Faculty 2016

1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, kunigami-Gun, Okinawa, Japan 904-0495 Tel 81-98-966-8711 (international) 098-966-8711 (within japan) www.oist.jp OIST President

While knowledge creation remains the defining role of a research university, the manner in which education and research are conducted is undergoing major change. Introduction If universities are to retain their central relevance to society, to the they must adapt their programs to the needs of the 21st century. Students must be educated to be effective citizens Graduate and leaders in a diverse and highly globalized world. University administrators and faculty must take leadership University in providing sustainable solutions to planet-threatening problems such as climate change, the energy supply, and human health, food and water shortages. The engine of Faculty true innovation, basic research with long-term R&D objectives, is arguably the most powerful tool for solving these problems.

OIST Graduate University is at the forefront of creating change in how research and education are practiced. We hire world-leading faculty and we give them substantial support and considerable freedom to pursue basic research. By avoiding traditional administrative and physical bound- aries, and by creating easy access for people to each other and to research equipment, we have established a very open and intimate environment which naturally pro- motes cross-disciplinary education and research. We are training a new breed of students and young researchers to become future leaders in the global world of academia and/or industry—young talent that is receiving strong disciplinary training while additionally being exposed to a truly multidisciplinary experience that challenges them to bridge the boundaries between the physical and life sciences. What several years ago was a vision for change is now a successful reality.

Jonathan Dorfan Brain Mechanisms for Collective Interactions Unit Quantum Systems Unit Behaviour Unit

Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Gordon Arbuthnott Mahesh Bandi Thomas Busch Faculty

BSc, PhD, The University of Aberdeen BEng, University of Madras PhD, The University of Innsbruck Formerly at The Karolinska Institute, MSc, PhD, The University of Pittsburgh Formerly at Konstanz University, The University of Aberdeen, The University Formerly at The Los Alamos National The University of Innsbruck of Edinburgh, and The University of Otago Laboratory, Harvard University, and Brown Aarhus University, Dublin Institute of University Technology, and University College Cork.

The Brain Mechanisms for Behaviour Unit studies the over- or underpro- The Collective Interactions Unit is an The Quantum Systems Unit investi- duction of dopamine, a reward chemical experimental group with broad interests gates theoretical concepts of the produced by certain neurons in the in soft matter physics, applied quantum world. Drawing from ultra- brain. Using techniques in physiology, mathematics, mechanics, and their cold atomic gases and other natural molecular genetics, and anatomy to application to biologically inspired and synthetic quantum systems, their investigate dopamine’s role in neural problems. Unit researchers work in aim is to devise models that explain systems, the Unit studies the basic the general area that concerns quantum phenomena—such as a mechanisms of how animals, macroscopic, non-relativistic matter particle being in two places at the including humans, interact with the and its interactions. Current interests same time—and develop methods to world. The results are relevant to include problems related to interfacial quantify, control and engineer them. diseases ranging from addiction to fluid dynamics, granular solids, and Parkinson’s. biomechanics of the human foot. Fluid Mechanics Unit Femtosecond Computational Neural Computation Unit Biodiversity and Mathematical Soft Matter Unit Spectroscopy Unit Neuroscience Unit Biocomplexity Unit

Associate Professor Assistant Professor Professor Professor Assistant Professor Professor Pinaki Chakraborty Keshav Dani Erik De Schutter Kenji Doya Evan Economo Eliot Fried

