探索全球顶尖大学的研究室——研究领域与主要论文一览无余。
Professor Kiyotaka Asakura's research lab specializes in heterogeneous catalysis and advanced materials for sustainable energy and chemical processes. The lab focuses on designing and characterizing nanostructured catalysts—particularly bimetallic systems like Cu-Au and Rh-based clusters—for selective hydrogenation and hydroformylation reactions. Using in situ spectroscopic techniques such as EXAFS and FT-IR, the group investigates the dynamic structural and electronic changes of active sites under reaction conditions, aiming to understand and control catalytic mechanisms at the atomic level. Their work bridges fundamental surface science with practical applications in green chemistry and energy conversion.
Professor Kosuke Higashida's research lab specializes in the development of transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric transformations, with a strong emphasis on designing novel molecular catalysts for enantioselective synthesis. The lab focuses on innovative catalytic systems—particularly based on iridium, gold, nickel, and diruthenium complexes—enabling challenging bond-forming reactions with high selectivity and efficiency. Key research directions include asymmetric hydrogenation, C–H functionalization, allylic alkylation, and bimetallic cooperative catalysis, often guided by detailed mechanistic studies and DFT calculations. The lab also explores the rational design of ligands and catalyst architectures to achieve precise stereocontrol in complex molecule synthesis.
Professor Atsuo Kimura's research lab specializes in structural and enzymatic studies of glycoside hydrolases, particularly focusing on α-glucosidases and dextranases. The lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying substrate specificity, catalytic mechanisms, and enzyme dynamics using X-ray crystallography, kinetic analysis, and site-directed mutagenesis. Key research directions include understanding the structural basis of long-chain oligosaccharide recognition in enzymes like sugar beet α-glucosidase and the functional roles of conserved domains in dextranase from *Streptococcus mutans*. The lab also explores enzyme inactivation mechanisms using mechanism-based inhibitors such as conduritol B epoxide to identify critical catalytic residues.
Professor Masaki Tanaka's research lab specializes in the neural mechanisms underlying voluntary motor control, with a primary focus on the brain circuits governing smooth pursuit eye movements and self-initiated saccades. The lab investigates the roles of key brain regions such as the frontal pursuit area (FPA), thalamus, and basal ganglia-thalamocortical pathways in monitoring and regulating eye movement timing and direction. Using single-neuron recordings, microstimulation, and local inactivation in non-human primates, the lab uncovers how cortical and subcortical signals contribute to on-line motor control and decision-making in the absence of external triggers. Their work bridges systems neuroscience with motor control, emphasizing the functional organization of thalamocortical and cortico-basal ganglia circuits.
Professor Hanako Bai's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying early embryonic development and maternal-fetal interactions in ruminants, with a central emphasis on the role of GATA transcription factors in trophoblast differentiation and interferon-tau (IFNT) gene regulation. The lab investigates how environmental stressors, such as heat stress, impact endometrial function and oxidative stress responses, contributing to reproductive failure in cattle. Using bovine models and cell lines, the lab integrates molecular biology, gene expression analysis, and functional assays to understand conceptus-uterine communication and the establishment of pregnancy. Their work bridges developmental biology, reproductive physiology, and environmental stress responses in livestock.
Professor Régis Guégan's research lab specializes in the design and characterization of advanced hybrid nanomaterials, particularly organoclays and confined soft matter systems. The lab focuses on understanding the interfacial interactions between surfactants, clay minerals, and biomolecules under nanoconfinement, using advanced scattering techniques such as X-ray and neutron scattering. Key research directions include the development of sustainable organoclay materials for environmental remediation, the structural and dynamic behavior of lyotropic and smectic liquid crystals in one-dimensional nanopores, and the stabilization of proteins in layered inorganic matrices. The work bridges materials chemistry, soft matter physics, and environmental science, with applications in water purification and nanobiotechnology.
