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 Yusuke T. Maeda's research lab specializes in the physical principles underlying collective behavior and self-organization in biological systems, with a focus on cytoskeletal dynamics, bacterial motility, and active matter. The lab investigates how geometric constraints, biochemical signaling (e.g., PI3K/PTEN pathways), and physical forces such as thermophoresis govern cell polarity, migration, and pattern formation in both unicellular organisms and synthetic systems. Using a combination of live-cell imaging, in vitro reconstitution, and theoretical modeling, the lab explores emergent phenomena in active matter, including chiral vortices and collective motion in confined environments. Their work bridges biophysics, synthetic biology, and soft matter physics to uncover universal mechanisms of self-organization in living systems.
Professor M. Asai's research lab specializes in computational physics and nuclear science, with a strong focus on advanced numerical methods for fluid dynamics and the study of exotic nuclear properties. The lab develops stabilized Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) methods for simulating complex free-surface and multiphase flows, particularly in violent and breaking flow scenarios involving fluid-rigid body interactions. In parallel, the lab conducts experimental and theoretical research on heavy and superheavy nuclei, utilizing on-line isotope separators and gas-jet transport to investigate the decay properties, excited states, and configurations of short-lived actinide isotopes.
Professor Mostafa A. Rushdi's research lab focuses on innovative renewable energy systems, particularly wind energy harvesting through advanced technologies such as kite power systems and hybrid wind-solar towers. The lab specializes in the development of intelligent control systems, including nonlinear model predictive control for aerial vehicles like quadrotors, and leverages machine learning to model and optimize energy generation from experimental data. Their work emphasizes sustainable, low-impact energy solutions with high efficiency and scalability.
Professor W. Horiuchi's research lab specializes in theoretical nuclear physics, focusing on exotic and neutron-rich nuclei, particularly those near the drip lines. The lab investigates the structure and reaction dynamics of nuclei with weakly bound valence neutrons, such as carbon and neon isotopes, using advanced many-body methods including the Glauber model, eikonal approximation, and explicitly correlated Gaussian bases. Key research directions include the formation and properties of neutron halos, resonance states in light nuclei, and the role of tensor forces and three-body correlations in nuclear systems.
Professor Masanobu Yamamoto's research lab specializes in paleoceanography and paleoclimatology, focusing on reconstructing past climate dynamics in the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans using high-resolution marine sediment records. The lab investigates the variability of ocean currents, monsoon systems, and sea surface temperatures in response to orbital forcing and climate oscillations such as ENSO and the North Pacific Oscillation. Key research directions include understanding the mechanisms behind latitudinal shifts of oceanic fronts, the role of atmospheric circulation in glacial-interglacial transitions, and the long-term evolution of Arctic Ocean circulation. The lab employs alkenone-based sea surface temperature reconstructions and mineralogical proxies to decipher climate feedbacks and teleconnections across the Pacific basin.
Professor Hiroaki Iwata's research lab specializes in autoimmune bullous dermatoses, focusing on the immunopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of subepidermal blistering diseases such as epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), bullous pemphigoid (BP), and mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP). The lab investigates autoantibody responses, disease mechanisms, and genetic influences on autoimmunity using clinical cohorts and innovative animal models, particularly in the context of type VII collagen and other basement membrane zone antigens. A key research direction involves developing improved diagnostic strategies and understanding the heterogeneity of autoantibody reactivity in these conditions.
Professor Kotaro Oka's research lab specializes in developing advanced fluorescent probes and imaging techniques to visualize fundamental cellular processes in real time. The lab focuses on tracking essential cellular ions—particularly magnesium and calcium—within subcellular compartments such as mitochondria, enabling dynamic insights into cellular signaling, metabolism, and neuronal development. A key direction involves applying innovative FRET-based and dual-color imaging strategies to study fast and complex signal transduction in living cells. The lab also explores molecular mechanisms underlying convergent evolution in vocal learning, linking neuroanatomy with gene expression in brain circuits.
Professor Kei Yoshimura's research lab specializes in atmospheric science with a focus on stable water isotopes as tracers for understanding the global hydrological cycle. The lab develops and applies advanced isotope-incorporated atmospheric models—ranging from global to regional scales—to simulate and analyze isotopic variability in water vapor, clouds, and precipitation. Key research directions include improving climate and weather models through spectral nudging and scale-selective bias correction, validating remote sensing data (e.g., from ground-based NDACC stations), and quantifying the role of microphysical processes such as isotopic exchange and advection in extreme events like atmospheric rivers. The lab also contributes to multi-platform remote sensing initiatives such as MUSICA to enhance long-term monitoring of atmospheric water isotopologues.
Professor Hiroyuki Tajima's research lab specializes in strongly correlated quantum systems, with a primary focus on ultracold atomic gases and strongly correlated electron materials. The lab investigates quantum phase transitions, superfluidity, and polaronic effects in degenerate Fermi gases using advanced many-body theoretical frameworks such as the T-matrix approximation and Nozière-Schmitt-Rink approaches. Key research directions include the BCS-BEC crossover, spin susceptibility anomalies due to pairing fluctuations, and the role of multi-band and multi-component interactions in superfluidity. The lab also explores quantum impurity physics and spin dynamics in low-dimensional quantum systems, often in close collaboration with experimental groups.
Professor Taketo Kawai's research lab specializes in urological oncology, with a primary focus on urothelial carcinoma (UC) and prostate cancer. The lab investigates immunotherapeutic strategies, including pembrolizumab and novel targets like heat shock protein 105 (Hsp105), to improve outcomes in advanced and metastatic disease. Key research directions include understanding immune-related adverse events as prognostic biomarkers, optimizing treatment sequencing after immune checkpoint inhibitors, and exploring age-related differences in tumor behavior and treatment response. The lab also examines evolving treatment trends, such as the shift toward radical prostatectomy over androgen deprivation therapy in Japan.