BEng, The National Institute of BS (Honours), The California Institute BMed, DMed, HabMed from The BS, MS, and PhD from The BSc, the University of Arizona BA (Honors), University of California at Technology, Surat of Technology University of Antwerp University of Tokyo PhD, The University of Texas Berkeley MS, PhD from The University of Illinois MA, PhD, The University of California, Formerly at The University of Antwerp Formerly at UC San Diego, the Salk Formerly at The University of Michigan MS, PhD, California Institute of Technology Formerly at the University of Illinois Berkeley Institute, and the ATR Computational Formerly at the University of Illinois at Formerly at The Los Alamos National Neuroscience Laboratories The Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Urbana-Champaign, McGill University, and Laboratory and The Lawrence Berkeley The Computational Neuroscience Unit Unit explores how ecological and The University of Washington The Fluid Mechanics Unit studies how National Laboratory studies how neurons and microcircuits The Neural Computation Unit develops evolutionary processes generate and substances flow, be it the turbulent in the brain operate. Unit researchers algorithms that elucidate the brain’s sustain biodiversity. The Unit The relatively new but rapidly expanding field of churning of typhoons or oil streaming Using intense, ultrafast laser pulses, explore the influences of neuronal mor- mechanisms for robust and flexible integrates theoretical, field, and lab soft matter focuses on materials whose basic through a pipeline. The Unit meticu- the Femtosecond Spectroscopy Unit phology and excitability on common learning. The Unit focuses on how the approaches to investigate how structural elements consist of many atomic or lously analyzes motion through soap explores the optical properties of neural functions such as synaptic brain processes reinforcement species evolve, move around, and molecular subelements. These materials typically films and pipes to learn crucial details matter. Its members study graphene plasticity and learning, and determine learning, in which a biological or adapt to their environments. Projects exhibit structure on length scales ranging from of how energy disperses in two and and other two-dimensional materials how molecular mechanisms enable artificial agent learns novel behaviors focus on the dynamics of ant nanoscopic to mesoscopic and, as the name three dimensions. Modeling these for their potential in transparent, these functions. Their studies focus in uncertain environments by communities in the Pacific islands, implies, are relatively easy to deform. Research in phenomena can help predict motion, flexible electronics; research semi- on the cerebellum, as it has a relatively exploration and reward feedback. global diversity patterns of all ants, the Mathematical Soft Matter Unit focuses on improve our response to adverse conductors for photocatalytic and solar simple anatomy and the physiology Top-down computational approaches and macroevolution of the fundamental and applied, combining techniques weather conditions, and management energy applications; and investigate of its main neurons is well known, are combined with bottom-up “hyperdiverse” ant genus Pheidole. from statistical and continuum mechanics, of oil-pipeline networks. applications of ultrafast laser pulses to allowing detailed modeling at many neurobiological approaches to achieve differential geometry, asymptotic analysis, biology and medicine. levels of complexity. these goals. bifurcation theory, and large-scale scientific computing. Topics of ongoing interest include discoidal high-density lipoproteins, perforated lipid bilayers, suspensions of self-propelled agents like bacteria, and the contact-line dynamics of sessile drops undergoing evaporation and condensation. Continuum Physics Unit Biological Systems Unit Mathematical and Theoretical Immune Signal Unit Microbiology and Biochemistry Coordination Chemistry and Physics Unit of Secondary Metabolites Unit Catalysis Unit

Professor Adjunct Professor Professor Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Gustavo Gioia Igor Goryanin Shinobu Hikami Hiroki Ishikawa Holger Julia Jenke-Kodama Khusnutdinova