Professor Kenta Sugiura's research lab specializes in the evolutionary biology and reproductive ecology of tardigrades, with a focus on mating behaviors, sperm morphology, and reproductive strategies in eutardigrades. The lab conducts integrative studies combining behavioral observation, ultrastructural morphology (using light and electron microscopy), and molecular phylogenetics (e.g., COI and ITS-2 sequencing) to address species delimitation and evolutionary diversification. A central theme is understanding the functional morphology of spermatozoa and their role in fertilization dynamics, particularly in species with external fertilization and complex courtship. The lab also contributes to taxonomic revisions and discovery of new tardigrade species, especially in Japanese and Pacific regions.
Professor James Chambers' research lab focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with a strong emphasis on the role of beta-amyloid (Aβ) oligomers in disease progression. The lab investigates Aβ metabolism, clearance mechanisms, and the natural occurrence of AD-like pathologies in non-human species, such as domestic cats and primates, to uncover evolutionary and pathological insights. Additionally, the lab explores microbial genomics, particularly in predatory myxobacteria, to understand genomic diversity and its implications for drug discovery. The integration of comparative neuropathology and microbial genomics defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach.
Professor Daisuke Yokogawa's research lab specializes in the development and application of advanced computational methods to understand solvation effects and reaction mechanisms in condensed-phase chemical systems. The lab focuses on combining ab initio quantum chemistry with statistical mechanical theories—particularly the Reference Interaction Site Model (RISM) and its self-consistent field variants (RISM-SCF-SEDD)—to model molecular solvation, electronic structure, and reaction pathways with high accuracy. Key research directions include the simulation of excited-state processes such as intramolecular proton transfer in fluorescent materials, the mechanistic study of sugar isomerization in aqueous and ionic liquid environments, and the design of novel catalytic transformations like σ-bond activation in cyclopropanes. The lab also pioneers efficient computational strategies for 3D solvation structure analysis, enabling high-performance, atomistically detailed solvation models.
Professor Hisayoshi Nozaki's research lab focuses on the evolutionary biology and cellular biology of colonial green algae, particularly within the order Volvocales. The lab investigates the phylogenetic relationships, morphological diversification, and ultrastructural characteristics of these organisms, with an emphasis on understanding the evolutionary transitions leading to multicellularity and cellular differentiation. Using molecular phylogenetics, electron microscopy, and cladistic analyses, the lab explores the genetic and structural basis of colonial organization, reproductive strategies, and extracellular matrix architecture in species such as *Chlamydomonas*, *Pleodorina*, *Eudorina*, and *Pandorina*.
Professor Ayumi Igarashi's research lab focuses on long-term care policy, community-based support systems, and the integration of healthcare and social services for older adults in Japan. Her work explores service utilization patterns within the long-term care insurance (LTCI) system, with an emphasis on person-centered care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the role of community settings such as convenience stores in supporting aging populations. The lab also investigates tools for care assessment and care management, aiming to improve care outcomes and support for frail older adults through evidence-based interventions and system-level reforms.
Professor Tomoko Fujino's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced organic materials with tailored electronic and structural properties for biomedical and electronic applications. The lab focuses on understanding structure-property relationships in organic semiconductors, particularly in single-component ambipolar materials and non-natural oligonucleotides, aiming to develop stable, efficient, and functional materials for bioengineering and optoelectronics. Key research directions include the development of novel conductive organic frameworks, the modulation of molecular geometry to enhance charge transport, and the application of synthetic biology tools in molecular diagnostics and regenerative medicine.
Professor Junichiro Yajima's research lab specializes in single-molecule biophysics, focusing on the mechanical and dynamic behaviors of cytoskeletal proteins and molecular motors. The lab employs advanced imaging techniques such as total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM), high-speed atomic force microscopy (Hs-AFM), and three-dimensional tracking of quantum dots to investigate how proteins like anillin, kinesins, myosin IC, and axonemal dyneins drive cellular motility, structural organization, and force generation at the nanoscale. Their work bridges molecular mechanisms with cellular functions, including cytokinesis, ciliary motility, and membrane-cytoskeleton coupling.