Professor Yiyi Ju's research lab focuses on sustainable development and low-carbon transition in key industrial sectors, with a strong emphasis on life cycle assessment, resource recovery from end-of-life vehicles, and policy-oriented analysis of industrial decarbonization. The lab investigates the recyclable resource potential of passenger vehicles, particularly plastics and metals, under evolving vehicle design trends and policy frameworks. It also explores technology upgrading pathways in heavy industries such as cement, and evaluates multi-dimensional barriers to net-zero transitions in national contexts, especially in China and Japan.
Professor Chikashi Toyoshima's research lab specializes in structural biology, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of ion transporters, particularly P-type ATPases such as the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA). Using X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, the lab elucidates conformational changes associated with ion binding, phosphorylation, and ATP hydrolysis across the reaction cycle. Key research directions include understanding the structural basis of calcium pumping, regulatory interactions (e.g., with phospholamban), and the functional dynamics of transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains.
Professor Yusuke Sasaki's research lab specializes in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry, with a focus on developing novel catalytic methods for asymmetric synthesis, particularly copper-catalyzed borylation reactions that enable enantioselective construction of valuable chiral boron-containing compounds. The lab also engages in biomedical research, particularly in metabolic liver diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), where they investigate the therapeutic potential of PPAR modulators. Additionally, the lab contributes to agricultural biotechnology by studying the molecular mechanisms underlying marbling in beef cattle through gene expression analysis in Wagyu cattle populations.
Professor Keiko Yamada's research lab focuses on the cellular and subcellular localization of glutamate transporters in the central nervous system, particularly in the cerebellum and spinal cord. Her work elucidates the developmental expression and functional specialization of transporters such as GLAST, EAAT4, and GLT-1 in astrocytes and Purkinje cells, revealing their critical roles in synaptic transmission and neural circuit development. The lab integrates immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and electron microscopy to investigate glial cell morphology and neurotransmitter homeostasis. Additionally, the lab explores age-related and lifestyle-related factors influencing mobility in elderly populations, linking neurological mechanisms to functional outcomes.
Professor A. Yamamoto's research lab specializes in Earth system modeling with a focus on climate change impacts on marine biogeochemistry and oceanic processes. The lab investigates long-term changes in ocean oxygenation, acidification, and carbon cycling under anthropogenic forcing, using advanced Earth system models such as MIROC-ES2L. Key research directions include nutrient cycling, primary productivity, and the feedbacks between climate change and marine ecosystems, particularly in sensitive regions like the Arctic Ocean. The lab also conducts multi-millennium simulations to understand the persistence of climate change effects beyond the 21st century.
Professor Tomoki Aoyama's research lab focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying tissue-specific gene regulation, particularly in mesenchymal stem cells and non-cartilaginous tissues. The lab investigates epigenetic regulation—especially DNA methylation—of key genes like chondromodulin-I (ChM-I) and their roles in cell differentiation and disease. A significant part of the research also explores the clinical implications of chronic low back pain in healthcare workers, linking musculoskeletal health with mental health and work productivity. The lab integrates molecular biology with translational research to uncover mechanisms of gene expression and their impact on human health and disease.
Professor Susumu Satô's research lab specializes in photophysical processes in rare earth complexes, with a focus on intramolecular energy transfer mechanisms in europium and terbium chelates. The lab investigates the role of triplet states, resonance energy transfer, and thermal deactivation pathways in enhancing fluorescence efficiency. Their work combines time-resolved spectroscopy with theoretical modeling to optimize luminescent materials for biomedical and analytical applications. Additionally, the lab explores the structure-activity relationships of therapeutic agents, such as antiepileptic drugs, in neurological disorders.
Professor Kazutaka Obama's research lab specializes in molecular oncology, with a primary focus on understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying cholangiocarcinogenesis, particularly intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The lab employs advanced genomic technologies such as cDNA microarray analysis and laser microdissection to identify differentially expressed genes and novel molecular targets. Key research directions include the discovery of diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, with recent work highlighting the role of PSF2 in tumor progression. The lab also investigates colorectal carcinogenesis, aiming to translate molecular insights into novel treatment strategies.
Professor Takeshi Yamamoto's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of helically chiral polymers, particularly polyquinoxalines, as advanced chiral ligands and catalysts for asymmetric synthesis. The lab focuses on developing high-performance, metal-binding, and organocatalytic systems that leverage the unique stereochemical properties of helical polymers to achieve high enantioselectivity in key transformations such as hydrosilylation, Suzuki–Miyaura coupling, and Steglich rearrangements. By combining living polymerization techniques with tailored chiral and functional side chains, the lab creates recyclable, high-turnover, and highly selective catalysts that rival or surpass small-molecule counterparts. The work also extends into quantum dynamics, applying path integral methods to improve the accuracy of thermal rate constant predictions in complex reaction mechanisms.
Professor Naoya Kanbayashi's research lab specializes in the development of novel transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric transformations and precision polymer synthesis. The lab focuses on designing planar-chiral ruthenium complexes for highly enantioselective allylic functionalization, enabling the synthesis of complex chiral building blocks with multiple stereocenters. In parallel, the group pioneers living cyclocopolymerization techniques to construct well-defined, π-stacked helical polymers with tailored electronic and structural properties, stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding and side-chain interactions. These materials are engineered for potential applications in molecular electronics and functional materials.