Diploma in structural engineering, BSc, Moscow Engineering Physics Institute BSc, MSc, PhD from The University of Tokyo BSc, MSc, PhD, Nagoya University Diploma in biochemistry from the B.Sc. from Kazan State University, Russia University of Buenos Aires PhD, The Russian Academy of Science Formerly at the University of Tokyo Formerly at Tohoku University and The Freie Universität Berlin PhD from University of Maryland, College MsC in theoretical and applied mechanics, Formerly at The Russian Academy of Science, University of Miami Dr. rer. nat. from the Humboldt Park Northwestern University University College London, The University University of Berlin Formerly at Washington University in St. The Mathematical and Theoretical PhD in solid mechanics, Brown University of Edinburgh, and GlaxoSmithKline Formerly at the University of Tokyo, The Louis Physics Unit uses mathematical All animals and plants have an innate, Formerly at University of Minnesota, Currently at The University of Edinburgh University of Cologne, the Humboldt and the Weizmann Institute of Science models, like random matrix theory, to or non-specific, immune system Rutgers University, and University of Illinois and OIST University of Berlin and the Max Planck show that universal patterns can be to fight infection and disease. Unlike at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Molecular Genetics observed in widely disparate systems, innate immune cells, cells in the The Biological Systems Unit is working from theoretical systems in physics adaptive immune system remember The Coordination Chemistry and Continuum Physics Unit members on devices in which microorganisms to concrete biological systems. pathogens they have encountered. Many organisms produce small Catalysis Unit focuses on designing carry out theoretical and experimental break down waste, releasing energy in The Immune Signal Unit studies how molecules called secondary new catalysts for reactions relevant to research in the mechanics of the process. Key Okinawan industries cells in the adaptive immune system metabolites. Some have specific renewable energy production like continuous media, including cellular such as awamori distilleries, pig and are activated by the innate system purposes: plants pack them into electrochemically converting carbon materials, granular materials, and chicken farms, sugar manufacturers, and form memories of pathogens, with leaves to deter grazing, and dioxide into a liquid fuel, and in complex fluids, with applications in and municipal wastewater treatment the aim to design more and better Penicillium fungi use their famous one developing “green”, environmentally geophysics, materials science, facilities stand to benefit economically vaccines. to ward off bacteria. The Microbiology friendly methods for synthesizing hydraulics, and structural engineering. and environmentally from this and Biochemistry of Secondary organic compounds. The Unit is also approach. Metabolites Unit is investigating why interested in studying the organisms like toxic algae evolved to electrochemical behavior of hybrid create these chemicals, and which compounds consisting of organic genes express them, in a broad effort parts and metallic parts, and to understand these compounds’ elucidating the relevant mechanisms roles in ecosystems. using spectroscopic methods. Integrated Open Systems Unit Quantum Dynamics Unit Optical Neuroimaging Unit Membrane Cooperativity Unit Genomics and Regulatory Information Processing Systems Unit Biology Unit

Adjunct Professor Associate Professor Assistant Professor Professor (Adjunct) Adjunct Professor Professor Hiroaki Kitano Denis Bernd Kuhn Akihiro Kusumi Nicholas Ichiro Maruyama Konstantinov Luscombe

BA, International Christian University BSc, MSc, Moscow Institute of Physics Diploma, University of Ulm B.Sc., Kyoto University BA (Honours), MA, The University PhD, The University of Tokyo PhD, Kyoto University and Technology Dr rer. nat., Technical University of Munich D.Sc., Kyoto University of Cambridge Formerly at National Institute of Genetics, Currently at Sony Computer Science PhD, Brown University Formerly at the Max Planck Institute of Formerly at Kyoto University, The Medical PhD, University College London MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Laboratories, The Systems Biology Institute, Formerly at the Institute of Physical and Biochemistry, the Max Planck Institute for College of Wisconsin, Formerly at Yale University, EMBL-European The Scripps Research Institute, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute Chemical Research (RIKEN) and Brown Medical Research, and Princeton University The University of Tokyo, Nagoya University, Bioinformatics Institute and the University Molecular Sciences Institute and OIST University and the ERATO and ICORP projects of of Cambridge and Genome Institute of Singapore The Optical Neuroimaging Unit Japan Science and Technology Agency Currently at University College London, Currently at Kyoto University and OIST Cancer Research UK, and OIST Healthcare and sustainability are In the nanoscopic world, electrons develops novel techniques to All life, from bacteria to humans, critical issues in global agenda that can exist in many places at once—a investigate two fundamental questions senses and responds to its we are facing today. Both deal with feature that, if harnessed to encode in neurobiology: how behavior arises The Membrane Cooperativity Unit strives To function normally, organisms must environment in various ways. The integrated open systems, such as data, could revolutionize information from cellular activity, and how the to understand how cellular plasma ensure that genes are switched on Information Processing Biology Unit biological systems and complex processing. The Quantum Dynamics brain processes information. Kuhn, membranes work at very fundamental and off at the right times and explores how sensory organs detect social systems, including energy and Unit is exploring the behavior of the Unit head, has built two-photon levels. For this purpose, the Unit is locations. Gene expression control is external information, how neurons commu- transportation. They are highly complex quantum systems, using high laser scanning microscopes that dedicated to developing unique a complex process that requires the nicate, and how the brain processes integrated, yet open-ended complex magnetic fields and ultra-low enable him to reconstruct 3D images methodologies of single-molecule coordinated action of many regulatory information at the molecular level. systems. The Integrated Open temperatures to observe and control of neurons with micron resolution and observation-manipulation in living cells, biological molecules. Defects in the Results of this research can improve Systems Unit aims to understand electrons in certain conditions, to find to observe neuronal activity, both in and elucidating the mechanisms for the process can lead to many diseases, our understanding of the the fundamental principles which how to regulate them for applications awake mice. plasma membrane organization and such as cancer. The Genomics and mechanisms of cognitive diseases in governopen complex systems, and in quantum computing. function, enabled by cooperative Regulatory Systems Unit combines humans, help in drug design, and apply such knowledge for real world interactions of molecules in/on the plasma computational and experimental lead to better computers, sensors and applications through a series of membrane, with particular emphases on methods to study principles of gene other information processing devices. global activities, such as the Garuda signal transduction and neuronal network regulation during early organismal Alliance and Sustainable Living. formation, by extensively using development. single-molecule technologies. Developmental Ecology and Evolution Unit Physics and Biology Unit Marine Biophysics Unit Light-Matter Interactions Unit Energy Materials and Surface Neurobiology Unit Sciences Unit

