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 Shinji Yamashita's research lab specializes in the development and application of low-dimensional carbon nanomaterials, particularly carbon nanotubes and graphene, for advanced photonic and optoelectronic devices. The lab focuses on exploiting the unique nonlinear optical properties of these materials—such as saturable absorption—for ultrafast fiber laser systems, including mode-locked lasers generating subpicosecond pulses. They also investigate novel 1D and 2D materials for next-generation functional devices, including electro-optic modulators and multiwavelength light sources for optical communication. Additionally, the lab explores the growth and magnetic properties of thin-film materials for potential use in compact, high-performance magnetic devices.
Professor Hiroshi Noguchi's research lab specializes in computational soft matter physics, focusing on the dynamics and self-assembly of biomimetic membranes and polymeric systems. The lab employs advanced mesoscale simulation techniques—such as multiparticle collision dynamics and dynamically triangulated membrane models—to investigate the behavior of fluid vesicles, red blood cells, and amphiphilic molecules under various flow and thermal conditions. Key research directions include membrane mechanics, shape transitions in confined flows, vesicle fusion pathways, and polymer coil-globule transitions. The lab also explores the role of membrane viscosity and thermal fluctuations in determining the morphological and dynamical properties of soft biological systems.
Professor Yukiko T. Matsunaga's research lab specializes in the development of advanced biomaterials and tissue engineering systems, with a focus on stimuli-responsive hydrogels, microfluidic tissue models, and in vitro disease modeling. The lab pioneers smart biomaterials—particularly thermo-responsive polymers and catechol-functionalized hydrogels—that dynamically adapt to environmental cues, enabling precise control over cell behavior and tissue formation. A key research direction involves creating organ-on-a-chip and microtissue systems to study vascularization, aging, and pathological processes such as cancer-related angiogenesis in a human-relevant, controlled environment. The lab integrates materials science, bioengineering, and cell biology to advance regenerative medicine and drug discovery.
Professor Chris Nagele's research lab specializes in theoretical astrophysics, focusing on the formation and evolution of supermassive black holes in the early universe. The lab investigates extreme stellar phenomena such as supermassive stars, general relativistic instabilities, and explosive nucleosynthesis, particularly in metal-enriched and Population III stars. Key research directions include the mechanisms behind early black hole formation, supernova explosions triggered by relativistic instabilities, and the observational signatures detectable by next-generation telescopes like JWST.
Professor Tatsuhiko Tsunoda's research lab at the University of Tokyo specializes in computational biology and bioinformatics, focusing on gene regulatory networks and transcription factor (TF) binding site prediction. The lab develops advanced computational tools to identify transcription factor binding sites and determine optimal cut-off values for predicting regulatory elements in genomic sequences. Their work integrates machine learning and high-throughput genomic data to decode gene regulation mechanisms in complex biological systems. The lab also provides publicly accessible tools, such as TF BIND, to support the broader life sciences community in functional genomics research.
Professor Hironori Kato's research lab specializes in urban and transportation economics, with a focus on the socioeconomic impacts of infrastructure investment, particularly urban railways and expressways. The lab investigates travel behavior, land use, and sustainability through advanced econometric methods such as spatial difference-in-differences, multinomial logit models, and meta-analysis. It also emphasizes sustainability education and household-level time allocation, integrating behavioral economics with urban planning and environmental policy. The lab’s work bridges empirical analysis with policy-relevant insights for metropolitan development in Asia, especially in Japan, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Professor Shûichi Hiraoka's research lab specializes in supramolecular and coordination chemistry, focusing on the self-assembly of metal-ligand architectures such as cages, capsules, and macrocycles. The lab explores dynamic and reversible systems that form complex 3D structures through precise control of metal ions and multidentate ligands, enabling guest encapsulation and functionalization. Key interests include structural adaptability, metal-ligand exchange processes, and the development of stimuli-responsive host systems with applications in molecular recognition and catalysis.
Professor Tsukasa Katayama's research lab specializes in the epitaxial growth and functional characterization of complex oxide thin films, with a focus on multiferroic and oxypnictide materials. The lab develops advanced thin-film synthesis techniques—such as topotactic hydridation and fluoride treatment—to engineer novel electronic and magnetic properties at the atomic scale. Key research directions include the stabilization of complex oxide phases (e.g., oxyhydrides, fluorinated perovskites) and the exploration of intrinsic multiferroicity, magnetism, and electronic correlations in oxide heterostructures. The lab combines pulsed laser deposition, in situ characterization, and spectroscopic techniques to achieve precise control over oxidation states and crystal symmetry for next-generation oxide electronics.
Professor Qing Yu's research lab focuses on sustainable energy systems, urban data science, and biomedical applications of advanced technologies. The lab investigates biomass conversion for bioenergy, particularly forest and agricultural residues, to support carbon neutrality goals. It also develops data-driven methodologies using mobile phone and spatio-temporal big data to analyze urban commuting patterns and enhance city livability. Additionally, the lab explores innovative medical technologies such as photodynamic therapy and deep learning-based out-of-distribution detection for healthcare and AI safety.
Professor Riki Matsumoto's research lab specializes in investigating the functional and anatomical connectivity of human cerebral cortex using invasive electrophysiological techniques, particularly cortico-cortical evoked potentials (CCEPs). The lab focuses on mapping neural circuits underlying higher cognitive functions such as language, motor control, and sensorimotor integration in humans, primarily in patients with epilepsy or brain tumors undergoing presurgical monitoring. By combining subdural electrocorticography (ECoG) with advanced data analysis like representational similarity analysis (RSA), the lab uncovers the spatiotemporal dynamics of neural processing in cortical networks. Their work bridges systems neuroscience with clinical neurology, offering insights into both normal brain function and the pathophysiology of epilepsy and cognitive disorders.
