Research Units
View by Faculty Member, Research Unit, or Research Specialties
Evolutionary Genomics Unit
The Evolutionary Genomics Unit studies the evolution of insects and their associated symbionts.
Tom Bourguignon
Professor
Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit
Research projects of the Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit include (1) anatomical and physiological dissections of the nervous systems of basal metazoans, mainly on diffused and regionally cond...
Hiroshi Watanabe
Associate Professor
Evolutionary and Synthetic Biology
The Evolutionary and Synthetic Biology Unit focuses on understanding how living things evolved using computation, theory, experiments and field work. Combining the understanding of evolutionary mechanisms with evolutionary theory, computational and synthetic biology approaches we design novel biological objects and further penetrate the mysteries of the evolution of life.
Fyodor Kondrashov
Professor
Femtosecond Spectroscopy Unit
Utilizing cutting-edge time-resolved techniques, including ultrafast PEEM and ARPES, the Femtosecond Spectroscopy Unit explores extreme light-matter interaction on the nanometer and femtosecond scale.
Keshav M. Dani
Professor
Genomics and Regulatory Systems Unit
The Genomics and Regulatory Systems Unit combines computational and experimental methods to study principles of gene regulation during early organismal development, using Oikopleura dioica as a model organism.
Nicholas M. Luscombe
Professor
Human Evolutionary Genomics Unit
We use the genomes of Neandertals and Denisovans, the closest evolutionary relatives of present-day humans, to identify genomic variants that are unique to modern humans.
Svante Pääbo
Professor (Adjunct)
Integrated Open Systems Unit
The Integrated Open Systems Unit aims to understand the fundamental principles that govern open, complex systems and apply such knowledge for real-world applications
Hiroaki Kitano
Professor (Adjunct), Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
Integrative Community Ecology Unit
Our unit employs theory-informed experiments, genetics, and mathematical models to identify how species interactions vary over time and space to influence ecosystem dynamics and functioning.
David Armitage
Assistant Professor
Light-Matter Interactions for Quantum Technologies Unit
We study interactions between small particles, such as atoms, and laser light using nano-optics tools, to better understand light’s influences on dynamics.
Síle Nic Chormaic
Professor
Macroevolution Unit
Theory-driven research on macroevolution, biodiversity, and evolutionary patterns across space and time, integrating fossils, fishes, biomechanics, phylogenies, and models.
Lauren Sallan
Assistant Professor
Marine Climate Change Unit
The Marine Climate Change Unit aims to understand how coral reef fish respond to human society driven environmental changes such as climate change, heatwaves, overfishing, and urbanization.
Timothy Ravasi
Professor
Marine Eco-Evo-Devo Unit
Most coral reef fishes have an incredible colors but why and how do they appear ? We use clownfish as a model we decipher the origins of the colors and how the fish are using them.
Vincent Laudet
Professor
Marine Genomics Unit
Exploring marine genomic diversity helps understanding organism responses to environmental change in the past and future, both in terms of large-scale evolution and within their ecosystems.
Noriyuki Satoh
Professor
Marine Structural Biology Unit
The Marine Structural Biology Unit uses cryoelectron tomography and single particle cryoelectron microscopy to understand various aspects of coral biology in unprecedented detail.
Oleg Sitsel
Assistant Professor
Membrane Cooperativity Unit
We develop methods for single-molecule imaging and analysis, and apply them to unravel the mechanisms by which the cellular plasma membrane perform signaling and synaptic transmission.
Akihiro Kusumi
Professor
Membranology Unit
The human body is composed of ~37 trillion cells, all of which are surrounded by a plasma membrane. We aim to understand the relationship between plasma membrane damage and multiple pathophysiological processes including aging.
Keiko Kono
Associate Professor
Micro/ Bio/ Nanofluidics Unit
Micro/Bio/Nanofluidic Unit develops lab-on-a-chip devices to probe fluid flows and discover new flow phenomena in microscopic worlds, with applications in biotechnology.
Amy Shen
Provost, Professor, and Vice CEO, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
Microbial and Ecosystem Ecology Unit
Our unit focuses on understanding how environmental changes impact soil microbes, particularly those that are symbiotic with or pathogenic to plants, and drive biogeochemical cycling.
Chikae Tatsumi
Assistant Professor