Associate Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Assistant Professor Ichiro Masai Alexander Jonathan Miller Satoshi Mitarai Síle Nic Chormaic Yabing Qi Mikheyev

BSc, MSc, PhD, the University of Tokyo BA, Cornell University BS, Yale University BS, MS, Osaka Prefecture University BSc (Honours), MSc, St. Patrick’s College, BSc, Nanjing University Formerly at the University of Tokyo, MS, The Florida State University PhD in Biology, The University of PhD, The University of Washington NUI, Ireland MPhil, The Hong Kong University of Science King’s College London, PhD, The University of Texas Cambridge (MRC LMB) Formerly at The University of California, PhD in Physics, The University of Paris XIII and Technology and the Institute of Physical and PhD in Physics, The California Institute Santa Barbara Formerly at The University of Innsbruck, PhD, The University of California, Berkeley Chemical Research (RIKEN) Evolution is the unifying principle of life of Technology The University of Melbourne, Formerly at Princeton University sciences. Recent technological Formerly at Baylor College of Medicine, The Marine Biophysics Unit examines Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, advances have revolutionized the way Princeton University, NEC Research how ocean currents affect the marine and University College Cork The Energy Materials and Surface The Developmental Neurobiology Unit it is studied, providing new insights Institute, The University of Chicago, and life of hydrothermal vents and coral reefs Sciences Unit is developing cost- uses the zebrafish as a model system into historical questions. The Ecology Bell Laboratories around Okinawa. Using buoy deploy- Interactions between light and matter efficient, large-area solar technology to study the mechanisms that control and Evolution Unit utilizes cutting-edge ments, population genetics, computer occur all around us, from the lenses in out of organic materials. These cell development and tissue building. technology to address a wide range The Physics and Biology Unit modeling, remotely and wave-operated our eyes to photosynthesis. The organic solar cells are lightweight, OIST’s high-capacity aquarium system of research questions. The Unit’s develops physical science based tools vehicles, and physical oceanographic Light-Matter Interactions Unit isolates flexible, and can be printed roll-to-roll houses some 200,000 fish in 4,800 investigations have included coevolution aimed primarily at the study of measurements, the Unit is mapping and studies small numbers of particles like newsprint to cover windows, tanks to maintain mutant and of mutualists, landscape genetics of biological systems. Major interests the Kuroshio current circulation, track- as small as atoms using optical walls, and many other surfaces. They transgenic lines of zebrafish for projects adaptation by herbivores to host include genome evolution and ing larval dispersal, hunting for the nanofibers as an interface tool between also use state-of-the-art ultrahigh that investigate how the vertebrate plants, genomic changes in little fire population genomics, to obtain new source of an invasive coral-eating sea light from lasers and the sample under vacuum instruments and a clean-room retina develops. ant castes that influence invasiveness, insight into how genetic variation star, and monitoring plankton health. investigation. The ultimate goal is to device fabrication facility to investigate coevolution of leaf-cutting ants and couples natural selection and evolution. better understand photons, atoms, properties of individual materials and their cultivated fungi, and proteomics cells, and proteins—the building blocks their interfaces to optimize the solar of pit viper venoms. Future projects of the world. cell’s structure for better performance. will employ massive sequencing of environmental samples and museum collections to link major themes in ecology and evolution. Molecular Genetics Unit Trans-Membrane Marine Genomics Unit Plant Epigenetics Unit Theory of Quantum Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit Trafficking Unit Matter Unit

