Fumiaki Yokoyama

Fumiaki Yokoyama is a microbiologist whose research mostly focuses on bacterial cell and community-level microbiology. His scientific curiosity was sparked by the diversity and robustness of microbial life, even under extreme conditions, during his bachelor’s studies in peptide chemistry at Osaka Prefecture University. Working with cold-adapted bacteria isolated from the Antarctic Ocean and fish intestines, he pursued extremophile biology in his Ph.D. at Kyoto University, where he investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the production of biotic nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles. During this period, he became fascinated by the individual cell heterogeneity even within isogenic bacterial populations and by the emerging division of labor among cells. This interest led him to microfluidic engineering at ETH Zurich, where he gained expertise in single-cell analysis using microfluidics. He then expanded his research into active matter physics at the University of Tokyo, exploring the collective behaviors of nonequilibrium systems such as growing cells. He established Microbial Lifeform Dynamics (MiLD) Group under the motto “Stay unique!” at OIST, as he believes that every individual holds a unique perspective, and by integrating these diverse viewpoints, we can uncover aspects of life that no single insight could reveal alone. For him, science flourishes through teamwork, collaboration, and—most importantly—underlying mutual respect and enjoyment of nature.