high-density genotyping, QTL mapping, and gene association studies in cattle, pigs, and chickens to identify genetic markers and candidate genes linked to fatty acid composition, growth, and carcass traits. Their work integrates molecular genetics with quantitative genetics to improve genetic evaluation and breeding strategies in farm animals. The lab also investigates the functional impact of genetic variants, such as SNPs in genes like *LEPR* and *SCD*, on complex phenotypes including fatness and feed efficiency.
Professor Shin Mizukami's research lab specializes in the development of advanced molecular probes for biomedical imaging and sensing, with a focus on fluorescence and MRI-based detection of biologically relevant molecules and enzyme activities. The lab pioneers innovative design strategies for stimuli-responsive sensors, including fluorescent and 19F MRI probes that enable real-time, background-free detection of proteases such as caspase-3. Key research directions include the design of turn-on probes with high specificity and sensitivity, leveraging coordination chemistry, lanthanide luminescence, and paramagnetic effects for signal modulation in aqueous environments.
Professor Chihiro Sato's research lab specializes in glycobiology, with a primary focus on the structural biology, biosynthesis, and biological functions of sialic acid-containing glycans—particularly polysialic acid (polySia) and its related oligomeric forms. The lab investigates the roles of these glycans in neural development, brain function, and disease pathologies such as schizophrenia and cancer, as well as their roles in microbial immune evasion. Using advanced biochemical, immunological, and spectroscopic techniques, the lab explores the structural diversity and functional significance of polySia in both vertebrates and bacteria.
Professor Yoshinori Katakura's research lab focuses on aging-related molecular mechanisms, particularly the roles of sirtuins (SIRT1, SIRT3), telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), and dipeptides (carnosine, anserine) in cellular longevity, neuroprotection, and hair regeneration. The lab investigates how natural compounds such as fisetin, resveratrol, and pomegranate polyphenols modulate these pathways to combat age-related decline in cognitive function, skin health, and hair growth. Using a combination of in vitro cell models, in vivo mouse studies, and clinical trials, the lab aims to identify and validate food-derived bioactive compounds as therapeutic agents for healthy aging.