Professor (Visiting, Adjunct) Associate Professor Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Professor Daniel Rokhsar Fadel Samatey Noriyuki Satoh Hidetoshi Saze Nic Shannon Amy Shen

A.B. from Princeton University Bacc, Joseph Fourier University PhD, The University of Tokyo BSc, MSc, Kyoto University BSc (Honours), The University PhD, University of Illinois at M.S., Ph.D. from Cornell University MPhys, Louis Pasteur University Formerly at Kyoto University PhD, The University of Basel of Birmingham Urbana-Champaign, Formerly at IBM TJ Watson Research PhD, Joseph Fourier University Formerly at the National Institute PhD, The University of Warwick Formerly at Harvard University and the Center Formerly at Osaka University, JST, The High Sequencing the genomes of the major of Genetics Formerly at The University of Bristol, The University of Washington Currently at University of California-Berkeley, Energy Accelerator Research Organization, University of Wisconsin-Madison, marine phyla helps explain relationships The Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit focuses Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, The National Centre for Scientific Research The Max Planck Institute for the Physics between organisms, both in terms of Genes dictate many aspects of how on using complex fluids and complex US Department of Energy Joint Genome and the Institut Laue–Langevin of Complex systems and Atomic large-scale evolution and within their living things look and act, but genes are flows to create objects with morphology Institute and OIST Energy and Alternative Energies Commission ecosystems. The Marine Genomics also controlled. Epigenetics, is the and structure tailored precisely for (CEA), Saclay Work in the Molecular Genetics Unit Despite advances in the tools used to Unit’s ability to quickly sequence large study of mechanisms that determine applications in biotechnology, combines comparative genomics, study how living things work, the genomes has made the lab the first whether a gene is active or not, and nanotechnology, and energy. The unit population genetic modeling, and study of cell membranes embedded to decode the genetic sequences thus whether it has any effect on Quantum materials are governed by employs lab-on-a-chip platforms with genetic mapping. The Unit uses new with many notoriously difficult-to- of a coral and a mollusk. The Unit also an organism. The Plant Epigenetics how their electrons interact. In metals, analytical capacity to study the physics approaches for sequencing and characterize proteins, remains very has found evidence of a common Unit studies epigenetic regulation in such as copper, electrons largely of flow, the transport of mass, analyzing genomes to investigate the challenging. Samatey’s Trans- ancestor that links humans to sea stars. Arabidopsis and rice. It is also improving ignore one another, but in quantum momentum, and energy, and reactive evolution of morphological and Membrane Trafficking Unit uses X-ray traits of rice crops by applying materials they have a ‘social life’. The processes at nano- and micron length functional complexity among related crystallography to solve the 3D genomic information obtained by high- Theory of Quantum Matter Unit’s main scales. Novel device designs have the animals, so as to be able to structure of membrane proteins of the throughput sequencing technology. goal is to uncover new laws of physics potential to significantly enhance illuminate the key transitions in their flagellar system—which, since they that explain interactions of electrons understanding of single-cell behavior, evolution. Current focus is on resemble those that build the “needle in groups. developmental biology, and cephalopods – how their unique complex” in pathogenic bacteria, neuroscience. These strategies can be nervous system emerged could help treat related infections. used to address challenges in drug independently of vertebrates and the screening and the development of genomic underpinnings of their bio- and chemical-sensors for disease, capacity for complex behaviors. security, and environmental monitoring. Quantum Wave Mathematical Structural Cellular Nanoparticles by Biological Physics Cellular and Molecular Microscopy Unit Biology Unit Biology Unit Design Unit Theory Unit Synaptic Function Unit