Professor Teruhiro Okuyama's research lab focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying social memory and behavior, with a particular emphasis on the role of the ventral hippocampus and its neural circuits in encoding and retrieving social information. The lab also investigates neuromodulatory systems—such as TN-GnRH3 neurons in fish—that regulate social preferences and mating behaviors. In parallel, the lab explores bioactive compounds from traditional medicinal plants, especially those from *Angelica keiskei* and *Peucedanum praeruptorum*, identifying and characterizing coumarins and chalcones with potential anti-tumor and pharmacological activities. This dual approach bridges systems neuroscience and natural product chemistry to uncover both neural mechanisms of social cognition and bioactive molecules with therapeutic potential.
Professor Koji Hamasaki's research lab specializes in microbial ecology and environmental microbiology, with a focus on understanding the physiological responses of marine microorganisms to environmental stressors such as temperature, salinity, and light. The lab employs innovative molecular and immunocytochemical techniques—such as BrdU labeling and BUMP-DGGE—to study microbial growth dynamics, community assembly, and functional diversity in marine and aquatic ecosystems. Additional research explores the impacts of climate change on host-microbe interactions, particularly in marine fish and invertebrates, highlighting the ecological consequences of shifting environmental conditions. The lab also investigates the biophysical properties of advanced materials, including superconducting thin films, demonstrating a multidisciplinary approach bridging biology and materials science.
Professor Michiko S. Fujii's research lab specializes in computational astrophysics, focusing on the dynamical evolution of star clusters and galaxies, particularly the formation and ejection of massive stars through gravitational interactions. The lab investigates the origins of high-velocity runaway stars, the role of cluster mergers in accelerating dynamical evolution, and the self-gravitating dynamics of galactic systems using large-scale N-body and SPH simulations. Their work bridges stellar dynamics, galaxy formation, and gravitational wave astrophysics, especially in modeling binary black hole formation in dense stellar environments. The lab leverages cutting-edge supercomputing resources to simulate complex astrophysical systems with high resolution and realism.
Professor Takanobu Amano's research lab specializes in space plasma physics, focusing on electron acceleration and injection mechanisms in collisionless shocks—key processes in astrophysical and magnetospheric environments. The lab investigates kinetic processes such as shock surfing acceleration, stochastic shock drift acceleration (SSDA), and wave-particle interactions using advanced particle-in-cell simulations and in-situ observations from space missions like MMS. Major research directions include the generation of relativistic electrons at Earth's bow shock and supernova remnant shocks, with an emphasis on resolving long-standing puzzles in electron injection into diffusive shock acceleration. The lab also develops self-consistent kinetic models for ring current dynamics in Earth's magnetosphere.
Professor Ryu Ohata's research lab specializes in the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying the sense of agency, particularly in the context of self-perception and motor control. The lab investigates how sensorimotor integration, self-voice processing, and predictive brain activity contribute to the subjective experience of agency over actions—especially speech—using neuroimaging techniques such as MEG and multivoxel pattern analysis. A key focus is on understanding the neural substrates of agency in healthy individuals and their dysfunction in psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, particularly in relation to auditory hallucinations. The lab also explores brain-machine interface applications by decoding preparatory brain activity to predict behavioral variability in real time.
Professor Yuki Kondo's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying vascular development and stem cell regulation in plants. Using innovative in vitro systems like VISUAL (Vascular cell Induction culture System Using Arabidopsis Leaves), the lab investigates transcriptional networks, hormone signaling, and intercellular communication—particularly involving CLE peptides and brassinosteroids—that govern xylem and phloem cell fate determination. The lab integrates chemical biology, transcriptomics, and live imaging to dissect the dynamic regulatory frameworks controlling vascular stem cell maintenance and differentiation during primary and secondary growth.
Professor Tetsuo Kidokoro's research lab focuses on urban development, spatial inequality, and the socio-spatial transformations in Asian megacities, with particular emphasis on informal settlements, transit-oriented development, and urban regeneration. The lab investigates the dynamics of urban polarization, gentrification, and the role of policy in shaping urban form and social equity in cities such as Tokyo, Nairobi, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Mumbai. Research spans from micro-level analyses of neighborhood change to macro-level policy and planning frameworks in rapidly urbanizing contexts.