Professor Takayuki Yamamoto's research lab specializes in advanced materials and devices for energy storage and X-ray astrophysics. Key research directions include the development of novel electrolytes for potassium- and fluoride-ion batteries, such as ionic liquids and fluorohydrogenate-based systems, to enable high-performance, room-temperature operation. The lab also investigates superionic conductors like AgI nanoparticles under pressure to stabilize high-ion-conductivity phases. Additionally, it contributes to space-based X-ray astronomy through instrumentation and analysis of high-energy astrophysical phenomena, such as cyclotron resonance features in X-ray pulsars.
Professor Ryuji Yokokawa's research lab specializes in bio-hybrid nanotransport systems that integrate biomolecular motors—particularly kinesin and dynein—with microfluidic and MEMS-based devices. The lab focuses on achieving precise, directional transport of nanoscale cargo using ATP-driven motor proteins on patterned microtubule tracks, with applications in lab-on-a-chip systems and molecular shuttles. Key innovations include controlled microtubule polarity alignment, immobilization techniques using light activation, and the integration of bottom-up molecular design with top-down microfabrication for multi-directional transport control.
Professor Kyohei Ueda's research lab specializes in geotechnical earthquake engineering, with a focus on the seismic behavior of soils and soil-structure systems under dynamic loading. The lab conducts advanced centrifuge model testing and develops advanced constitutive models to investigate phenomena such as soil liquefaction, inherent anisotropy, and lateral spreading in saturated sands. Key research directions include the validation and uncertainty quantification of numerical liquefaction models, the influence of fabric anisotropy on soil response, and the application of generalized scaling laws to simulate large-scale prototype behaviors in centrifuge testing.
Professor Haruyuki Inui's research lab specializes in the fundamental understanding and development of advanced metallic materials, with a focus on high-entropy alloys and intermetallic compounds. The lab investigates phase stability, atomic-level structure-property relationships, and mechanical behavior—particularly plastic deformation mechanisms—using advanced characterization techniques such as synchrotron X-ray diffraction and atomic-resolution electron microscopy. Research directions include the design of novel structural materials with exceptional strength and stability, as well as the exploration of underlying principles governing complex crystal structures in multi-component systems. The lab integrates experimental analysis with computational modeling to guide the development of next-generation functional and structural materials.
Professor Denis Le Bihan's research lab specializes in advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, focusing on exploiting molecular diffusion and microcirculatory dynamics for improved tissue characterization. The lab develops innovative MR methods such as Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to non-invasively probe tissue microstructure, blood flow, and diffusion anisotropy in the brain and other organs. Their work bridges clinical applications with fundamental biophysics, particularly in neuroimaging, stroke detection, and cancer therapy monitoring. The lab also pioneers non-invasive temperature mapping using diffusion-based MR thermometry for hyperthermia therapy.
Professor Yoko Hamazaki's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying epithelial barrier function, immune system development, and age-related immune decline. The lab investigates tight junction proteins, particularly claudins and their interacting partners such as ZO-1 and MUPP1, in epithelial integrity and immune regulation. A central theme is the role of thymic epithelial cells—especially medullary TECs and Hassall’s corpuscles—in central tolerance and T-cell education, with emerging work on how these processes are altered with aging. The lab also explores the immunogenicity of vaccines in older adults, linking T cell responses to clinical outcomes and autoimmunity.
Professor Yutaka Miura's research lab specializes in advanced drug delivery systems and bioengineering, with a focus on targeted cancer therapy using ligand-conjugated polymeric micelles and innovative biomaterials. The lab also explores metabolic and molecular regulation in disease models, particularly through the study of transcription factors like ATBF1 and growth factors such as IGF-1. Additionally, it engages in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, exemplified by the development of yeast platforms for high-value carotenoid production. The integration of polymer chemistry, molecular biology, and biomedical applications defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach.
Professor Shuichi Nakamura's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of bacterial motility, particularly the structure and function of flagellar motors in diverse bacterial species, including spirochetes and Salmonella. The lab investigates how rotary nanomachines like the flagellar motor drive motility, with a special emphasis on ion-driven rotation, stepwise dynamics, and the role of motility in bacterial pathogenesis. They also explore host-microbe interactions, such as how innate immune factors like mannose-binding lectin or bacterial metabolites from lactic acid bacteria can inhibit motility and thereby reduce virulence. Their work bridges microbiology, biophysics, and host-pathogen interactions to uncover fundamental principles of microbial movement and infection.
Professor Jae-Hyeok Park's research lab specializes in advanced electrodeposition technologies for developing functional metal and metal-carbon composite materials with enhanced mechanical, electrical, and corrosion-resistant properties. The lab focuses on improving the performance of materials for sustainable energy applications—particularly in fuel cells and electronics—through innovative surface engineering, such as incorporating carbon nanotubes, graphene, and silicon carbide-coated diamonds into metal matrices. Key research directions include optimizing plating processes, enhancing interfacial adhesion, and developing environmentally friendly alternatives to toxic coatings like Cr(VI).
Professor Hiroki Hashimoto's research lab focuses on nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, particularly the development and clinical application of novel radiotracers such as (11)C-PBB3 for positron emission tomography (PET) in oncology and neurodegenerative diseases. The lab also investigates molecular mechanisms of stress-activated kinases in fish models to understand conserved signaling pathways relevant to human disease. Additionally, the lab explores the clinical outcomes and treatment responses in rare malignancies like metastatic extramammary Paget’s disease and the histopathological spectrum of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced skin reactions, especially in Asian populations. These interdisciplinary efforts bridge molecular biology, translational medicine, and clinical oncology to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic strategies.