Professor Associate Professor Professor Associate Professor Adjunct Assistant Professor Distinguished Professor (Fellow) Tsumoru Shintake Robert Sinclair Ulf Skoglund Mukhles Ibrahim Greg Stephens Tomoyuki Takahashi Sowwan

BSc, PhD from Kyushu University BSc (Honours), Monash University BSc, PhD, Stockholm University BSc, Yarmouk University BSc, Ohio University MD, PhD, Tokyo Medical and Dental Formerly at The Institute of Physical and Physik-Diplom, the Freie Universität Berlin Formerly at the Karolinska Institute, MSc from The University of Jordan MSc, Syracuse University University Chemical Research (RIKEN) Doktor der Mathematik from ETH Zürich Stockholm University and Uppsala PhD, Hebrew University PhD, The University of Maryland Formerly at Kyoto University, the University Formerly at ETH Zürich, The University of University Formerly at Al-Quds University and Formerly at Princeton University and of Tokyo and Doshisha University Basel, The Technical University of Denmark, Stanford University The Los Alamos National Laboratory The Quantum Wave Microscopy Unit’s The University of Melbourne and the Currently at VU University Amsterdam newly assembled, low-energy electron The Structural Cellular Biology Unit The Cellular and Molecular Synaptic University of the Ryukyus and OIST microscope uses lensless technology combines microscopy and computation The Nanoparticles by Design Unit has Function Unit strives to understand to construct crisp holograms of DNA to visualize molecules and cellular developed an ultra-high vacuum the mechanisms that regulate neuro- and viruses. It is hoped that this The Mathematical Biology Unit works structures in 3D. A 300 keV system to study and custom-build transmitter release at synapses by While physicists have long searched new technology will obviate the need across boundaries, creating new transmission electron microscope, nanoparticles. Atoms of up to three studying the calyx of Held, a synapse for universal laws that explain the for time-consuming crystallographic methods of analysis, even when the Titan Krios, is used to understand the different materials can be sputtered large enough to enable simultaneous nature of matter and energy, until techniques, and that it will yield single- biological questions cannot easily be dynamics of macromolecules in situ from the source simultaneously to measurements of presynaptic and recently the complexity of biological molecule images at sub-nanometer expressed mathematically. The Unit and to investigate how they bind form nanoclusters, which pass through postsynaptic electrical signals. systems proved daunting. The resolution. A very different project, constructs mathematical approaches and interact with each other. This a mass filter that selects those in Insights into synaptic transmission Biological Physics Theory Unit denominated “Sea Horse”, aims to to problems in vertebrate evolution, work has potential for drug delivery, as a certain size range to be deposited should lead to a better understanding searches for simple, unifying principles generate 1GW of electricity from ocean morphology, neuroscience, microbiology it offers molecular details of protein on a solid surface or harvested of neuronal communication. in the brains and behavior of living currents using 300 huge propellers and virology, usually in collaboration binding, virus structures, and receptor for applications such as novel cancer systems. Working closely with experi- tethered to the sea floor in the Kuroshio with other research units. interactions in cell membranes. therapies, drug delivery systems, mentalists, Unit members combine Current near Okinawa. infrared detectors, and sensors. quantitative biological measurements with theoretical ideas drawn from statistical physics, information theory, and dynamic systems. Chemistry and Chemical Human Developmental Formation and Regulation Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit Neurobiology Research Unit Molecular Cryo-Electron Bioengineering Unit Neurobiology Unit of Neuronal Connectivity Microscopy Unit Research Unit

Associate Professor Professor Visiting Professor Assistant Professor Professor Assistant Professor Fujie Tanaka Gail Tripp David Van Vactor Hiroshi Watanabe Dean of Graduate School Matthias Wolf Jeff Wickens

BS, Gifu Pharmaceutical University BSc (Honours), PhD, PGDipClPs, BA, The Johns Hopkins University B.S., Tokai University BMedSc, MBChB, PhD, The University MPharm, The University of Innsbruck PhD, Kyoto University The University of Otago PhD, the University of California, M.S., Ph.D., Tokyo Institute of Technology of Otago PhD, Brandeis University Formerly at The Scripps Research Institute Formerly at the University of Otago Los Angeles Formerly at Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Formerly at The University of Otago Formerly at Harvard Medical School, Formerly at The University of California, Medical Science, Heidelberg Institute of Children’s Hospital Boston, Brandeis Berkeley, Harvard Medical School, Zoology and The Centre for Organismal University and the University of Innsbruck The Chemistry and Chemical The Human Developmental The goal of the Neurobiology Woods Hole Institute and Cold Spring Studies (COS) at The University of Bioengineering Unit develops methods Neurobiology Unit investigates the Research Unit is to understand neural Harbor Laboratories Heidelberg and strategies for the construction nature, causes and management of mechanisms of learning in the brain. Currently at Harvard Medical School The Molecular Cryo-Electron of organic molecules. The strategies ADHD. Unit members study why The Unit studies physical changes that and OIST Microscopy Unit investigates the that this unit investigates include children diagnosed with ADHD Research projects of the Evolutionary take place in synapses due to learning structure of macromolecular asymmetric synthetic methods and respond differently to reinforcement, Neurobiology Unit include (1) anatomical experiences, and how these changes complexes with an emphasis on organocatalytic methods. The and they work with colleagues The synapses in our brains communi- and physiological dissections of nervous depend on dopamine, a chemical viruses, ion channels and membrane molecules that this unit designs and overseas conducting fMRI and drug cate via chemical signals billions systems of the basal metazoans, mainly on that plays a key role in motivation. This proteins. The Unit seeks better creates include enzyme-like catalysts studies to explore the disorder’s of times per second in order to sense diffused and regionally condensed nervous research has the forward goal of devel- understanding of macromolecular and functionalized small molecules. underlying neurobiology. The Unit is and respond to the world around systems of cnidarians, and (2) analysis of oping better treatments for disorders functions that govern important Studies undertaken by this unit also studying the social problem us. The Formation and Regulation of genetic mechanisms underlying such as Parkinson’s disease and processes such as infection and contribute to the creation of molecules solving skills of children with ADHD Neuronal Connectivity Research Unit development of the regionalized attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. cellular signaling, as well as improve- necessary to elucidate biological and developing a skills program for studies the assembly and mainten- (semi-centralized) nervous system of ments in specimen preparation and mechanisms and the control of bio- Japanese parents dealing with ADHD. ance of healthy synapses, using the cnidarians. The unit also carries out (3) a image processing. In addition, the logical systems. fruitfly model to explore the genetics comprehensive analysis of chemical regulating neural development. neurotransmission among the basal Unit explores novel techniques to metazoan lineages. They combine obtain a detailed three-dimensional cutting-edge genetic, neuroscientific and map of brain tissue at unprecedented neuroimaging techniques on cnidarians and resolutions. other basal metazoans, and phylogenetic analysis to reconstruct the early evolutionary processes of the nervous system. Cell Signal Unit G0 Cell Unit Neuronal Mechanism for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Bioinspired Soft Matter Unit Other Faculty Critical Period Unit Engineering Unit

Professor Professor Assistant Professor Associate Professor (Adjunct) Assistant Professor Professor Tadashi Yamamoto Mitsuhiro Yanagida Yoko Yohei Yokobayashi Ye Zhang Executive Vice President for Sustainable Development of Yazaki-Sugiyama Okinawa Robert Baughman

BSc, PhD, Osaka University DrSci., the University of Tokyo BSc, Japan Women’s University B.Eng., M.Eng., The University of Tokyo BS, Nankai University BA, New College Formerly at the University of Tokyo and Formerly at Kyoto University MSc, PhD, Sophia University PhD, The Scripps Research Institute PhD, Hong Kong University of Science and MA, PhD, Harvard University the National Institutes of Health Formerly at Sophia University, Duke Formerly at the California Institute of Technology Formerly at Harvard Medical School The G0 Cell Unit investigates molecular University and the Institute of Physical Technology Formerly at the University of Turin and Ecole and NIH National Institute of Using a mouse model, the Cell Signal mechanisms of cell regulations in and Chemical Research (RIKEN) Currently at the University of Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Neurological Disorders and Stroke Unit explores the cause of various division, called the vegetative cell cycle, California-Davis and OIST and Brandeis University diseases that include cancer, neuronal and arrest, known as the G0 phase, When we are young, our brains adapt Prof. Baughman was a neurobiologist disorders, immunological diseases, using post-genomic methods in at the whim of our sensory environ- Nucleic acids DNA and RNA are Nature designs materials as hierarchical at Harvard Medical School and and diabetes/obesity at the molecular combination with genetic approaches. ments. The Neuronal Mechanism for fundamental building blocks of life. architectures with complex composite Associate Director in a division of the level. Practically, the Unit studies The Unit is also investigating the Critical Period Unit studies how this These biomolecules display structures spanning the nano to National Institute of Neurological biochemical reactions that cells use to health benefits of Okinawan produce ‘critical period’ of malleability in the remarkable chemical functions such near-macro length scales to create Disorders and Stroke, in the US respond to environmental cues with and the origins of Okinawan longevity. young is orchestrated within the brain. as information storage, catalysis, and unique combinations of properties National Institutes of Health. In 2007 special emphasis on mechanisms by Zebra finches, the Unit’s model molecular recognition. The Nucleic that are often difficult to achieve with he joined OIST as Vice President and which unneeded RNA copies are organism of choice, learn to sing from Acid Chemistry and Engineering Unit’s synthetic materials. The task of the Executive Director of the OIST destroyed to silence gene expression. their auditory experiences as young goal is to harness the versatile Bioinspired Soft Matter Unit is to Promotion Corporation, where he birds, allowing researchers to explore chemistry of nucleic acids to design understand such amazing guided OIST’s development from the what is happening during this and engineer functional nucleic acids mechanisms and develop new arrival of the first staff to full marvelous period. (DNA, RNA, and their synthetic man-made materials to mimic the accreditation as a graduate university analogs) that operate in test tubes, structure, properties or performance in November 2011. Baughman is devices, and living cells. of natural materials or living matters. now OIST’s Executive Vice President for Sustainable Development of Okinawa. Advanced Medical Instrumentation Unit

Distinguished Professor Visiting Professor Distinguished Professor Sydney Brenner Special Advisor to the Dean Hirotaka Sugawara David Dorfan

MSc, MB, BCh (Medicine), The University PhD, Columbia University PhD, The University of Tokyo of Witwatersrand Formerly at SLAC, The University of Formerly at Institute of Nuclear Studies, DPhil, Exeter College, Oxford University California, Santa Cruz University of Tokyo, The KEK Japanese Formerly MRC Laboratory of Molecular National Laboratory for High Energy Biology, MRC Molecular Genetics Prof. Dorfan has had a distinguished Physics, and The Graduate University of Unit, Molecular Sciences Institute and career as a particle physicist. He was Advanced Studies (Sokendai) Salk Institute Professor of Physics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and was Prof. Sugawara has held academic Sydney Brenner has led a distinguished influential in setting up its highly positions at Cornell, Berkeley, Tokyo research career in the field of genetics. regarded Department of Physics, University of Education, University of In 2002 he was awarded the Nobel where he subsequently served three Tokyo, University of Chicago and Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his mandates as Dean and the Chair. University of Hawaii. He was Director founding work in developmental biology. Professor Dorfan spends several General of the KEK Japanese National Brenner served as President of the months a year teaching at OIST. Laboratory for High Energy Physics OIST Promotion Corporation from 2005– and Executive Director of the 2011 and his determination and drive Graduate University of Advanced were essential factors in the creation of Studies (Sokendai). He most recently the Graduate University. He visits OIST served as the Director of the regularly as a Distinguished Professor. Washington D.C. office of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science.

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